DAVIS CUP TEAM.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 386, 31 March 1932, Page 11

DAVIS CUP TEAM.

To Play at Auckland Next Monday. THRILLING GAME EXPECTED. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, March 31. The following players have been selected to represent the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association in matches against the Australian Davis Cup players at Stanley Street on Monday next: Combined doubles: Miss Maefarlane and N. G. Sturt; women’s singles, Miss Maefarlane; men’s singles, N. G. Sturt and E. L. Bartleet; men’s doubles, N. G. Sturt and A.-C. Stedman. The Auckland team is a good one and the matches should be "well worthwatching. Miss Maefarlane is at the top of her form, and performed as well as any New Zealand woman in the last championships. Her play with Sturt shows good team work, and the pitting of this pair against Crawford and Mrs Crawford should prove thrilling, and give an idea as to the standard of New Zealand combined play. It will be remembered that Crawford held the combined doubles championship of the world

at Wimbledon with Miss Ryan in 1930. Since that time he is a remarkably improved player, having benefited as the result of two trips abroad with Davis Cup teams. Sturt has shown improvement since the New Zealand meeting, and his recent defeat of Bartleet in the

Remuera championship gives his supporters every confidence that he will do well against Australia’s best. His first championship victory should add to his match strength. Bartleet has always been a delight to watch, possessing, as he does, a brilliance of strokes rarely seen. When pitted against international players Bartleet is always at his befet, and should delight the crowd. Stedman and Sturt, the Auckland representatives in the doubles, are well paired, and know each other’s play thoroughly. Stedman has had experience against the Australians, and his doubles play has improved as the result of his visit to Sydney. Unfortunately, Stedman was below form during the championships, but the last few weeks’ spell has done him good, and the Auckland public should again see him at his best. The Australians have always been noted as brilliant exponents of the doubles game, their volleyifig and net play being an object lesson to New Zealanders. The match will undoubtedly be of great value to Auckland players, and instructive to all exponents of the game.