THE DAVIS CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 21

THE DAVIS CUP

DOMINION PLAYERS LADIES' TOUR TO AUSTRALIA THOSE WITH BEST CLAIMS The New Zealand lawn tennis championships are all the more interesting in view of the selection of two teams of four, one to represent the Dominion in tho Davis Cup, and the second an under 21 ladies' team to visit Australia. Nominations were called for by the New Zealand Council some weeks ago, and the management committee will make tho final selection. Three of the executive, Messrs. A. G. Henderson, J. H. McGill and J. L. Mac Duff, have arrived in Auckland and will report to the New Zealand Council regarding the selection of players to represent the Dominion in the Davis Cup competition. Two further members of a New Zealand ladies' junior team will be chosen this evening to go to Australia. So far as the Davis Cup team is concerned, Stedman and Malfroy have already been selected. Other nominations received by tho New Zealand body are:— Auckland.—N. G. Sturt, A. D. Brown. Wellington.—D. C. Coombe, N. F.. Bedford, N. V, Edwards. Canterbury.—C. Angas. On request, the Auckland selectors, Messrs. A. C. Johns, N. G. Sturt and E. W. Griffiths, nominated only two players, and this was done with still three major tournaments to be played. During the course of these, changes of form among the players have been readily discernible. Features loir Selection Features which must form a prominent part in team selection for overseas play are tennis ability, youth and the possibility of improvement, and those other gentlemanly characteristics so important on and off the court. So far as the nominations are concerned, it is a pity that, in view of -the tournaments i;hat had still to be played, the candidates with possible chances should not have had their names forwarded, and these might have included J. T. Mayson and possibly J. W. Gunn. At all events, it is to be hoped that late nominations will not prejudice the chances of any player worthy of a position in the team. Sturt and Angas appear, from an. age point of view more than on a temporary lapse of form, to be only outside chances. Bedford and Edwards both have patchy performances this year, although Bedford, in particular, possesses some of the most brilliant shots of all candidates. Tho most favoured players are A. D. Brown, Taranaki, Canterbury, North Island and Auckland champion; D. C. Coombe, seasoned player with already one year's experience of the Davis Cup; and J. T. Mayson. The last-named had not really struck true form until the present championships, although he has made steady progress in the hands of a capable coach for some years. His defeat by Barnett in the semifinals at Christchurcli was not a good performance. However, by beating Coombe and Bedford, two seeded players, in successive rounds during the present championships, Mayson has shown that his improved form at tho Auckland meeting, when he extended Brown to five close sets, was no exceptional effort. In addition to this he has youth and an engaging personality. Promising Ladies Nominations for the junior ladies' team for Australia have been received of Miss P. Cooke, Auckland, Miss K. Armstrong, Canterbury, Miss R. J. Wilsoa, Southland, in addition to Miss M. Beverley, Matamata, and Miss J. Dout'b.ett, Wellington, who have already been selected. Another young lady who must be considered after some excellent displays of stroke production is Miss M. Hodges, of Auckland. Misses Armstrong and Hodges are both in the under 1!) class, and could compete in this section with much greater chance of success than the older members in their age section. The selection of Miss Wilson becomes doubtful on the fact that she is absent from the present tournament, and her performances are not well known outside her province. Miss Cooke hac definitely advanced her play and must have strong claims. The dropping of any one of the five, other than Miss Wilson, will be unfortunate, and the solution most acceptable to New Zealand will be to send a team composed of four ladies under 21 and two under 19. The New Zealand Association can well afford this. It possesses assets of over £2OOO, and a steady income always in view. The policy of the parent body in the past has been considered too conservative with regard to sonding abroad New Zealand players. It has preferred to accumulate funds by ibhe importation of overseas players to win titles. Since 1932 winners of the men's title, have been Andrews, Malfroy, Perry, McGrath and Coombe. The chief benefit to be derived from sending Dominion players abroad is not the improvement, to those selected, or even tho help they give if they return, but rather tho incentive provided for juniors, so they may win a place in future teams. If representatives are sent more consistently, this will soon reflect on the play in New Zealand and bring in better finance for the future. In such a year as this, with promising talent offering among junior ladies, a special effort, should be made to enlarge the team.