THE DAVIS CUP

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 20

THE DAVIS CUP

GERMANY SHOULD WIN EUROPEAN ZONE

(By

“Chop.”)

The surprising defeat of France by Yugoslavia makes it almost certain that Germany will win the European zone in the Davis Cup competition. Germany plays Ireland in one semifinal and Austria meets Yugoslavia in the other. Yugoslavia will probably beat Austria and will meet Germany, which should have little difficulty defeating Ireland. This forecast is based on the assumption that Poncec and Pallada have improved considerably since last year when they were defeated by Artens and Matejka, Austria’s top players. But the excellent displays by the Slavs against France justify a belief in their improvement. In matches against Britain and in the French championships Boussus and Destremeau showed good form, yet Boussus was beaten by both Slavs and Destremeau by Pallada. Boussus had a great chance of bringing France through to the semi-final, for he had match point in the fourth set against Poncec on the final day. But both Pallada and Poncec are steady, tenacious players of great virility, and Boussus, never robust, failed badly when it came to the fifth set. The improvement in tennis in Yugoslavia is not to be judged only by the singles. Mitic and Kukuljevic, ranked sixth and third respectively, took Borotra and Bernard to the fifth set in the doubles. Germany can afford to view with equanimity the match between Austria and Yugoslavia, since she is almost certain to win, whichevei’ country she opposes. Then will come the inter-zone final with Australia—a match which may well decide possession of the cup for 1936-37.

The result may hinge on the doubles, for von Cramm is playing so well that he may win both his singles, though not without hard fights. Henkel has improved, but it is doubtful if he is yet as good as Quist or Crawford. In the doubles Australia should prevail, though there are many who think otherwise. It should be a most interesting tie.