WORLD TENNIS STARS

Southland Times, Issue 23026, 21 October 1936, Page 14

WORLD TENNIS STARS

Upon his return to Australia recently, Cliff Sproule, manager-captain of the Australian Davis Cup team, said that he was disappointed to hear of the criticism levelled at Jack Crawford, who had put up some magnificent fights during the tour, (writes the Sydney representative of New Zealand Sporting Life). Crawford was still a great player, he added. Adrian Quist arrived back on the same boat. Crawford ranks world tennis stars in the following order: —F. J. Perry 1, G. von Cramm and D. Budge 2, A. K. 'Quist 4, H. W. Austin 5,” J. H. Crawford 6, B. Grant 7, V. B. McGrath 8, W. L. Allison 9, and H. Henkel 10. Crawford hoped that he would not be accused of lack of modesty by ranking himself in sixth position. By virtue of his Wimbledon and American championship v stories, Perry, says Crawford, is definitely No. 1. The Wimbledon winner is usually regarded as No. 1 mt|. irrespective of performances in other tournaments and for that reason, according to Crawford, the efforts of players well up at Wimbledon must be regarded when ranking. Von Cramm is the only player to have beaten Perry since Allison did the trick in the 1935 American final. The German was runner-up at Wimbledon and won all his singles in Davis Cud matches.