THE DAVIS CUP.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1920, Page 5

THE DAVIS CUP.

AUSTRALASIA v. BRITAIN' THE TEAMS SELECTED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 15, 3.S p.m. Sydney, Jan. 15. The teams for the DaviH Cup contest between Australasia (challengers) and the British Isles ((holders) have been chosen as follows: Australasia.—Norman Brookes, Gerald Patterson, J. 0. Anderson. British Isles.—A. F. Kingscote, Lowe, Beamish.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Jan. 15, 10 pin. Sydeny, Jan. 15. The weather has cleared, and it is hot. To-morrow the first two rounds of the singles will be played, Gerald Patterson meeting A. 11. Lowe, and J. 0. Anderson meeting A. F. Kingscote. On Saturday, the doubles will be played, Norman Brookes and Patterson playing Kingscote and A. E. Beamish. On Monday, the final singles will be decided.

HISTORY OF THE CONTEST. AUSTRALASIA'S PART. (Specially written for the Daily News). After long years of war to deaden interest in sport the hearts of lawn tennis, enthusiasts are gladdened by the thought that players from opposite ends of the world have met in Sydney this week to play for the Davis Cup, the blue riband of lawn tennis throughout the world. It is the first contest since 1914, and the British Isles are challenging Australasia, the holders, and it is interesting to note that all the players taking part have been abroad on active service. The team which Britain lias to meet is still called an Australasian team, but this year the players are all Australians, and though New Zealand is really a partner in the business she is not represented in the team. But the Dominion cherishes splendid memories of the wonderful association of Norman Brookes (Melbourne) and the late Anthony Wilding (Christchurch), who together first won the cup for Australasia at Wimbledon in 1007, held it till 1912, and then won it again in 1914. But though 1914 brought success it also brought the war and Anthony Wilding died fighting in France. Five times champion of the world Wilding's memory lives to-day, and when we in New Zealand watch the progress of this week's Davis Cup matches we think of him, and we will share the successes of the Australians.

The story of the Davis Cup is a fascinating one. Mr. Dwight Davis was a prominent player in America and in 1900 he gave the cup for competition between Britain and America, never intending that it, should gather any more importance than this. "It I had known the fuss that this bowl was going to cause it would have been made of gold instead of silver," said Mr. Davis when lie saw that countries other than America and Britain coveted the cup. And now it has become the greatest event in the tennis world, and players travel twelve thousand miles to try to win it. It was in 1904 that the importance of the contests broadened, for in that year France and Belgium entered teams. Britain, who were then the holders, resisted the challengers. Then in 1905 Britain found its'right challenged by America, Australasia (who now entered the contests for the first time), France, and Belgium. Eventually America, won through the preliminary matches, only to be defeated by Britain. In 190 C America and Australasia returned to the attack. America beat Australasia in the preliminary tie, but in the final Britain again demonstrated her superiority. But presently came a change of home for the Davis Cup, for in 1007 Australasia won it and retained possession until 1012. Brookes and Wilding, destined to become in turn world champions, beat the Americans in the preliminary tie and then defeated Britain, taking tie trophy to Australasia. In 1908, 1909, and in 1911 (there was no contest in 1910) Australasia held the cup against attacks from America. But then the remarkable combination of Brookes and Wilding was broken and Britain sent a strong team to Melbourne which gained the day. Australasia was again weakened in 1913, but Britain's hold on the cup was to be brief, for the Americans sent a strong team to Wimbledon and took the cup across the Atlantic after an absence of eleven years. In 1914 Brookes and Wilding were available together again and Australasia regained the cup.

And now Britain has sent a team to Sydney to try and wrest; the cup. Five games will decide the contest, four singles and one doubles. In defence of Australasia Brookes is associated with Gerald Patterson, a young Melbourne player, who, since the war, has come into the front rank, and Anderson, another promising young player. The British team is made up of A. R. F. Kingscotc, Lowe and Beamish.