DAVIS CUP COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16307, 23 December 1920, Page 8

DAVIS CUP COURT.

IN PERFECT CONDITION.

CHAMPIONS AT PRACTICE.

The special tenuis court put down in tho Auckland Domain tor the Davis Oup match received its baptism of play on Monday, when, just live months alter the turf, imported from an oldestablished lawn ot New Lynn, was put down, two of tho greatest of the world’s players, Mr Norman E. Brookes ami Gerald Paterson, of Australia, engaged in a set of singles on the billiard table surface of grass that had been ootainecl. Incidentally, \V. T. Tilden, tho present world’s champion singles player, was an onlooker, and on Tuesday ho himself took a turn on the court. The court certainly looked a picture ef lawn artistry (says the Auckland “Star”), and ag play proceeded it was found to bo beautifully firm, fast and true, and if its wearing qualities justify preesnt indications, it will probably be in the condition for very fast play when the Davis Cup compettiion opens next Tuesday. “ A treat to plav on it, ’ was the comment of Mr Brookes, ,when asked his opinion of the court] while Mr Paterson heartily endorsed this • opinion, adding that‘the Posers Would not bo able to find any fault with the court. In tile game on Monday Brookes showed a continuance of the wood form he has shown right up to date and it wns obvioins that he has shaken off the illness that interfered with his plav l Ut^« tl rm aSfc year. In fact his form Is so notably good that it would not be at al surprising to find him chancre bis m nd over the decision not to com- ‘ £th n the wl,en thG cup matches aro due. Patterson, on the other hand, has not dropped' into his game on tho local courts, being the ex- ’ hlth I ® t , cani in this resnect for both Heath and O’Hara Wood have been playing brilliantly. Tl.c Austr? Hons put in a good three hours’ pra». of the ° n the CUT) co,,rt - most V rL th w bo ’ ng occupied in sin.r] es ; %v!Li bC - WeP ?- , Patt orson and O’Hara ■ wh £ h the honours went S the latter. Patterson’s game was un KsmT’ B . om? *i bfil,ianfi sl 'ots being SUrspersed with many mistakes in dri, s PS e< ? nncl decision of Wood’s ’ wfto which a? 1 - the P ers > st encv > he f . orcecl lns opponent into error by dropping shots to the back sms