Davis Cup Challenge From New Zealand

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 275, 10 February 1928, Page 10

Davis Cup Challenge From New Zealand

WHO WILL REPRESENT DOMINION?

[Written f«»r The Sun.J

NEW ZEALAND has challenged for the Davis Cup in the European zone—which interesting information comes all the way from France. Just why we were not informed from Wellington is hard to say, but presumaby in the light of previous cablegrams the challenge was lodged only at the last minute.

Until the draw'—which will be made by the president of the Great Republic within 10 days—is known, it i£ next to impossible to size up our chances of surviving even the first round. Rut the great thought is: Who will ’be in the team? Here again we are up against a wall of silence which probably is justified, and we have only the knowledge of those players who are available in England. At Home we have E. D. Andrews, of Palmerston North, and Russell Young, of Wellington. Both are playing a fair amount of ’Varsity tennis, but up till now neither has shown any great signs of igniting the Thames—unless it be by the aid of an exploding benzine ship, ancl that is not a great factor in deciding who shall play for us. Young has done reasonably well, as has been reported already, and private information would lead one to believe that Andrews is playing better now than when he landed; it takes a long time to get acclimatised in England and on the Continent, and so should either or both of them be included it will be all in their favour.

In addition to Andrew's and Young, ■there is F. M. 13. Fisher, who is eligible jto represent the Dominion, by virtue of iliis birth. Recently a member of the (French team expressed the view that [Fisher was by no means a back number, more particularly in doubles, but (t is surely time to consider the advisability or otherwise of utilising our younger players. And here, then, we are up aganst the fact that J. C. Peacock, who was expressly picked out by the Frenchmen to practise with them in Wellington- is

on his way Home, with the avowed intention of playing as much tennis as he can possibly get. There is no question that when lie played in Christchurch at Christmas Peacock was in splendid physical condition—indeed, he was trained down slimmer than lie has been for many years. It is unquestionable that a slump by his partner, Wilson, w’as their undoing in the doubles match, in which they were beaten; albeit Peacock was a little slow in on liis service. A Wellington friend who saw some of the practice games advised me that Peacock was making some great shots while playing with Borotra against Brugnon and Boussus, and that both Borotra and Brugnon spoke in high praise of his ability. As a tactician l?e is on a par with Alec. Wallace, and that is high praise. Will he play? Will the New Zealand Association send Ollivier or Bartleet if he could be induced to leave his business? I doubt if Geoffrey Ollivier after his showing in Wellington is capable of speeding up his game to the necessary extent. He cannot fight against advancing years, and both his opponents in Wellington pasted his backhand to such an extent as to make the spectators fee] sorry for New Zealand’s champion. It is very improbable that Bartleet could he persuaded to devote the necessary time to a trip abroad, more especially as he w'ent away on pleasure not so very long ago. It would appear as if we must be unmitted to those of our players •• present away from our shores, and this is really as far as we can get until in some way we can pierce the silence which shrouds the whole position. Doubtless in their own good time, the powers that be in Wellington will 1 enlighten us; till then we grope in. the dark. Here’s hoping they’ll tell us soon! ) WAYFARER..