TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 19500, 14 March 1925, Page 14

TENNIS

(By “

“Racquet.”)

DAVIS CUP TEAM FOR 1925.

Although the challenges for this year’s Davis Cup do not require to be lodged with the American Association until March 15, the Australasian Association is losing no time in getting everything in proper order so that if a team is to go to America steps will be taken to see that it is a thoroughly representative one. The practice of sending the third and fourth players with the view to their getting experience for future contests is a very costly one, and will probably not be continued, as from the experience of the last two years, when Schlesinger and Mclnnes went in 1924, there has been no improvement whatever in their play commensurate with the cost of obtaining it. During the Australasian championship meeting, the sending of a truly representative team was discussed, and, although G. L. Patterson had decided not to go this year, he stated that if J. O. Anderson could afford the necessary time away from his business he would be prepared to do the same thing. The Australasian Association Council held an important eeting during the week, and evidently solved the matter of players' expenses without infringing their amateur status, as J. O. Anderson stated last week that he was most certain that, provided nothing unforseen happened in the meantime, he would be prepared to have another shot at winning the cup back again. This means (writes “Server” in the Australasian) that Australia’s two best singles players would be available in the same year. G. M. Hone is free to go, now that he has taken his degree, and would probably be selected. He would, however, be chosen in a different light from what Schlesinger, Mclnnes and Kahns were. He has already shown signs of developing into a Davis Cup player; he has the physique, reach, and style of a possible champion to an extent that none of those just mentioned are ever likely to reach, so his inclusion wwW

J. B. Hawkes and P. O’Hara Wood are aavilable, the position of offirth —or rather | third—to Anderson and Patterson will probably lie between them, and, from remarks dropped by a selector in Sydney, one would be inclined to favour the chances of J. B : Hawkes. Although Hawkes was defeated on his last tour in both the challenge round singles, he won seven games against Tilden and three from Johnson (the later score appears to be the limit of the Australians, all except J. O. Anderson against Johnson), he has shown marked improvement, particularly in his doubles game since that trip, and it is quite possible that Patterson and Hakes would be a much stronger I pair than Patterson and O'Hara Wood I Hawkes's strength lies in the fact that he ; goes in to meet the ball, which always ; brings in more effective results than wait- ! ing for the ball to hit the recquet. Should j a team be selected from Anderson, Patter- j son, Hawkes, O’Hara Wood, if both be un- [ strongest possible team available. Certainly Anderson, Paterson, and O’Hara Wood were together in 1922, but illness for the greater part of hte tour prevented Anderson from doming himself justice. The claims of R. Spencer, of Barraba, New South Wales, have been discussed in Sydney. Outside the fact, that he was too unwell to show his best form in the recent championships, he does not impress one as having sufficient punch behind his hits to get into a Davis Cup team; he is a good volleyer, and always keeps a good position on the court, but I think he would find the place too hard to keep up with.