DAVIS CUP CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 103, 26 January 1920, Page 5

DAVIS CUP CONTEST

BROOKES OPPOSED TO IT BEING IN NEW ZEALAND DOMINION PLAYERS NOT FIT TO COMPETE (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. January 25, 5.5 p.m.) Sydnoy, January 25, At a dinner to the tennis representatives Mr. Cohiuhoun, president of the. Australian Association, paid a tribute to tho Britishers' sportsmanlike spirit in accepting defeat in the Davis Cup. Ho made feeling reference to the late Mr. Anthony Wilding as ono of those who had laid the foundation of success of Australian tennis. Colonel Kingscote, replying, said (ho visitors had had a ripping time. Ho was sure the better team had won tho Davis Cup. The matches were ployed in splendid spirit. The present Australasian team was the best combination of nlnvcrs that had ever played for tho cup. Captain Beamish declared that Mr. Brookes was the greatest player in the. world.

Mr Brookes, referring to tho venue for the next challenge round, snid it was ritrht that the match should be played in New Zealand, but they had to consider whether it -was a wise policy. There was no piayer in New Zealand with ability to take part in such a match. Ho recently played with a man who was next lo the Nov Zealand champion, and he did not consider that cither was fit to compete for the cup. Ho continued: "In goinir to New Zealand we would lose the advantage wc have in retaining the cun. It could also be said from tho ooint of view of the Americans that they would not like to go to Not Zealand, and would even be against playing there again owing to the state of tho weather." He would like to impress upon tho New Zealand delegates present the importance of endeavouring to get the match played in Australia, where the men likely to represent us live. It was a most serious mattei. and he doubted -whether Australasia would be able to get a. representative team to play in New Zealand.Mr. Brookes added that ho was against the recent attempts to alter tho conditions of the Davis Cup, and would do all in his power to defeat them. A suggestion had been made that tho cup should bo passed round annually. Ho doubted whether they would ever get a reorescntative team from any nation to come so far as Australia, unless it was for a challenge round—Press Assn. AUSTRALIAffcHAMPIONSHIPS PATTERSON WITHDRAWS. (Eec. January 25, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, January 25. t Tho Australian tennis championship tournament was continued to-day In the singles Lowo beat Jordan, Beamish heat Peach, Anderson beat Clemenger, O'Hara Wood beat Neil, Marsh beat Thomas. In tho doubles, Anderson and Lows beat Jordan and O'Rynn. In the singles, Patterson, who was suffering from an injured' arm, lost two nets to Tavlor (Adelaide). The latter then retired, as' he was compelled to return home. Subsequently it was announced that Patterson had withdrawn from the tournament. Brookes also was unablo to play further in the doubles.-Presa Assn.