BETTER BRITISH TENNIS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1931, Page 3

BETTER BRITISH TENNIS

H. W. AUSTIN AND F. J. PERRY. DAVIS UUP HOPES REVIVED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, October 22. H. W. Austin has gained another convincing victory over Jean Borotra on a hard court in London, and at the finish the Frenchman described his young opponent as the finest lawn tennis player in the world. In stroke play I do not think that this is any exaggeration. Borotra was very impressed by the ease with which he was beaten, and, reflecting beyond his own experience, I think he came to the conclusion that France was in great danger of losing the Davis Cup. As a second string to the new English bow there, is F. J. Perry, who has just returned from his American tour with his doubles partner, G. P. Hughes. They, too, proved how good are the prospects in the cup competition. Together they gained very notable victories, and in the singles Perry defeated seven of the first ten American players. In fact, Ellesworth Vines, who secured the championship, was the only player who could be said to have had the better of him. (Perry said: “In our repeated struggles Ellesworth Vines came out a little on top. But I am looking forward to another trial with him under European conditions, and I hope it will come next season. He is sure to play for America in the Davis Cup, and this, I take it, will mean his appearance at Wimbledon. Anyhow, nothing I ’ saw in America makes me despair of our prospects next summer.”

Perry and Hughes travelled all over America, and the climatic changes were very trying, especially the intense heat which was experienced. The conditions, too, were different from those they are accustomed to at home, and, since the reign of the brothers Doherty, no English players have ever done' so well as Perry and -Hughes ■in ■ America. It has now- been decided not to bring Tilden and his troupe of exhibition professional players to London. The reason given for this change of plan is that no suitable hall is available. I think another is that the visit was not likely to be a paying proposition. There is no public in this country for exhibition lawn tennis. This was proved when Suzanne Lenglen was brought over after she had turned professional. It is true that she was not provided with an adequate opponent, but this was not th© real reason why she failed as a boxoffice