LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21251, 3 August 1932, Page 16

LAWN TENNIS

DAVIS CUP CONTEST FRANCE'S SPLENDID WIN . > BiT SIDELINE Franco is still the champion lawn tennis nation, having successfully defended for the fifth successive year the Davis Cup, emblematic of-international lawn tennis supremacy. The cup was taken from the United States by Lacoste, Cochet, Borotra and Brugnon in 1927, and it is worthy of note that three of these players have just successfully defended it against, the challenge of the young American, team. The margin was slight, and it is apparent that unless young players can be found in the near future to take the place of France's big four, tho cup will go elsewhere. After Vines had done so well at Wimbledon and against Germany, it was confidently predicted that he would win both his singles against France and thus place the United States in an almost unassailable position. It can he easily understood, however, how such an occasion as this would bring out the very best lighting qualities in the French team, and particularly in the brilliant Borotra, so susceptible to th'o electrical atmosphere which would undoubtedly surround the court at Auteuil when he faced Vines in the opening match. One wonders if, after making Vines look second rate in the first two sets, Cochet. would have dropped the next three had the Davis Cup really depended on his winning. Tho French players aro all intensely patriotic, and always play for their country rather than for themselves; indeed, they prove the absurdity of the statement, that lawn tennis does not encourage the team spirit. Their success. this year in possibly the hardest-fought contest ever played was largely dm; to their team spirit.