NO DOUBT ABOUT BUDGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20929, 7 January 1938, Page 6

NO DOUBT ABOUT BUDGE

IS WORLD’S FIRST AMATEUR ALAN STEDMAN’S VIEW There is no doubt in the mind of Mr Alan C. Stedman, New Zealand Davis Cup player, that Donald Budge is No. 1 amateur in the world of tennis to-day. This view was expressed to a reporter of “The Timaru Herald” by Mr Stedman after he arrived in’ Timaru yesterday with Mr Dennis Coombe, New Zealand singles champion. “Budge is definitely better than Baron von Cramm, just as the German player has definite claims to the second position,” said Mr Stedman. Budge was a much-improved player since Fred Perry used to deal very effectively with him. Retirement Of Perry The retirement of Perry from the amateur ranks, said Mr Stedman, was a severe blow to English tennis prestige, and in his opinion the Homeland would experience a lean period in Davis Cup matches until other stars were forthcoming. In the women's division, however, the players reached a very high standard. He said that Perry must be making a considerable amount of a money as a professional, and he was still a great figure in world tennis.

England was doing her best to encourage tennis juniors, continued Mr Stedman, and any promising material was efficiently coached at Wimbledon. It was hoped that this policy would produce results and that ultimately Davis Cup players would be unearthed. Although he had not been to America, he was inclined to agree with others that the tentre court at Wimbledon was the finest in the world. On the first day of a tournament it was a picture, but it was always half bare at the conclusion. Tennis, said Mr Stedman, was becoming very popular on the Continent, where it was played on hard courts in summer. There were a few indoor courts, but summer conditions appeared to be preferred.

“You seem to have much the same players at the head of things as you did five years ago, and they are wearing very well,” said Mr Stedman, when asked to discuss the standard in the Dominion. He saw A. D. Brown, the young Aucklander, in action and was very impressed with the promise he displayed. Coombe, too, he said, would benefit from his experience in England. The right efforts seemed to be directed in New Zealand towards the encouragement of junior players. During the present visit Mr Coombe and he would be glad of the opportunity of “looking over" some of the South Canterbury juniors and giving them any advice where possible. They would be present at Maori Park this evening for that purpose. Mr Coombe described his recent trip abroad as a great experience. He had met players who could assist him to broaden his knowledge and there was no doubt that such visits by New Zealanders, were really worth while. Interesting Record Mr Stedman is paying his first visit to New Zealand since he left for abroad five years ago. During his association with big tennis at Home he has earned high praise from competent critics, who regard him as second only to Austin in England today. He was New Zealand University singles champion in 1927, 29-31, New Zealand singles champion in 1930, and doubles champion in 1931. He won the British hard court championship with C. E. Malfroy, in 1936 the men’s singles of Ireland in 1935, the doubles with Malfroy and the mixed doubles with Miss Chuter. His favourite and best scoring stroke is. his forehand. Mr Stedman will be a contender for the New Zealand title at Auckland shortly. At the end of February, in company with two players yet to be chosen, he will return to England to represent New Zealand for the third time in the Davis Cup series.