BLUE RIBAND OF TENNIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 109, 9 May 1936, Page 4

BLUE RIBAND OF TENNIS

DAVIS CUP CONTESTS BEGIN GREAT INTEREST IN AUSTRALIANS CHANCES AMERICAN ZONE FINAL THREE WEEKS AWAY After a lapse of nine years the Germantown Cricket Glut, of Philadelphia, will once again play host to an important Daus Cup contest—between the United States and Australia. The United States has defeated Mexico and the Australians have accounted for Cuba: thus making the way for a major contest in the American Zone. The Davis Cup. presented in 1900 by Dr. Dwight Davis, of America, is regarded as the world’s premier tennis trophy, it is held at present by Great Britain, whose representative team, last year, withstood the challenge of America. Nineteen nations have entered challenging teams in the European zone this year, and four in the American, two of which have now been disposed of.. Australia and the United States are to meet in the final of the American zone from May _9 to ->l. Ihe semi-finals in the European zone must be played by June 19 and the final by July 13. The interzone final is set down to be played at, Wimbledon on Julv 18. 2° and 21. and the challenge round a week later

Australia’s fortunes will be followed with unusual interest because the tennis authorities of the Commonwealth have made two departures from custom. Australia has entered her challenge in the American zone for the first time since 1032. For the first time in the history of Australia’s participation in the Davis Cup competition her players have been required to undergo a rigorous course uf physical training before leaving f.»r the tour, and no effort will be spared to see that ihe men are in perfect physical condition when they take the court lor their first match. Jack Crawford, for instance. who is making his seventh overseas tour, has ost more thau a stone in weight since he began the training. Even al his best, Crawford has never impressed overseas critics with his physical fitness. and only his wonderful sense of anticipation has compensated for lack n[ real sueed about the court Crawford. in spite of Quist’s great improvement. will still have to bear the brunt of the campaign. M.Grath too, has often played sluggish l ? overseas, and it is thought that better physical > audition will sharpen up his game considerably. Quist is always in perfect condition and really required no special training. This will be the fit:est team that hat ever represented Australia. Comment by Wallis Myers • A Davi = Cup match of vital importance to the countries t oncerned — and probably tu the British holders as well —will take pla*ce at the Germansown Cricket Club. Philadelphia, at the end of May. This is the breounter beween the United States an ! Australia, he winners coming to Europe for the *• inter-zone’’ at Wimbledon/’ says Wallis Myers in the Dailv Telegraph. •‘Since both, countries have their eyes • n Wimbledon, the contest, after negoEatiou, will take place on turf courts — rhe scene, in fact, of the first French • ictory over America which gave them :he Davis Cup in 1927. The new summer grass is likely to be slow, and this mav possibly prove an advantage to the American team, who will have enjoyed preliminary practice. •‘Moreover. Crawford - meeting Budge for the first time; and the young • alifornian has undoubted’? strengthened his game since he was at Wimbledon last year. Tn a long match his greater stamina may be of value. ••] shall be surprised if Crawford and Quist are not selected for both singles and doubles. Quist is the Australian champion, and. with Ciawford. holds ; he doubles titles both a- Wimbledon and Pari«. ‘•On the other -hand. N’cGrath. although he defeated Allison at Wimbledon, was under the doctor’s eve in Australia before he sailed: lir has some ground to make up. Improved Australians •’Ciawford said, before leaving: I am satisfied with mv own form.’ He is a modest fellow, not given to boasting, but he was undoubtedly overplayed when he suffered his three defeats by Quist. Nor has he ever done full justice to his genius in America. •’According to Dr. G. H. McElhone. a well known Sydney player, the Australians. by meeting the Americans on their own ’courts, are playing right into ihe hands of their stronger, opponents. That unfavourable estimate of their chances remains to be o-'oveu. Lhe Australians chose the battleground deliberately to avoid the heavy strain of % European tour, and srn* e they last met their coming opponent.- on American courts in 1932 where the? tailed 0 win one of the five aia.' he.s —their ream has gained in pre.-tigt and experience. “The resuit vt the match, even nearer the date, is certain to be specuative. The sides may well 'break even n single?. In a decisive doubles match i should favour the Austral ■-■ns. “Allison and Van Ryn. the present U.S.A. champions. and likes to be selected. have lost some f their oid nower. while Crawford and Quist, twice ■•'.owned in Europe. hav» gained in ihrustful strength.’’ Quist's Improvement Mr Myers’ views as to ’nv final personnel of the Australian team will meet with considerable support u Australia/’ says the Referee. Qui.-t is. undoubtedly. the finen playei of the vear on the form revealed. Hl* appears to watch the ball more close v than he used to—watches it right on to the racket. That is what Don Bradman does in batting. It mean:, greater accuracy in timing the ball and also in placing it, a minimum of loose strokes, and,, yet in no sense weikening the speed of the ball when sheer speed is acquired. •Some may question if the Crawford-

A . I Qinst pairing is the best, The best 1 reply to that is that they have an- i swere-1 every question everywhere, and that both are mere matured on the courts than McGrath. Quist has shown this year that it is not so easy to put him off his game as it was a vear or two ba'.*k, when the run of piav went against him. The Improving Badge America’s team probable will be. as' Vkihner Allison, the captain, hinted recently. Allison and J. I>. Budge In the 'ingles, and Allison and J. U. van Ryn in the doubles. Allison regained the American singles championship from j Perry last year, after a strangely in- ' consisten season in Europe. He was beaten, for instance, by MyGrath in the first round at Wimbledon, but the Australians would be unwise to draw inferences .from that result. Allison, at his best, is a fine player, and a I great fighter, always more, formidable I on his home courts than in overseas : matches. Donald Budge, the red-headed Californian youngster, who captured the imagination of Wimbledon galleries last year, needs only • » have improved a very little to bo ranked in the first four in the worl 1. He was far too good for Quist when the? met at Wimbledon, and his re’ord for the i reason included victories o»er Austin and the German, von Crania.. Quist’s domination of the Australian -eason was due as much to Crawford’s tailing-off ia form as to his own im- ' provement. Australians recognise that 11 he Commonwealth team’s chance of’ victory depends largely on whether [Crawford can regain his best form. He, I alone, of the Australians, has given evidence of ability to master the Amerij cans. Quist may do well, but he is an [uncertain quantity. It i s likely that the result will depend on the doubles, which, in any case, should Ke ? magnificent match. Crawford and Quist won the French and English doubles championships last a car, but they were within a point of losing to Allison and van Ryn at Wimbledon. Germany’s Strong Team I he draw for the European section ( of the Davis Cup competition is moie j even than it has often been, and at least a good zone final is assured. Only ! three nations have any real chance of reaching the inter-zone tie, Germany, Czechoslovakia. and France. Germanv, which reached the inter-zonc final last year, there giving the Americans a great fright, is expected to win the zone again, although there will be strong opposition. German? has. in G. ; von Cramm. a player who has already gained secund place in wo.'ld ranking, and who is expected to improve. Heiner [Henkel, a young and improving player, | has some good performan.es to his i credit. His defeat of Crawford last ;year paved the way to Germany’s entry • into the inter-zone final. Kay Lund, a ' hard-hitting youngster, makes a good ! doubles partner for von Ctamm, and against America last rear this pair had five match points against Allison and van Ryn. Tn Germany’s quarter of the draw are Spain ('already beaten >. Hungary. Greece, and Argentira. Sweden is almost certain to emerge j the victor from the adjacent quarter ! which also contains Ireland. Denmark, ■and Switzerland. Karl Schroder is 'Sweden’s star, and his brilliance in j singles and doubles gave Sweden the victory over Germany in an indoor (match played on Davis Cup lines during the '.'inter. H-’ is strongest on wood surface-, however, and in an im- | portant match on an outdoor court he , jis not likely again to master von i | < ‘ramm. Czechoslovakia or Fiance? I Czechoslovakia and France are in the i one quarter, and whichever is success- ; fa! should have no difficulty in beating, lin the semi-final, the winner out of ; Norway. Belgium. Austria, and Poland. Roderick Menzel, the giant Czech, recently announced his retirement from i the game, but as he was playing in the championships at Prague H may be assumed that he will again represent his j country. This teniperanieu’al and unorthodox player is always Ekely to beat , a vhanipion by his sheer speed of shot. ’ The Czech team will be completed from i Ladislow Hecht, runner-up to Perry, I and conqueror of Menzel at Prague last ■ week. .1. Siba. who took ’.*«_rrv to five : sets in the semi-final, J. Malacek, and •I. Caskii. The French team will be •hosen from •lean Burotra, M. Bernard. Boussus, IJ. Brugnon. B. Destremeau. A. M. Le- ’ geay. and J. Leueur. Bernard and Bous. ■ sus will probably be the singles players, I and the doubles will bc*a toss-up between Borotra and Brugnou and Brugnon and the rapidly-improving Legeay jand Lesucur. France’s fir.-t opponent is China.