DAVIS CUP TEAM

Southland Times, Issue 23141, 6 March 1937, Page 21

DAVIS CUP TEAM

SELECTION OF D. C. COOMBE

Something of a surprise has been created by the selection of D. C. Coombe, of Wellington, the present holder of the New Zealand singles championship, to play abroad as the fourth member of New Zealand’s Davis Cup team, with Andrews, Stedman and Malfroy writes “Half-Volley,” in The Auckland Star. Qf course, it may be that Coombe was going abroad in any case on his own responsibility; in this case it would be natural for the New Zealand Association to give him the status of fourth member of the Cup team, in which he will, of course, both gain experience for himself and assist the other three in practice. But if Coombe has been sent by the New Zealand Association purely as a selection from New Zealand, entirely financed by New Zealand, then it seems that a little more thought might easily have resulted in a different selection. It might be said that the holder of the New Zealand championship is the logical selection; but to this it may well be answered that Coombe could well count Ifimself very lucky to win the singles title this year, as is shown by his five losses iff singles matches since winning the championship. Since winning the New Zealand championship at Timaru he has been beaten in both the Wellington championship (by Brown) and the Auckland championship (by Pat Wilson), as well as losing at Dannevirke, and twice in the Wilding Shield match (to Barnett and Angas). With this record he can hardly be called outstanding among New Zealand players. Against solid foreign opposition he would, in my judgment, not play nearly as well as Don France, who might well have been considered for selection. But what about the search for youth that should have been the first consideration of the selection committee? Bedford and Brown

With the example of Australia, America and England staring us in the face, why have we not selected a young player? Coombe is too old to improve “out of sight” as a result of such a tour. Bedford should have been chosen, if he was available. He is the best youngster in New Zealand today, and would have benefited by the experience. If he was not available, Brown, Mayson, Gunn or Pattinson should have been sent. One has only to compare the policy of the Auckland Association in sending three juniors to Australia, with that of headquarters who decline to give a junior a trip 10 times as beneficial, to see why New Zealand tennis has got into a rut. McGrath played Davis Cup tennis for Australia at seventeen. Bromwich is younger than this. Budge, Mako and Parker are all examples of young stars, started early in Davis Cup play, in order that their countries may reap the benefit from their improvement after Davis Cup experience. Remember also England’s policy in sending the young F. H. D. Wilde to New Zealand two years ago with Perry and Hughes. Why is New Zealand not doing something like this?