DAVIS GUP FINAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17664, 28 December 1920, Page 4

DAVIS GUP FINAL.

THE TEAMS SELECTED. BROOKES AND PATTERSON. TILDEX AND JOHNSTON. SINGLES COMMENCE TO-DAY. The names of the players to contest the challenge round of the Davis Cup contest, commencing this afternoon, were announced bv the captains of the respective teams yesterday morning. The Australasian captain. Mr. N. E. Brookes, nominated himself and Mr. G. L. Patter son. The American team announced by Mr. S. H. Hardy wa 8 Mr. W. T. Tilden and Mr. W. M Johnston. The nominations were given to Mr. H. G. Thomson, secretary of the Lawn Tennis Association. The draw was then made to decide the order of play, resulting a* follows: — To-DAT. W. T. Tilrien v. N. E. Brookes. VV. M. Johnston v. G. L. Patterscm. Thursday. W. T. Tilden and W. M. Johnston V. N. E. Brookes and G. L. Patterson. Friday. W. T. Tilden v. G. L. Patterson W. M. Johnston v. N. E. Brookes. The team winning three of the five matches—four singles and one double— takes the cup. Each match is the best of five sets. Play commences a-f, 1.45 p.m. to-day, at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, and at 1.45 p.m. on Friday. Neither/of the captains, when seen vesterday was disposed to discuss the prospects of the coming struggle. On behall of the Australasians, Mr. N. E. Brookes said that the selection of himself and Mr. Patterson to fight the issue had the unanimous approval of all four members of his party. Mr. S. H. Hardy, the American captain, said that conditions could hardly he bettered. The weather promised to be beautiful, the court wa s in first-class icon-ditio-n, and the arrangements were thoroughly satisfactory. His team was full of confidence, but tennis was a game in which it was never safe to predict That was all he could say about the forthcoming matches RECORDS OF PLAYERS. NAMES FAMED IN TENNIS. AUSTRALIA'S CAPTAIN. The outstanding figure among the players who will be seen on the courts this afternoon is Norman E. Brookes, famous alike for his long record as an international player, "and for the calibre of his game. He first represented VSotoria in 1896, and from then went on froim success to success. Visiting England for the first time in 1905—when with the late! Anthony Wilding and A. W. Dunlop, unsuccessfully contested the preliminTry rounds of the Davis Cup competition—he* created a surprise by annexing the Allcomers' Singles at Wimbledon. In 1907 Brookes and Wilding first won the cup for Australasia, defeating both America and the British Isles. The same year Brookes was a winner in all three All England championship events at Wimbledon. The cup remained with Australasia for five years, being lost to the British Isles in 1912, when J. C. Parke defeated Brookes after a memorable struggle. Neither Brookes nor Wilding played for the cup in 1913, but in 1914 the old partnership reasserted itself. After defeating Germany and the British Isles in the preliminaries, Brookes and Wilding wrested the trophy from America at Boston. Brookes beat Williams in the singles, but succumbed to McLaughlin. The war years saw tennis players engaged in sterner work than winning trophies. Brookes served in the eastern theatre, giving up tennis and impairing his health by his military experiences. With the coming of peace he has slowly regained his former physical condition ; there has been no question of his " coming back " as a player. His performances showed that his hand had not lost its cunning. Today he has judged himself ready to contest the premiership of the world, and all his old mastery of the game is likely to be at his command when he steps upon the court. G. L. PATTERSON. G. L. Patterson, who is to play alongside his veteran team mate, is an illustration of the adage, " Youth win be served." His rise has been rapid. He is probably the most discussed player in first-class tennis to-day. His performances have been brilliant, but not equal in merit. In 1919, he won the All-comers' Championship at Wimbledon, but returning to Australia, via America, was defeated there by both Tilden and Johnston. He helped to defend the Davis Cup in Sydney last January, defeating A. H. Lowe in the singles on the first day, and with Brookes winning the doubles on the second. The third member of the team. J. O. Anderson, had been beaten by A. R. F. Kingscote. on the first day, so that the match was decided on the third day's play. Patterson, defeating Kingscote, B—6, after a display of tennis of the highest class, settled the destination of the trophy for another year. Anderson defeated Lowe, making the victory doubly secure. W. T. TILDEN. Of the American team. W.. T. Tilden, by winning the All-comers' Championship at Wimbledon in the challenge round from G. L. Patterson, in July of this year, holds the title of champion of the world. On the same visit he was a member of the American Davis Cup team which won the right to play the match commencing this afternoon. In the first tie against France he defeated W. H. Laurentz. 4—6, 6 —2, 6—l, 6—3. and with Johnston won the doubles from Goebert, and Laurentz, 4—6, 6 —2. 6—l, 6—3. In the second tie against the British lies Tilden defeated A. R. F. Kingscote. 4—6, 6—l, 6—3. 6—l, and J. C. Parke, 6—2, 6—3, 7—5. With Johnston in the doubles he did his part in defeating Parke and Kingscote, B—6. 4—6 4—6, 6—3, 6—2. . WM. JOHNSTON. The career of W.. M. Johnston in international fixtures is very similar to that of his team-mate. In the Davis Cup ties he beat A. H. Goebert (France). 6 —3, B—6, 6—3. and aided Tilden to win the doubles. Against the British lies he defeated Kingscote, 6—3, 4—6, 3—6, 6 4, 7—5, and Parke. 6—4, 6—4, 2—6, 3 6^ 6—2. In 1919 he won the American Singles Championship, defeating Patterson in a tremendous five-set struggle, and in the final beating Tilden in three straight sets. In the American-Australian teams match at the same tournament he beat Brookes in four sets.