LAWN TENNIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3054, 26 November 1908, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

THE DAVIS CUR To-day the thoughts of all tennis enthusiasts, both in and out of the Commonwealth, will be centred in Melbourne, where, upon a specially prepared court, the fight will commence for the famous international trophy, the Davis cup. It was presented by an American in 1900 for competition by all the world. Brookes and Wilding did not gain possession of the cup by competing for it in Australia.' They had to journey to Wimbledon several times ere they were successful, and it is now only fair that there should be some compensation for the sacrifices they made in order to win the coveted trophy. The challenge round consists of four single matches between two players from each country, and one double match; the day being gained by the nation scoring a win in the majority of the contests. There is no necessity for the double team to be comprised of the same players as the singles. The first contest took place at Longwood, U.S.A., in 1900, when the British team consisted of A. W. Gore, E. D. Black, and H. Roper Barrett, thsir opponents being M. D. Whitman, D. F. Davis (the donor of the cup), and H. Ward. America won by three matches to love, 10 sets to one (Black defeating Davis) and 76 games to 50. On the last day play was interrupted by rain, and never resumed. In 1905 Australasia made a first bid for championship honours, France, Austria, Belgium, • and America also entering teams. The Australasian team was A. F. Wilding, Norman Brookes, and A. W. Dunlop; at that time Dunlop, who had won the Victorian championship in 1899, was probably best known in England for reputation. Wilding was just finishing his course at Cambridge, and had not then made his name a household word in Continental tennis circles, while although Brookes had proved his brilliancy on Australian courts little was known of his play across the seas. In the first round France, Austria, and Australasia had byes, America walked over, and Belgium retired. In the second round America (H. Ward, J. W. Clothier, and Beals Wright) beat France (M. Germot and M. Decugis) by five rubbers to love; and Australasia defeated Austria (R. Kinze and C. von Wessely) also by five rubbers to love. And then, as if to make the coincidence the more striking, America defeated Australasia in the final round, again the margin being five rubbers to love. Although it had been anticipated that Wilding might suffer defeat in the singles, Brookes was expected to win. However, Beals Wright defeated him, 12—10, 5 —7, 12—10, 6—4, after one of the most brilliant exhibitions of the game ever seen at Wimbledon. Lamed won aganst Brookes, 14—12, 6—o, 6 —3; while Ward and Beals Wright defeated Brookes and Dunlop, 6 —4, 7_5 > 5—7, 6—2. Five rubbers to love had been the score recorded in every engagement, so it was or.ly appropriate that the British Isles should defeat America'in that decisive fashion, ani thus retain possession of the cup. R. F. Doherty, H. L. Doherty, and S. H. Smith represented British Isies. In 1906 Austra'asia was once more a competitor, together with Austria, France, America, and, of course, the holders, the British Isles, but Austria and France scratched in the first round. Brookes and Dunlop had been unable to make the trip, and the team was composed of Wilding and L. O. S. Poidevin. They put up a very creditable showing in the final against America (H. Ward and R. D. Little), eventually being defeated three rubbers to two. Wilding won both his singles, but Poidevin was beaten by a narrow margin in each case, while in the doubles Ward and Little prevailed. In the challenge round the invincible British Isles trio, R. F. Doherty, H. L. Doherty, and S. H. Smith, defeated America by five rubbers to love, winning all the singles, and taking the'doubles. In 1907 Australasia made her third and, as it happened, successful bid for victory. Norman Brookes made his second trip to England, andjwith Wilding, now a celebrity, determined to make big effort to bring the cup out to Australia. America had also sent over a strong, team (Beals Wright and Karl Behr). Australasia met America in the preliminary'rcund at Wimbledon on July 13th, 15th, and 16th. and won the match, three rubbers to two, after a series of exciting and keenly-con-tested games. Brookes defeated Beals Wright, and against Behr won 4—6, 6—4, 6—l, 6—2.. This first set against Behr was the only time he suffered a reverse during the progresa of either preliminary or challenge rounds. Wilding beat Behr, but was defeated by Beal3 Wright. In the doubles the American pair defeated Brookes and Wilding, ' 3—6, 12—10, 4—6, 6—2, 6-3. In the challenge round Brookes continued his triumphant career; he accounted for Gore, and easily defeated Roper Barrett; Wildintr prevaield over Barrett, but lost to Gore, while in the doubles the British pair were victorious.