FRENCH PROSPECTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue CXXIII, 10 April 1937, Page 23

FRENCH PROSPECTS

France's prospects of reaching the European zone final in the Davis Cup competition are excellent in the opinion of Pierre Goldschmidt, the French, first-series player. He has little doubt of France's success over Norway, Czechslovakia, or Poland for a place in the semi-flnal, though he has not counted on R. Menzel's return to competitive play in estimating the outcome of a tie between France and the Czechs. . . France may find Yugoslavia in their path at the semi-final stage, and thanks to the recent advance of B. Destremau who, Goldschmidt considers, has now attained the top class, a French victory should be assured over their stumbling block of last year. It will be noted that Goldschmidt assumes a Yugoslavian victory over South Africa or New Zealand. Discussing the likely composition of the new French Davis Cup team, Goldschmidt states that Destremau is indisputably the French number one. For the second place' the choice Tests between A. Merlin, C. Boussus, M. Bernard, or perhaps Y. Petra. It is difficult to make a preference so early in the year. Moreover, he adds, one must wait to see whether Bernard, who proved his class so conclusively, in the French covered court championships, can reproduce such form on hard courts. Further, it may be preferable to reserve him for the doubles where he is irreplaceable. A. Merlin is still a very popular choice, largely on his past exploits in the competition.