THE DAVIS CUP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1292, 22 November 1911, Page 7

THE DAVIS CUP.

ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICAN TEAM AN INTEBVIEW. SOME FACTS AND OPINIONS. (By TciccraDb.-SDociaJ OorrcsDondent.l 1( Auckland, November 21. J'lm American Lawn Tennis team to Meet Australasia in the Davis Cup match at Uiristchurch next month arrived from \ ancouvcr by dm n.M'.S. Zcalandia this evening, n consists of W. A. Larncd (New York), Deals C. Wright (Boston), an<l Maurice 1). M'Lnughlin (San FranCisco). The party will leave for Wellington by tho Main Trunk express tomorrow evening, and go straight through to Christchurch, in order to becomo nocustomed to tlm climate and tho courts, and get plenty of practice before, th« contest.

nw ( ••' ''H' ' sa , lon S ,V "Y come to Play tennis,' ejaculated Mr. M'Loughlin as ho landed from the steamnr. Bevonil that none nf the members of tho team felt disposed to say much. That they are i\u"' bms ', oT, :r, was well evidenced, and they nro determined not to retraca such a long journey without a vcrv hard struggle to toko the Davis Cup back to America. '

V«. you way bo sure we do that," replied Mr. Lamed, ivhen asked if thn Mam looked forward to tho match with, conhdouco. Boals Wright, however, expressed a different opinion. A "Herald" reporter, who interviewed, the members of. tho team, found thorn exceedingly modest and uncommunicative. Questioned as to what ho thought of tho team s prospects, Mr. Lamed pointed out Unit lie could not say anything "bout theui, because ho did not' know who they were going to play, tho Australasian team not having been selected yet. This same reason, and their laclc of experience of the climate and thn courts, prevented bim from saying anything about tho team's arrangements for matches. Pressed as to what lie thought of the selection of the team, Mr. Lamed said it was tho best thev could get together this year. M'Lougnlin's strongest point was his service, and Wright's, po* siuly, his steadiness.

, What is the present condition of tennis in America? asked the pressman. "Tennis is on the increase in tha States," replied Mr. Larncd. "It is the tesult of ii natural growth, not of any special influence, except, perhaps, that more courts are available- now. In tha eastern parts of the States the courts arn mostly grass, with a few of sand, but in the middle West and the.West they are chiefly sand and asphalt courts. Personally I prefer a good grass court, and I think Wright and M'Loughlin do too." Wilding's name being mentioned in the conversation, Mr. Lamed remarked that it was live or six years sinco ho had played against Wilding and Brookes, and that was before cither had got to tho top of the game, so ho could not speak upon their present play. Mr. Wright, however, has 'played Brookes on four occasions, winning on three occasions, and losing one. Wilding ho has i-,et four times, tho last at Wimbledon in the season before last, and each has won twice. "Wilding's game has not changed," remarked Mr. Wright, "except that he is moro brainy. Nobody will tgrco with' that, I guess. It is merely my opinion." The team had a very good trip from Vancouver; tho only mishap they met with was that a waterpipe on the Zenlandia burst and let a quantity of water into Mr. Wright's cabin, spoiling pno of his racquets. Each player has a dozen or moro rackets, and they expect to usa them all up before leaving New Zealand. After the Davis Cup match, tho team will return to Auckland, and perhaps spend a few days hero and in Rotorua, They will then leave for tho States.