DAVIS CUP, DEFENDERS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1920, Page 1

DAVIS CUP, DEFENDERS

great Australian four. (By Q.S.S. iii Auckland • “Herald.”) STPnEy, Nov. 24. The 1920 Aiistriiidslim Davis Cup team is: Norman E. Brookes, Gerald L. Patterson, Pat. O’Hara Wood, Rod. W. Heatli. All tliese players are Victorians. No tennis player in tiie world lias won so many championships as the great Nornian Brookes, who will again captain the Davis Cup defenders and play Witii Patterson iii tiie doubles. As was tlife case in the lash challenge round played in Sydney against the British IsleS, Rl'bbk'es will hot, probably, participate iii the singles, leaving the task th the Vety Capable Patterson and O’Hsira Wood, l’liey iiave how demonstrated themselves the greatest pre-sent-day individualists. Doiible games are how Brookes’ fbrte, though a fenyears since he Was perhaps the hardest mail in the world to beat at sifigles. A left-hander, Brookes may be referred to as the "gfaiid old hiaii” of tennis. Brim in 1877; .lib participated in riiany contests in his youtlifiil days, but it was not until 1896 tliht lie made a debut in an interstate ihateli. He represented Victoria agriinst New SdiitH AVales. In 1905 life jbuftiliyed to England, and won the hll-fcbniefii’ championship, and was runner-up with A; W. Dunlop in the doubles championship. In 1907 he again proceeded to England to win the whrld’s singles; doubles, and mixed doubles championships, and was amiember of the team to bring the Davis Cup ttt this country for the. first time. He lias won innumerable State championships, the Victorian singles supremacy six tiliies, and the doubles on some dozen occasions. Later Brookes devoted his energies more to the Davis Cup than individual championships, and has played in practically, every contest for Australasia. THE SUPREME GENIUS.

He has won more Davis Cup matches than any other living player,, proving himself the supremfe genius of the tennis racquet. At 43 Brookes not only knows more tennis, but has proven that he can execute as much as, if not more than any other player. In ‘the finesse of the game tiie Victorian veteran is in a class by himself. There is nothing in tennis except extreme speed that Brookes lacks to-day. His service is placed to perfection wherever his mas-ter-mind directs. His control of twist is phenomenal, and so adroitly placed that an opponent cannot tell until the hall strikes tho ground which way it will shoot. His ground strokes continue accurate to a degree, but he uses them merely as a method or reaching the net. Once there, the famous finger volleying, and uncanny sense of anticipation are as great as ever. His halfvolleying, which in most players is at first a ‘defensive shift, is deadly iii its directness firifcl ceitiiihty. Brookes makes fewfer errors thaii any man playing to-day. TJifere is, however, a perceptible decrease in the c'oiift covering, and in tlife stihg of his shots. Thfere is a tendency to save himself. He is, and evfef will b'e; the siipffetne thinker of the tennis game.

In doubles, whferfe he liris Patterson to play the Court u rider his guiding hand, Brdokes outranks them all. His judgment is' faultless, arid in generalship Napoleonic. Tli’efo is Mb one who has a keeper sense of fair plajf; Who is more geh'erOUs id hi's praise ; who is more 'courteous to hi's Opponent; or with frh'orii in the Opinion of other champions, it is more Of a pleasure to play. ■ « THE GREAT PATTERSON. Gerald Patterson, who wofi the world’s title in 1919, to ios’e it tint fort to tiics American chahrpiori, W. T. Tilden, has iron & promiiieht plncb of regard in tho hearts of Australian tennis enthusiasts. Patterson is 24, 6 ft in height, add built oh massive line's. He will bo the bright Star in the team. His game is the brilliant hard-hitting one. Patterson may not be a greAt t'ennls genius—his game has superlative weakness for a player of his standing—blit he has a Wonderful ability to flash his best when it is most needed. His service is famed the world Over. It ft an American twist of great speed and sharp treads. His for’ehahd dtive is speedy aid he shoots it straight or across court with equal Wfte. His volleying is adequate, and n'bt phehomenal. , . It is Patterson’s Overhead that is unique in the annals of tennis. He acquires terrible speed, great certainty add placement, with little or no effort. It is a triumph Of perfect timing and freight placement. A greater mystery of his game is his backhand. Fundamentally wrong in every particular, erratic and wild, it takes streaks of wonderful effectiveness, particularly m doubles. Patterson steps away, from the ball, turns his wrist under, and kits up across the face of the ball. It is all wrong, but it gets there. Seldom has a more interesting player broken into the big trials than Patterson. Patterson was a pupil of Norman Brookes, and on the court resembles him in niahy ways. He is always in deadly earnest. It is clear that, great as he is now, he lias not nearly reached liis limits. THE NEWCOMER.

tt will be O’Hara Wood’s first appeai'anbo in a Davis Cup contest.. He is a stylist of the first order, and plays a joyous game of tennis. By defeating (with R. V. Thomas) Brookes and Patterson at AVimbledon in 1919, lie gained a world’s title. He is a finely-built young athlete, who combines grace and vigour in a supremo degree. Ho has many brilliant strokes and the essential tennis temperament. Prior to the war ho had some inter-Stato successes, but lias never shown such fino form as at the moment. Ho will severely test the Americans. ■ .* Rod. Heath is not new to the • pig games, having played in singles in

1911 and 1912. Id 1911 he’ clfeleatid the American, W. A; Lamed,' 2—6, 6—l, 7—5, 6—2, and had a walk-over from Beols-Wfight. In 1912 he was beaten by J. C. Parke, 6—2, 6—4, 6—4, .and by G. P. Dixon, 5—7, 6—4, 6—2, 6—4, He is now playing better tennis than ovfef before, and his meeting with Patterson in iKo Victorian singles was described as super-tennis. i i Reatli wilt probably not bo called upon to play, but will remdiri a very use fill member (if tlio team for practice

purposes. , It is interesting to note that, all the members, of the team served jwith distinction in the Great War. Patterson, nn infantry captain in the A.1.F., won the Military • Cross, . Brookes was a major arid saw service in Egypt and Mesopotamia, Heath was with the Royal flying Corps as a major, while O’Hara Worid, a staff captain with the A.I.F. whs at one timfe A.D.C. to General Birdwood. If the teams play as well in the Cup Matches as they have done in Jitelbotifhe, tiie Americans will not win.