DAVIS CUP CONTEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 71, 10 April 1937, Page 14

DAVIS CUP CONTEST

ENTRY OW SOUTH AFRIOA. The' South African lawn tennis players to compete in .the Davis Cup competition will probably confine .their tournament appearances in Engiand to the Wittibledon meeting. In the past they have taken part in a number of the minor meetings, but there is a feeling in South Africa that the opposltion eneountered is negligible. South Africa, it is thought, would do better to engage in international matches with other cquntries. , 6ne of the reasons for limiting the team's play in Engiand may be due to a general misgiving in South Africa regarding the decision to enter for the Davis Cup tlus season. Owing to the poor progress made in recent years there was considerable difference pf opinion regarding the visit anmng members of the South African Lawn Tennis Association. The last p resident of the association, Mr. H. J. Crocker, had some outspoken things to say about South African tennis. South Afrieans, declared Mr. Croeker, lacked the will to win. The young players of to-day were not prepared to throw their all into the game, and seemed to have an idea that South Africa, whether good enough or not, must send a Davis Cup team overseas. There was thus no incentlve to spur them on. If the players were frankly told that the best in South Africa was not good enough it might have a stimulating • effect.