DAVIS CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 7, 9 January 1946, Page 7

DAVIS CUP

WHAT OF NEW ZEALAND? STATUS RECOGNISED With the revival of the Davis Cup competition a Jive topic and Australia getting ready to defend the trophy, is it too much to ask: What of New Zealand? The near future offers New Zealand little more than a super-optimist’s view so far as the wresting of the trophy is concerned. But that same period offers a way to eventual success. Alive to the position, the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association has decide 1 to enter the field of challengers in the Pacific Zone. Whatever the prospects of success, this early postwar move is a wise one. Apart from other likely benefits to be derived from re-entry into lhe competition, il serves to show that New Zealand’s .itatus is recognised and appreciated. New Zealand has been in the Davis Cup field as a separate nation since 1924, and has challenged for the Cup on six occasions, not without some measure of success in preliminary rounds. In 1928 New Zealand beat, Portugal 4-1 and in 1937 beat China .3-2. Other matches against Czechoslovakia, Australia, South Africa, and Great Britain have been lost, but a very good performance was put up against Great Britain in the last series before lhe war, New Zealand WAY TO SUCCEED Enthusiasm fo ■ lhe game and lhe interest being shown i-n the development of young players promises well foi lhe future. One of these en.liiisiasls optimis ic enough Io believe that New Zealand can win the Davis Cup is Mr. Toni Varied, and a good! • leal was heard al the recent quart-j erly meeting of the N.Z.L.T.A. of his ' ideas of the means to lhe end. Suggestions of improving the stan-j dard of play in New Zealand were put ] forward by Mr. Varley (who is an Auckland delegate) as follows: • a) That all information in New Zealand on coaching procedure and methods should be pooled for reprinting and distributing Io all associations, particularly those outside the main centres. (b) That the N.Z.L.T.A. should write to all the main overseas associations asking for the latest Infor-

I mation, photographs, and films of proved overseas coaching methods. j In advancing the suggestions Mr. ’ I Varley said that as far as he knew, all countries which had organised their junior coaching which, he stressed, must include regular play for | the juniors and intermediates against the leading senior players—had ultimately won the Davis Cup. He was satisfied that New Zealand had the [ , right material available amongst the 1 young players and he was confident , that all that was needed was that the promising players be given the guidM ance and opportunity. If that was ' : forthcoming the winning of lhe Davis ; ! Cup, he felt, was not impossible. 'I It was agreed that the suggestions j be referred to the main associations "I with a view to a combined report be- '} ing furnished by the management Ucommitee and discussed at the next quarterly meeting of the parent body.