DAVIS CUP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20276, 10 April 1934, Page 11

DAVIS CUP.

Australia’s Chance of Regaining.

PATTERSON HOPEFUL. ' (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, April 10. Former champion tennis player of the world, Mr Gerald Patterson, who passed through Auckland on the Mariposa, believes that Australia, provided her representatives produce their best form, has a good eliar.ce of regaining tho Davis Cup in this year’s tournament. Mr. Patterson, who is on the start of a world's business trip, is accompanied by his wife and two children. “I saw him play in Australia, where he was very popular among the followers of tennis,” said Mr. Patterson in referring to the tragic death of Jim Satoh, captain of Japan’s Davis Cup team. “We all thought he was a very pleasant personality and there is no doubt that he will be greatly missed.” Satoh, said Mr. Patterson, was probably the fourth greatest tennis player produced in Japan. He was a most steady player and extremely active on the court. His style of play greatly resembled that of Perry, the English champion. On Jus laffc visit to Australia Satoh beat Crawford on several occasions, although he was beaten in the semi-finals of the Australian championship by Hopman. The Japanese had produced his best form in defeating McGrath earlier in the tourney. Promising Players. Deferring to the game in Australia. Mr. Patterson said that the standard had improved considerably in recent years. McGrath and Quist were both prornising players who should be able to hold their own in any overseas tournament. Crawford’s form at the end of last season had been uncertain, but that was probably due to the fact that he had played too much. With a good rest on the voyage to England he should get back to his best form. “If Crawford strikes form I think Australia has a very good chance of regaining the Davis Cup,” said Mr. Patterson. “Our team this year is not a one-man one, Quist and McGrath on their present form being almost as good as Crawford. I think our chances this year are better than they have been for time.” As Played by Kings. Tennis in Australia, he said, was still increasing in popularity. It had been played consistently through the bad times, while night play was now becoming exceedingly popular. Speaking of his own activities Mr. Patterson said that he was playing royal tennis, the original game, of which lawn tennis was an offshoot. Royal tennis originated in France, and, as its name implied. Was played in the early days almost exclusively by royalty. It was played indoors and was very much more complicated than lawn tennis, it being necessary for one to play the game fairly consistently for several months to get a general idea of the play, the method of scoring, and the strokes. In Australia there were only two royal tennis cotirts, one at Hobart and one at • Melbourne, and there were only a few such courts in England. Business conditions in Australia had improved all round, said Mr. Patterson. Following the rise in wool prices there had bten a return of confidence, although similar rises in the price of other primary products, notably wheat and butter, would have to come before real stability returned. Mr. Patterson., who last visited Auckland three years ago, will see most of the tennis matches played by the Australian team in England, and will also see some of the cricket matches.