DAVIS CUP PRACTICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1938, Page 5

DAVIS CUP PRACTICE

CRITICISM OF AMERICAN SPORTSMANSHIP DISPUTE OVER USE OF COURTS AUSTRALIANS FIT AND READY By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. PHILADELPHIA, September 1. The Australian Associated Press correspondent says that two incidents involving what could hardly oe termed other than poor American sportsmanship somewhat strained the amicable relations between the Australian and American Davis Cup tennis players today and left the. Australians awaiting the matches with a decidedly unpleasant taste in their mouths. In the first place, when the Australians arrived at the match courts for a final hard work-out, they found them extremely soggy as a result of rain all last night and decided not to use them, fearing that play on them might cause serious damage. After long delay in locating the responsible official, the members of the American team arrived, unhesitatingly appropriated all three courts and began to practise. Hopman, the Australian captain, protested that the Australians had not yet had a chance to practise. Whereupon the Americans replied: “That’s your bad luck; your time is up and the courts are now ours.” It was only after a bitter argument that the Americans yielded the doubles court, retaining the two singles courts. The second incident occurred when the referee, Joseph Weare, ruled that Lott, the American professional engaged by the Australians, could not practise on the match courts since he was not a Davis Cup player. Hopman’s pleas that coaches had been permitted to practise against the Australians everywhere else was unavailing, and the Australians substituted Nakano, of the Japanese Davis Cup team, as Quist’s opponent in singles and Schwartz as his partner in the doubles. Despite the unpleasantness, the Australians had a hard work-out for an hour. Hopman deemed it unwise to practise longer for fear that the slow bounce from the wet courts would harm rather than help timing. He said that the Australians were fit and ready. CHALLENGE DRAW PROSPECTS OF AUSTRALIANS FAVOURED COURTS DISPUTE FORGOTTEN (Recd This Day, 10.10 a.m.) PHILADELPHIA, September 2. ‘ The Davis Cup draw is first day:— Quist versus Riggs, Budge versus Bromwich. Last day: Quist versus Budge, Bromwich versus Riggs. The Doubles teams are not yet announced. The Australian Associated Press correspondent says Hopman ' expressed pleasure at' the draw, stating that it favoured Australia to the, limit. The value of Quist’s victory in the first match would be difficult to overestimate. It would immediately encourage Bromwich, “and even if he loses against Budge, lie will know that Riggs should present no difficulties. The doubles, which will, in the absence of an eventuality, bring Budge and Mako and Quist and Bromwich together, must not be viewed in the light of the Boston match, which meant nothing. We think we shall win doubles.” Lott, in an interview with the Australian Associated Press, said: “I prefer to dismiss the show of bad manners by officials yesterday. They were displeased with things I said in an article about Budge, but to order me off the courts seemed an extreme thing to do. After all, I was a member of many of their Davis Cup teams, in which I never lost a doubles match. My relations with the Australians are professional. It seems unbelieveable that officials will interfere with this relationship. I have not changed my concerning the outcome of the challenge doubles. The Boston match must be viewed in me light that when two teams so evenly matched meet, victory must alternate. Riggs should lose both his matches and the doubles should go to Australia.” Richards, in an interview with the Australian Associated Press, said: “Yesterday’s dispute about the courts and Lott was unfortunate, but unimportant. I took the teams to the theatre last night, and it was clear to me that the dispute had already been forgotten. I still choose the Australians to win the challenge round, Riggs losing both his matches to more experienced or better players, and the Australians taking the doubles, possibly in three sets.” COURTS IN BAD SHAPE. BUDGE CONFIDENT AS TO CONDITION. (Recd This Day, 10.30 a.m.) PHILADELPHIA, September 2. The Australians and the Americans each had an hour’s practice on the courts today. The courts appeared to be in increasingly worse shape. There are patches of clay, interspersed with a little clover. The Australians declared that they would be bound to be untrue and indeed lack every quality necessary for playing on the turf. Hopman and Schwartz gave Quist , and Bromwich a real work-out for 1 the doubles. Pate, the American captain, who watched, declared: “If I were the Australian captain, I would designate Hopman and Quist for Sunday's doubles. Hopman is a canny doubles player.” The Australian Associated Press learns that Budge is very confident concerning his own showing and told his physician he had never felt better in his life. Rumours concerning his condition were unfounded.