Nations are Now Settling Question Who Shall Meet U.S.A. For Davis Cup.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18144, 2 May 1927, Page 12

Nations are Now Settling Question Who Shall Meet U.S.A. For Davis Cup.

Twenty-six years ago the Davis Cup contests were begun. To-day twentysix nations are competing in this the world’s game, in which practically every nation now indulges. From now on for six months the challenging nations will fight out the preliminary rounds to decide which nation shall have the honour of cnallenging the holders of the title of champion nation. The title was held first for three years by the U.S.A. team. Then it was held till 1907 by the British Isles. Then Australasia—-that is, Australia and New Zealand—held command, save for a short break in 1912 and 1913, till 1920, no contests being played during the war—that is, from that in 1914, when Australasia wrested the title back from America, which nation had won it from the British Isles after that nation had, by the defeat of Norman Brookes and T. C. Parke, beaten Australasia in 1912. Last year France was signally defeated by the U.S.A. team ini the challenge round; but the players of France, Lacoste, Borotra and Cochet, a week or so later beat all the best American players in convincing fashion, and have since then been accredited by many as the best three players in the. world, even better than the famous \Y. T. Tilden and W. M. Johnston —an opinion the writer does not share. This year a battle royal is expected in the challenge round. The French team, benefiting by its mistake of last year in not going to America till just liefore the matches were to be played, is leaving early so as to have time to become acclimatised, and used to the different balls and playing surface. This year is also notable for the readmission of Germany and the other

enemy nations, who have been barred since, the war. It is further notablor for the fact that Australia is not entering a team, as the best two players, Patterson and Hawkes, were not available. The draw for this year’s matches was made according to custom by the President of the United States, Mr Coolidge, the first name picked being Czecho-Slovakia, which thus got a bye in the first round. The matches in the first round are:—Spain a-. India, Sweden v. British Isles, Denmark a-. lloland, Switzerland v. Austria, Ireland v. South Africa. In the second round the matches drawn areCzecho-Rlovakia v. Greece, Belgium v. Poland, Juga SlaA-ia a\ avinner of Spain and India, Portugal v. Germany, Hungary a-. Italy, France v. Rumania. All the above are in. the European The matches in the American zone in the first round are: Japan v. Mexico, Cuba v. Canada. It is curious that, in spite of the immense success of these contests, it is proposed by some who do not desire to IcaA-e well enough alone, that the system of the challenge round being played in the country of the champion nation should be abandoned. The inevitable result would be that the final round Avould be played in different countries each year. Therefore, each nation Avoulrl have the. right to have the Cup played in its country. turn, or jealousy would be nourished, and one can imagine how much interest there would be in a final played in, say, China or Cuba. Each nation would wait till its turn came, and would re- 1 frain from sending teams abroad. i