The Davis Cup.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 158, 3 January 1912, Page 8

The Davis Cup.

WORLD'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP.

RETAINED BY AUSTRALASIA.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christhurch, -Last Night. A light shower fell early this mornjig and an electrical disturbance promised more, but it held off, and at the time for starting there was a cool and pleasant sou'-west wind blowing across the court. There was again a monster attendance, the 1500 seats at 2s <sd ibeing practically filled long before the time for starting. The takings on the first day were £137, the amount received in bookings paying ail expenses and to spare. It appears that Lamed was suffering from rheumatism yesterday and strained a tendon in the first set, but his play showed no indication of this. Indeed he got to his ball with celerity, but it was the weakness of his. strokes that lost, and, of course, Heath was admittedly at the top of his form, so it is problematical how far Larned's defeat was- attributable to his indisposition.

Some competent judges say that Larned should have given way to MeLoughlin in, the singles, and certainly the colt's play to-day made it appear that he would have .given a better exhibition against Heath. The weather held out to the finish of the match to-day, which only lasted an hour and a half. Australasia started well by taking the first set, C—4, but they showed no great I superiority, and it was confidently _ ex- ; vectedi that the match would run into ; live sets. ' Wright lost his two first services, but • won his third. Brookes and McLoughlin each won their two service games, whilst Dunlop won one and lost one. In the first set there were only a few good rallies, but the second showed betI ter play. Each player won on his serI vice until 5 all was called. Then Wright won his, making it 6—<s, and Brookes, losing his, gave to the challengers the set, which had lasted 23 minutes as against 14 minutes for the first. In the third set McLoughlin, Dunlop, Wright and Brookes each won on their service in this order,- and, repeating the performance, 4 all was called. i McLoughlin- and Dunlop, by each win- , ning 'their service, made it 5 all, (but then

Wright lost on his, and Brookes won his and the set at 7 —5, the time being 28 I minutes. This set showed some beautiful I combined play, and the strategy dis- ! played by all the players raised the oni lookers to a high pitch of enthusiasm. I In the fourth, and what proved to be I the last set, MoLoughlin won his service, i but Dunlop lost his, giving the Americans a lead of 2. Then Wright lost his and Brookes won his. McLoughlin lost his (for the first time), and Dunlop, winning ' his, Australasia led by 4 games to 2. Wright then won his and Dunlop losing j his made the score 4 all. Then McLoughlin lost his, the last two strokes going I to Australasia by a splendid fence be- ! tween the two opponents and a mar- . vellous recovery, with a scoring shot ' both by Dunlop. Australasia thus led by 5 to 4. Then Dunlop, with his service, . scored a love game, the Americans be- ! ing quite overwhelmed in this sortie. The match thus went ,to Australasia, j who thus ■ j In the .earlier part of the match ; Wright showed great versatility and i McLoughlin was quite irresistible with his serves and smashes, but the lattefs service lost its severity and he lost many aces by wild strokes. Dunlop, who had appeared to be the weak link in the quartette in the early part of ithe match, improved considerably, and in the late stages he made some marvellous recoveries at the net and frequently scored with clever placing and chop volleys; Brookes was the same imperturbable Brookes all through, playing a very safe game, but yet with enough severity to keep the opposition busy. He and his partner had many warm congratulations on their successful defence of the world's tennis championship. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher acted as umpire, and some of yesterday's linesmen, having been replaced the unpleasantness about foot faulting was not renewed, and the match progressed to the apparent comj plete satisfaction of the players, j To-day's sets lasted as follows: i First, 14mins; second, 23mins; third,' 28mins; fourth, 22mins. Scores:— The Australasian representatives, N. E. Brookes and A. W. Dunlop, defeated the Americans, Beals Wright and M. 1. McLoughlin, 6-4, 5—7, 7—5, 6-4.

TO-DAY'S MATCHES.

The weather looks uncertain for tomorrow, but the fact that the issue is settled will rob the two singles matches of some interest. At the same time there is considerable speculation as to how Heath will shape against Beals Wright.

STORY OF THE TROPHY. AUSTRALASIA'S GOOD RECORD. It was in 1900 that Mr. Dwight F. Davis, of St. Louis, then one of Amer ica's foremost players, offered a cup as a sort of international challenge. The donor was chosen in the teams of 1900 and 1902 for the defence of the Cup. Mr. Davis had no idea of the world-wide interest that would be evoked in the struggles for this symbol of international supremacy. Little wonder, then, hearing of the first great contest held m Australia, that he should have remarked that if he had known that the Cup was to become such a famous trophy he would have had it made of solid gold. The first challenging team from Great Britain set out in 1,000. It had to contend not only against climatic disadvantages, but also against the characteristic British idea that nobody could possibly be superior. British people imagined that it was merely a case of making the trip and lifting the Cup. The rude shock they received when they lost the three matches that were played showed that their confidence had been sadly misplaced. Rain prevented a completion of the remaining two matches. Tho British team consisted of A. W. Gore, E. D. Black, and H Roper Barrett, poetically referred to in the official organ as "The Dauntless Three." • the greiltest confidence m 1902 that English players saw R F and H. L. Dohert r and Dr. J. Pi m set * out in quest of the Davis Cup. The American team comprised M D Whit man and W. A. Lamed (the captain of the challenging team now in Christchurch) for singles, and Davis and Ward for doubles. The conditions were as perfect as they had been imperfect in 1900. American won by 3 matches to 2, Lamed beating Pim 6—3, 6—2, 6—2 but being defeated by R. F. Dohertv 6—2 6-3, 3-6, 4-6,4-6. * ? For the Englishmen 1903 was tllie year of victory. The challenging team consisted of the renowned Doherjty brothers and H. S. Mahoney. R,p, Jndi twere chosen to represent the Bfril-l Isles in singles and in -doubW days before .the first int^atilnaf

morning of the first day's play the doctor gave the decision that R.F. could not play without grave risk of injuring himself for weeks, but that after twenty-fours hours' rest he might be allowed to play. The question then arose could Mahony, the reserve, play on the first day and R. F. and H. IL on the second. Larned was consulted, but while expressing sincere sympathy with the Englishmen, the American captain decided that the single players of the first day must be the players of the second day's singles. The management of the English team was on the horns of a dilemma, but it was decided to give Larned, who had drawn R. F., a walk-over, and trust to luck that the Englishman might be well enough to play in the second round and win. Fortune nobly backed up this drastic course, for after the first day it rained hard for two days, and no play was possible. The results fully justified the "walk-over" given to Larned, for it was the only match the Americans won.

(In 1004 England had no difficulty in | defending the trophy against Belgium, who had defeated France in 'the preliminary round. The next year was the "Annus mirabilis" of tennis annals. The nations challenged England's supremacy. France, Belgium, Austria anJj America sent challenges, and from the! Antipodes came a challenge that was a portent of the part Australia and New Zealand were to play two years later. Lamed, Beals Wright, Halcombe Ward and William J. Clothier were the chosen from America's giants. Brookes, Aathony Wilding and A. W. Dunlop did battle for the lands under the Southern Cross, and in both ties hollow victories were won by the English-speaking nations. The winners then met in cmbat, and America won by five matches ty love. Australasia's year came in 1907. Brookes and Wilding were opposed to Beals Wright and Karl Bear in the preliminary tie. The scores are of interest on account of two of the players facing each other again in Christchurch in the present contest. Brookes [beat Wright, 6—4, 6-4, 6—2, and also Behr 4—6, 6—4, 6—l, 6-2. Wilding, by Seating Behr, secured the third win? that" entitled Australia and New Zealand to meet the holders, who were withoftt the services of the Dohertys and k. H. Smith. The Australasians won |>y- the narrow margin of three matches io two, but it ■•was,-, sufficient to entitle |hem to carry the much-c»veted cup to tie lands of the Southern Seas. I The two unsuccessful attempts by -A.-a!iiea,-'Yo iift~tfie~ Cjuf' ill "fc|tralia are so fresh in the minds of tt'ose who are interested' in lawn tennis as to njed no description, exceptionfto call to mind the memorable contest, between Brookes and Wright in Me/bourne in 1908. The scores tell fheir own story, the record being o—6j/3— 6, 7—5, 6—2, 12—10, and victory fof Wright.

FRANCE AND GERMANY MAY COMPETE. ,/■•

It is stated that France; will compete for the Davis Cup, provided the Americans win the present contest. A message to New York papers from Berlin state that Andre Gobert, representing the Kaiser and the Crown Prince, will inspire Herr Frockheim, a leading German player, to prepare to compete for the trophy, provided the competition takes place in the United States or England. It- to considered to be too far to send representatives to Australia. '