THE DAVIS CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 4

THE DAVIS CUP

AUSTRALIA FAILS WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW? GERMANY MAY ELIMINATE . AMERICA. VASTLY CHANGED OUTLOOK Australia, just when the future gave greater promise than it has ever given so far as the Davis CXip is concerned, failed to negotiate the zone final gainst America. Illness was a basic cause, perhaps, but other factors arc worthy of being analysed, even at this late hour. The defeat, notwithstanding the fact that we in New Zealand knew that illness was a disturbing element in the Australian team, came as something of a surprise. In tact, ail the leading up to this year's zone final painted a picture of rosy hope for Australia. It was regarded, right from the time when Sproule sailed with his team lor America, that the Commonwealth had the brightest chance it had ever had of bringing the trophy back Io the warmth of Pacific seas. To-day the outlook is completely changed and Australia is looking ahead to the dismal possibility of never being able to lift the trophy at all. McGraths illness and then that of Quist played an unhappy part and it really seemed as if the fates had definitely loaded the dice against Australia. Bromwich was not up to the peak of international standard and it

tecomes patent now that the decision io play him in the singles in preference to McGrath was an error of judgment. If he had been sent to the eourts to pair with Crawford he would have had that friendly support from a player schooled on the hard road of international tests. McGrath should have been capable of holding his own in singles. In any case, it would have been more to the point to expect him to do well in comparison with Bromwich, who mmt have sensed a touch of inferiority complex when he went out alone to take the court in his first really big international test. So the whole Davis Cup outlook is changed and instead of the critics of .he world endeavouring to assess the relative merits of Austin and Crawford in the challenge match final, the effort now will be to try and read aright the relative strengths of America and Germany. At the moment of writing word of Henkel 1 Germany > gathering in the French championship comes to hand. That confirms a belief that Germany wi?i be hard to beat. Henkel and G. Von Cramni will present something for America to conquer. It is true that they would have tested Australia, but thoughts of Australia focussed on a fit Quist. With the fates denying that one is forced to a conclusion that the United States, having got through the American zone final without Quist in the picture, will not offer to Germany the same opposition as a truly representative Australian combination would have done. . Baron Von Cramm (Germany) finds it necessary to refrain from too much tennis. He retired from all events in the trench championships— needs a rest before the inter-zone final egainst America. I hat, actually is a good reason. Most of the Davis Cup leadexs -et too much match play. Cochet for refused to take Wimbledon seelousiy. He went down year after tear to players much below him in actual skill. Several critics think that Cochet simply used Wimbledon to keen him in form for the Davis Cup. Now ton Cramm is possibly doing the same patriotic thing. It would be a calamity if Germany lost his services for the Davis Cup. Seeing that a tour through Australia is being arranged for von Cramm and Henkel at the end of "his year, his health cannot be serioudv affected.