AUSTIN'S PART

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 282, 28 November 1936, Page 4

AUSTIN'S PART

PLAY IN DAVIS CLP , ASSOCIATION WITH TERRY. HIS WORK AT PLAY WRITING. [ Sonic interesting statistics on the play of F. J. Perry ana n. \v. Austin in Davis Cup matches curing the past seven years are g*ven by London Observer's lawn tennis correspondent. "Austin started his Davis Cup career in 192 J, two years before Perry was lirst called on to represent Great Britain, and in the long quest of the cup lew may realise how inucn Perry ana Austin nave done tor their country's honour, how many matenes they have been called on to play, or ho a many of the world s best players they have beaten in the course of their al- \ entures. Many may be surprised to hear that during their Davis Cup career Austin has played no fewer than 46 singles in Davis Cup matches, winning 35 of them and losing 11; and Perry has won exactly the same number, but only lost four out of his total of 39. "H. Cochet, F. X. Shields, D. Prenn, and G. de Stefani are the only players who have ever lowered Perry’s colours when he was playing for his country, and among the first-class players he has defeated are J. Borotra, S. B. Wood (twice), the late Jiro Satoh. R. Menel (twice), V. G. Kirby, N. G. Farquharson, G. von Cramm, H. Cochet. Ellsworth Vines. W. L. Allison (twice), V. B. McGrath, E. Maier, F. X. Shields, D. Budge, J. H. Crawford and A. K. Quist —a list of victims of i which any champion who ever lived ■ might be proud. "Austin can claim victories over I nearly all of these, and since Great I Britain won the cup in 1933 his only loss has been to Quist this year. “A high proportion of his eleven defeats were sustained at the hands of German players in the first four years he was representing his country; in Ihe last four only Cochet. Crawford and Quist have got the better of him. "Between them, then, our two protagonists have played 85 Davis Cup singles and won 70 of them—a record which the Observer's correspondent believes to be unapproachable by any two players of the same nationality in the cup's history. Even individual players’ records do not surpass, even if thev equal, the records of the two Englishmen. Tilden, for example, has 26 Davis Cup victories to set against five defeats; Borotra was beaten 11 times in the 29 singles he played for France."—Lawn Tennis (England). In English Lawn Tennis, Mr. G. Blake Caulfield reveals a side to H. W. Austin that is fresh and redolent of the open fields, and the things that uv.ell therein. The Davis Cup still remains in England through the services of Perry and Austin," says this writer. Reinforcements will eventually be requ'ied. and our interest in the progress of the younger players is, therefore. of great concern. Wilde and Hare have recently made great progress, and very nearly beat the Davis Cu > doubles team in the final at Wimbledon. Butler. Deloforl, and I Mulliken have certainly improved their games. The latter player is very accurate, and pu: his drives al vayj ;n tne right place. • should advise all tnese young plavcis to follow A i Min's lead, and take up physical culture. "Time cannot hang heavily on Austin's hands. He has just had a play produced, also written a very charming and companionable book, about birds and butterflies. It is called "Under the Heaven*." He relates interesting anecdotes about the feathered world. I wonder if he has ever watched the swallows in flight ini search of insects and wished that he I could move on the courts with the i same speed. We have heard it said I that it is the early bird that catches the worm. In lawn tennis, it is the early ball that wins the game." H. W. Austin writes ably on lawn I tennis topics. But he is not alone in I this interesting art. Out here there i are quite a few who wield the racket j with skill who can also tickle the . typewriter with rhythm. Though he uses a pen, Jack Craw- j ford is quite facile, informative, and tolerant. There is no jar of the typewriter in what he turns out. Over the seas. Fred Perry turns out snappy writings, and Ellsworth Vines is graphic and colourful.