WHAT OF THE OUTLOOK?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 95, 8 May 1937, Page 14

WHAT OF THE OUTLOOK?

BOmS AIUOA AND NEW ^ ZEALAND AUSTRALIA AND UNITED STATES At the moment interest centres mainly in the issue between New Zealand and South Africa and . United States v. Australia. First rounfl ynatche* have panned out aceording to expectations. ' ; it is hard to estimate wljat is xiKely to happen in the second round. New Zealand will be up against a stifl proposition in South Africa and Stedman and Malfroy will have to play with much greater vim , than they did against China, a contest the New Zealanders were expected to win. It has been taken for granted by rpany world critics that New Zealand will be beaten by South Africa. The feeling is fairly confident to South Africa on that point, the Rand Daily Mail having pointed out that if the New Zealanders win it will be one of the Hurprises of the tournament. But such a tournament as this gets much of Its life blood from surprises and New Zealand has a flghtlng chance, no more, of downing the opposition from Cape ,and Rand. The winners of this match, if expectations -go aceording to schedule, are theh Ukely to be pitted against Jugoslavia. The issue in America will be one ot much sterner quality. It will be ihe final process of elimi'nation and ihe matdi wiii deeide whether Australia or America earas the right to p,ay the winners of the European zone lor the honour "of contestfog the cup *ith Britain. Generally speaking, world opinion favours Australia, out ihe issue is no foregone conclusion. Australia, it is true, has never bad arighter prospects, but America is a strong side and the indications of the day, notwithstanding Australia's uroved supremacy last year, suggest a stern battle which will engage the attention of the whole tennis world, Quist's form in America, when he played against Mexico, notwithstanding its better shape on the second day, has given rise to apprehension Quist was reported as listless. Now McGrath Is in hospltal* With a sore airoat, and, although reports. are reasuring, the outlook from Australia's point of view cannot be as bright as t was. * . Budge and Parker, the two Ameriwho won through the first round issue with Japan, did so rather easily. It was an expected victory and although reports credit Budge with being off form it is noticeable that he held his end of the business up very well. Uiiited States will prove a hard propostion f®r Australia, but there is every reason to hope that the Americans will be beaten. Writlng In the Daily Mail, 'Stan.

Doust expresses the opinion that notwithstanding Perry'i defection from the ranks of amateurs, Britain will retain the Davis Cup. •This ls what he says: — "I belleve that Britain will retain the Davis Cup. Austin will be required to play only -the singles instead of playing many matches as in the Wimbledon championship, Austin should win both singles and Britain should win one other match." Doust also says: "J. D. Budge, A. K. Quist, Baron von Cramm, H. £enkel, and Sidney Wood, are the most likely winners in the English championship. McGrath and Bromwich may spring surprises, and Crawford may regain the crown now that Perry is out of the day." These oplnions, naturally, do not flnd much favour in Australia, and a writer in the Sydney Referee, takes Stan to task. He says that Doust would hate to back up his opinions by records. He aims to please his public. "Austin should win both his singles." Well, in the Davis Cup, Crawford has always beaten Austin save last year. Now Quist, Bromwich, and McGrath have proved themselves better than the Crawford of this year. Surely they ottght to go close to beating Austin? Quist beat Austin last year. What reason is there to say bluntly, "Austin should beat Quist"? "Britain should win one other match." Which one, Stan? Why not -say the doubles? With what pair? The singles? Who? Why not tell us who are .the wonderful new players capable of beating Quist, ranked by all other critics on last year's European form as fourth in the world. Now Australian form has shown McGrath to be quite as good as Quist, and Stan. khows that during last year's Davis Cup practice matches in England, etc.,' McGrath was beating Quist. - Henkel, Stan. says. has a better chance than our men. Did Henkel do as well last year as "Quist? Did not McGrath .beat Henkel. Admittedly Henkel has been doing well in Egypt and elsewhere against von Cramm and other great players, but so has McGrath and Bromwich in Australia. Henkel has a good chance, but to rank Him ahead of our men ls pure fiattery for, those close at hand, Austin does not need fiattery. On his day he may beat any of our men, or, indeed, anyone, but that is far as any sincere critic can go. He .can stand one big match, but his physique will not stand another two days later. I have always regretted that, for Austin is, in my mind, the world's most perfect tennis artist, with every stroke and every action flnely made. He plays the whole game — driving aimed to be followed, and actually followed when justified, by fine volieying. As a tennis crank, I regard Austin as one of my ideals, and would be delighted if he could stand the strain physically. • "" ■" 1 " - • wr"" 1 "" - - ' ■ • ■ "