THE COMING FIGHT FOR THE DAVIS CUP

P. A. Vaile

A Consideration of America's Chances

Author of "Modern Lawn Tennis," "Great Lawn Tennis Players," etc.

THE DAVIS CUP is probably the most famous challenge trophy in existence. I cannot on the moment call to mind any other trophy which has had such a great effect. There can be no doubt that Dwight F. Davis, the donor of this wonderful cup, builded better than he knew when he gave it. It would be interesting to try to follow and gauge the force which this idea has called into being for the advancement of lawn tennis. That, however, is, I am afraid, beyond the scope of this article. I must content myself with referring briefly to the history of the Cup before I come to the more important consideration of its future destination.

THE idea of giving the Cup was first mooted in the year 1897, but it was not until 1900 that it was decided to hold an international competition. The first competition took place in America in 1901 and was played at the grounds of the Longwood Cricket Club, Boston. America won this contest.

The British Isles challenged again in 1902, but were again beaten. In 1903 they sent over the famous brothers, R. F. and H. L. Doherty and H. S. Mahony.

On this occasion they were successful, and the scene of the cup fight was changed to England.

The United States did not challenge England in 1904, but France, Belgium and Austria challenged the holders. Austria defaulted in the first round and Belgium beat France but were easily defeated in the challenge round by the British Isles. In 1905 the challengers were Australasia, France and the United States, but the British Isles retained the title, as they did also in the following year, 1906.

It was in 1907 that Brookes and Wilding defeated the British Isles and took the Davis Cup away to Australasia. In 1908 Australasia retained the cup.

IN 1909 M. E. McLoughlin and M. H. Long invaded Australia in the effort to recover the Cup, but failed to do so, as they had to meet Brookes and Wilding, who were both in splendid form.

There was no contest in 1910, but in 1911 South Africa challenged and then defaulted to the United States, who then had to play off with the British Isles, who were beaten after a very close fight.

Larned, Wright and McLoughlin then sailed for New Zealand, where the challenge round was played. They encountered most miserable weather, which affected Larned's play considerably, and they were badly beaten. In 1912, three nations challenged, the British Isles, France and the United States. The United States defaulted, as they were unable to get a team. France played England at Folkestone, and was beaten by four matches to one. This occasion was interesting as being the first appearance of Laurentz in England.

Dixon, J. C. Parke, Lowe, to Australia to fight for the Cup, and this invasion produced one of the greatest upsets in lawn tennis history ever recorded. Brookes met Parke in the first match. Nobody gave Parke a chance, and probably few gave him less chance than Norman Brookes himself. But Parke beat his opponent by three sets to one and practically settled the fate of the Davis Cup at that time. The events of last year are so fresh within my readers' minds that it will be unnecessary for me to recapitulate them. The Australasians sent to us a team which was admittedly second-rate, and they were very decisively beaten. The most interesting feature in connection with this match was the appearance of A. B. Jones in the doubles. He is unquestionably a very finished player and without doubt produces his strokes in very fine form indeed. It was unfortunate that he was never in perfect condition during his visit to the United States; in fact, he was ill nearly all the time and came practically from the sick chamber to the court to play one of the finest double games ever.seen on the West Side grounds. Australasia's defeat left the United States to challenge the British Isles for the possession of the Cup. The team that went across consisted of Harold H. Hackett (Captain), Maurice E. McLoughlin, R. Norris Williams, 2nd, and Wallace Johnson. As is well remembered, they returned victorious, having beaten the British Isles by three games to two. The doubles match was probably the most thrilling game of its class that has been played at Wimbledon for many years. Hackett was badly off in the beginning, but came up when he was wanted and ably seconded McLoughlin's fine efforts. McLoughlin was, however, beaten by both Wilding and Parke.

So much for the past. Let us now consider America's chances of retaining this greatly valued trophy against the invaders.

FOR THIS year six nations, Germany, Canada, Australasia, British Isles, and France, are drawn. Germany and France have drawn byes, while Canada plays Australasia and the British Isles meet Belgium. This draw is in many ways all that could be desired by America. In the upper half of the draw are Germany, Canada and Australasia, and in the lower half are the British Isles, Belgium and France. It looks as though all the matches in the upper half are likely to be fought out in the United States, and that the winner thereof will meet the victor in the lower half of the draw in this country at the West Side Club's grounds, or at Longwood.

In the first round Canada meets Australia on July 25th. There should be no doubt about the result of this match, as Australia should win easily. On the same date the British Isles play Belgium. This match is also practically a foregone conclusion for the British Isles. Germany, one of whose representatives will probably be Kreuzer, will then play Australia on August 1st, and on the same date the British Isles will play France, who will be without Gobert's services. This should mean that on August 8th Australasia should play the British Isles for the right to challenge the United States.

TN CONSIDERING the prospects of America I am taking it for granted that Australasia will be the challenging nation. English lawn tennis is now at a very low ebb. Without the Irishman, Parke and his famous fore-hand drive, which is not made with the English stroke, they would be hopelessly outclassed, for all the leaders of lawn tennis of the young school in England follow the Doherty methods, and they have produced a nation of effeminate young pat-ballers.

All the leading players of England are, comparatively speaking, elderly gentlemen who are really qualified for the veteran class, and it is a cause for remark that, in English lawn tennis, men like Roper Barrett, M. J. G. Ritchie and A. W. Gore can maintain a leading position, as they do, in the game.

Let it be understood that although I say that it is a shame to the young men that their elders should remain in the position they occupy, I do not underrate the playing of these three men. The reason that they occupy the position that they do, is that their strokes are produced on sound principles, on the principles which were used by the men who made lawn tennis a man's game before it was reduced in England to a very effeminate substitute therefor.

I cannot imagine the Australasian team, consisting of Anthony F. Wilding, Norman E. Brookes, A. W. Dunlop and S. N. Doust being beaten by the British Isles. Assuming that I am correct in this forecast, we have to consider the chances of America's best against the invaders.

FIRSTLY, let us take Wilding against McLoughlin. When everybody thought last year that McLoughlin would beat Wilding, I analyzed his game, stroke by stroke, against Wilding's and found in it nothing to warrant me in believing that he could beat the redoubtable New Zealander. McLoughlin was beaten in three sets at Wimbledon, but it must be remembered that it was a very close match and that it would have been a phenomenal performance if he had won. In August next, he will have the advantage of meeting Wilding on what will to all intents and purposes be neutral ground with possibly some slight advantage in climate and knowledge to McLoughlin, but I am afraid that this will not be sufficient to turn the scale in McLoughlin's favor, unless he has improved tremendously during the winter.

Now, let us look at Williams's chances. Comparing him with Wilding, stroke by stroke, he stands out in an even worse light ' than McLoughlin, as his back hand for an international player of his reputation is simply lamentable and Wilding would probably demoralize him on that side. Both McLoughlin and Williams hold the racket too much after the English style when playing the back-hand stroke. I remember seeing Williams playing at the West Side grounds against one of the Australians. I returned to the pavilion after the match and there met W. A. Larned, seven times champion of the United States, and I said to him, "Did you ever see such a bad back-hand for a first-class player as Williams?" and Larned's answer was, "And it always will be so long as he keeps his racket head above his arm." On form, I cannot give either McLoughlin or Williams a victory over Wilding.

It is hard to tell what Brookes's form will be, but personally I have very little doubt that he will be found to be playing nearly as well as ever. The somewhat meager details of his recent encounter with Wilding on the Riviera show that after a long steamer voyage he ran his opponent to four all and deuce before he fell and shook himself up badly, after which he could not do himself justice. Given anything like his best form I find it hard to believe that Brookes will be defeated except possibly on condition, but McLoughlin has such remarkable stamina, such wonderful activity, and such a fine service that it is within the bounds of possibility that he will wear down the doughty Australian.

WE THEN have to consider the doubles. Nobody knows at present who is likely to be America's doubles team. McLoughlin and Bundy have been spoken of, but I believe it has practically been decided not to call on McLoughlin to play in the doubles as well as the singles. I am quite in the dark about the American doubles team, but I cannot imagine any team in America being able to win from Brookes and Dunlop, Wilding and Dunlop or Wilding and Brookes. On form I should be inclined to think that Australasia would win by at least three to two. Brookes is a brainy player, and his strokes are produced on such absolutely sound lines that I cannot mentally picture him playing a bad game. If he is beaten, I feel sure that it will be on stamina and not on account of the quality of his lawn tennis.

TT WILL be seen that I am not very hopeful about America's

chances against Australasia. The main reason for this is that her first and second players, McLoughlin and Williams, two splendid young athletes, of whom American lawn tennis players have a right to be proud, are practically one-sided players. McLoughlin's back-hand is not so bad as Williams's, but it is very deficient, in that he plays the stroke with his hand much too far round the racket and not enough behind it with relation to the ball at the moment of impact. The consequence is that he lacks control and severity. Williams's back-hand is produced in quite the worst form of any first-class player whom I can call to mind. He holds his racket nearly at a right angle to his arm.

If these two young players had a really good back-hand, it is impossible to say how good they might be.

McLoughlin has often been told that he must get a backhand. Unless he does, he will find Wilding's strong fore-hand drive with plenty of top spin "pounding" him on that side, until he is demoralized. McLoughlin and Williams are incomplete lawn tennis players, as they have cultivated their service and volleying at the expense of their ground strokes. It is this that makes me fear for America in the forthcoming international meeting.

If McLoughlin and Williams have improved during the winter and they have the luck to catch Norman Brookes off his game or to wear him down, America certainly has a chance. I should feel very hopeful indeed of the home team's chances were it not for the outstanding defect of the unsound back-hand which I have already referred to.

This is a matter of extreme importance, and I live in hope of seeing Williams and McLoughlin acquire a sound back-hand drive, but, as it is, I think the cup will go back to Australia.