LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1384, 9 March 1912, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

U3x -Toomm/i.'T WHAT OF THE NEXT DAVIS CUP? Some Competitors—America First. In view of tho fact that England, France, and America have challenged for tho Davis Cup some remarks as to the best players of these countries will be of interest:— W. A. ,Larncd stands at tho head of America on actual results for 1911, as he went through the season there without a defeat, but he played very low singles, defaulting on more than ono occasion on account of being troubled by the rheumatism which 60 affected his play in Christchurch recently. His best play was at Newport in tho American championships when he easily defeated M'Loughlin, 0-4, C—4, G—2. Even Lamed himself considered that ho played the greatest game of his lifo in this match. Those who saw his play in Christchurch can readily believe that he excelled himself on that occasion, and could hardly prophesy that he would be able to repeat the performance against tho rising star who should certainly not take more than a couple of years to capture the championship of America. His other performances of note were the defeats of A. 11. Lowe and C. P. Dixon in the preliminary tie of tho Davis Cup match. Seeing that tho last-mentioned aro included in the English team, this comparison is of especinl interest. Next to Lamed comes Maurice M'Loughlin—d position' readily conceded to him by all who saw his dashing play in the last Davis Cup contest. In 1910 ho was rated fourth, following Lamed, Buudy, and Beals Wright. This year Wright is not classed, not having played sufficient matches, and M'Loughlin has displaced Buudy, who thus comes third, though there is little doubt that Wright would displace him had he been ranked. It is interesting to note that, in his own country, M'Loughlin is second in both singles and doubles, and therefore stands ns the best all-round player there and (next to N. E. Brookes) in the world. Tho world's players, A. l< , . Wilding and W. A. Lnrned, have to be reckoned with N. E. Brookes, Beals Wright, and M. E. M'Loughlin in singles, and A. W. Dunlop and others have to be considered in doubles, but taking both branches of the game, Brookes and M'Loughlin rank clearly abovo all others. And Then tho Frenchmen. Comparing the performance of Uiiqn against Larned and M'Loughlin in America with the results of his matches against tho French champions—Decugis and Gobert—it is evident that a strong team can be put forward by France in tho next Cup contest. Of course, tho fact has to be taken into account that, in France, the play is on hard wood or chip courts, on which the Frenchmen usually excel. Perhaps tho French representatives would not show up so well on tho grass courts. Dixon, it was said, never appeared so entirely helpless as he was ngaiust Gobert. As showing the power of the Frenchman's deliveries, in one match in no game on Gobert's service was tho scoro over called at douce; "30" was the highest Dixon over reached. First ho. tried hitting hard, and then tossing, but each scheme failed. Even good-length tosses the Frenchman never failed to ruthlessly kill. Dixon's own service looked poor stuff in comparison. He had neither tho height of rebound nor pace of tho Frenchman, nor did ho vary the placing so well. Still, in pursuing an aggressive policy on his own service games, Dixon fairly held his own. Many of them were called at deuce, but even hero Gobert held the advantage, winning G out of 11. In a word, Dixon was outclassed, and was powerless to withstand the sustained brilliance of his opponent. Tho whole match lasted but 48 minutes, and tho rallies were abnormally short. The match was on a wooden court, and on it Gobert is a veritable genius, and possessing, as he does, natural advantages in tho way of height, roach, and youth (he is just 21), it may well bo imagined what a powerful gamo ho is capable of producing. Ho won three seta to fivo games. Good as Gobert thus is, and admittedly now. ho is a. shado better than Decugis, he has been Tepeatodly defeated by the colt Lanrentz, who is now at most 18.These, too, then, and Decugis (who beat A. W. Gore in the last English championship, and with Gobert won tho English Doubles Championship), must be reckoned in tho world's best 12. Klngscote the English Hope. As to England, most hopes aro entertained of Kingscote, tho Army champion, whoso fine stylo made possible anticipation of his last year's successes. In tho best of these were defeat of Ritchie and of Dcmst, and this your moro aro expected. Ono fine young player of America yet in his teens defeated Little, and M'Loughlin, Long, and Touchard aro all young. And Last, But Not Least. Of Australian men, Brookes Is young enough (o stand in the jap for several years more. Wilding and Heath are quito young, and at any time ono of the many promising colts in Australasia may go much higher. Victoria has Lyeett, Kolland, tho two O'Hara-Woods, and Wertheim, possessed of strokes that uooil but a little mow careful waning to make an impenetrable mail of defence. Each of them has, it is true, defect? in his game, from a world's chumpionship standard, but the material is there. In Now South Wales, A. B. Jones comes out amongst tho younger players as the most worthy of consideration. He lias always had the strokes. Now he is getting tho physique. K. II Jones is farther off but he in practice has nil the strokes mid one wonders why ho does not do better. In New Zealand Ollivier is already a good player, and some duy, perhaps a very fine one. Larned spoke highly of him, and lie hns displaced the previous oußinpions of New Zealand, but has r≥l 111 far to go.