DAVIS CUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22366, 13 September 1934, Page 11

DAVIS CUP

A FALLACY EXPOSED ONE MAN CANNOT DOMINATE COMPETITION. “If there is anything thoroughly established it is that the Davis Cup cannot be won or retained by one man, no matter how great he may be,” declares American Lawn Tennis in commenting on recent reviews of the 1934 Davis Cup competition. The article draws attention to the “moralising” of the New York Times, which stated that “it is the habit of the cup to gravitate to the country that holds the world’s best player and to stay there as long as he is in his prime. The United States won the cup for seven successive years while Tildeu strode the earth like a colossus; France won it for six successive years during the supremacy of Cochet; and the British have won it for two successive years under the leadership of Perry.” Robert C. Hynson, associate editor of American Lawn Tennis, deals with this contention under the heading of “ A Short Memory.” He states: “It takes two men to dominate the field, and the mention of Tilden and Cochet, and Perry is’far wide of the mark, as well as ungracious in overlooking men who contributed almost equally with the three players referred to in winning for their countries the lawn tennis championship of the world. GREAT “ SECOND STRINGS.” “ How can anyone be so unknowing, or so short of memory, as to seek to consign Billy Johnston to oblivion? It was the great Californian who marched step by step with Tilden to win the cup in 1920 and to retain it year after year. It was Johnston, too, who was so devastating in his play against all Davis Cup comers that they were blasted off the court. Tilden won consistently, too, but his matches were frequently long and in some doubt—as witness his battle with Shimizu in 1921, whereas Johnston’s win from Gerald Patterson at 6 —2, 6—2, 6—l, and from J. 0. Anderson at 6—l, 6—2, 6—3 in 1922, and from Jean Borotra at 6—l, 6—4, 6—o in 1925 are outstanding. “Nor can Rene Lacoste fail to be accorded high honours along with Henri Cochet. It was Lacoste who broke Tilden’s string of Davis Cup Singles victories in 1926, and who won two of the three matches that gave France the cup in 1927. Lacoste beat Johnston with the loss of four games, and Tilden in four sets, whereas Cochet lost to Tilden and won from Johnston. In 1932 it was Borotra who won two of the three victories of France against the United States and Cochet only one, AUSTIN’S INVALUABLE PART. “Coming to Great Britain, how ungracious and unjust it is to overlook ‘Bunny’ Austin in glorifying Perry. ,Iu 1931 when the renaissance of Great Britain first evidenced itself, Austin beat both Wood and Shields in the interzouc final, while in the challenge round he beat Borotra and carried Cochet to four sets. In the winning of the cup this year Austin beat Shields in three sets, while Perry required four, and he beat Wood in four sets whereas Perry required four, the lust at 15—13. To apportion praise correctly it must be said that in this year’s challenge tie Austin was even more convincing than Perry, just as the latter overshadowed his teammate in 1933 by keeping his slate clean. “ It is well to reiterate that two men arc required to win the Davis Cup. The lawn tennis hall of fame is full of heroes who marched on to victory two by two. There arc five matches in a tie, and unless the victory is overwhelming the win of three matches by one player is almost unprecedented. Even the Dohertys needed the support of S. H. Smith, Brookes that of Wilding, M'Loughlin that of Williams.”