1938-03-16 — Page 21

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 16, 1938.

Davis Cup Draw Unfavourable To Great Britain

GERMANS TO MEET THE CHALLENGERS?

son.

(By A. WALLIS MYERS) –

THE Davis Cup, having returned to America after an interval of 10 years, will now extend its sea- When the international team championship is held by a European country its winner is known before August; now its fate cannot be settled be- fore the first week in September.

EXERCISING THEIR PREROGATIVE AS HOLDERS, THE UNITED STATES ARE LIKELY TO GAIN BY THE LATER CHALLENGE ROUND. BEFORE DONALD BUDGE CAME ALONG LAST SUMMER TO WIN THE CUP ALMOST SINGLE- HANDED AT WIMBLEDON HER PLAYERS HAD ONLY ONCE BEFORE 24 YEARS AGO, AND THEN ONLY BY A SINGLE STROKE LIFTED THE TROPHY IN EUROPE.

Before they defend their title the Americans will have the ad- vantage of schooling and refining their team at a sequence of turf- court meetings. They will have a maximum of time to select their men and to train them. European teams do not get the same pri- vilege; their supreme test may come too early in the year.

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But the Davis Cup is by no the right men are selected, than means safe for its founders, and some members of the L.TA. Coun- I doubt whether that knowledge-cil

able body, the American Davis Yet it is obvious that the task on Cup committee, is anything like the mineral courts of the Czech ca- so confident of victory at Phil-pital, on which Menzel and Hechs adelphia as they were in the are at their best, must be material- palmy days of Tilden and Johns-ly harder than any match against ton, who won and held the Cup the same opponents on home turf. for seven years. Their present GERMANY'S FIFTH VICTORY? team must lack the majestic. France, with Yvon Petra's power balance of that epoch.

AMERICA'S SECOND STRING Robert Riggs will be the second string to Budge. He is a youth of compact competence, with enviable stores of stamina, but he does not

at present command the burning speed of the champion, and his ex- perience against invading forces is -comparatively-limited

The American executive must also be a little anxious about their doubles pair, Budge and Mako. The holders at Wimbledon are ranked No. 1, but ever since ther were routed at Boston by von Cramm and Henkel in the final of the

increasing almost daily, should get Jas far as Germony in the semi-final of the European zone. Here much will depend on whether Henkel, after his relatively poor display in singles on the German world tour, can recover the form that made him

champion of France and his own country last year. If he does, Ger- many and Czechoslovakia

may again-meet in the European final to decide which shall cross the At- lantic.

The chances favour Germany winning for the fifth year. In that event, provided the Australians escape the bad fortune that has so often been their lot on American

American championship they have! courts, and defeat Japan, Quist and suffered a sequence of reverses. In Bromwich will re-encounter players Australia their tide of defeat against whom they have had an ex- big-match play was almost continu-cellent record on Australian courts

this season.

ous.

ABLE PILOT-

Of the 25 challenging countries only a handful, of course, have a The youthful Bromwich, with all chance of reaching Philadelphia in his glittering triumphs at home, September. In this select category has yet to show the same confidence may be placed the three past hold-and skill abroad; but the team from ers, Great Britain, Australia and the Commonwealth will have a very France, and the two Central Euro-able pilot in Harry Hopman, and I pean Powers, Germany and Czecho-should not be surprised if they slovakia. Another Central Power, came through to challenge Jugoslavia a well-balanced, well America. trained team-may be added.

UNKIND DRAW"

Cour

The prophet, however, must be wary. All the competing countries How does the White House draw have maturing skill available; none affect the chances of these respec-can be sure how it will develop in tive countries? It has not been very the next few months. Riggs, kind to the last holders. England Bromwich, Petra, Sabin and is certain of victory in the first own Charles Hare all may come round, but her second fence will be right to the front this year, either Czechoslovakia or Jugoslavia. If the Czechs beat the Jugoslavs the battleground is likely to bel Prague. Our last Davis Cup match against Menzel and Co. was played at Eastbourne in 1982, and the HMS Cumberland, were seen in a fast: Eug encourater at Causeway Czecha would therefore have choice Bay yesterday afternoon, the former of courts.

carrying away the honours by 13

We should, I think, have an even chance of success at Prague, for J

TAMAR BEAT CUMBERLAND AT RUGBY

Teams from HMS Tamar and

The

ming team scored three tries ough P. G. Askwith, Lieut. Harvey

am much more hopeful about ourland A B. Jones, two of which were Perry-less team for 1938, provided onverted by Tel Goddard

SCHOOL BEAT STAFF AT HOCKEY

The Diocesan Girls' School beat the Staff by 3 goals to nil yesterday in their annual hoc- key match on the School ground.

Leading at the interval by a goal scored by Miss Vivian Churn, the School added fur- ther goals through Miss. Hilds Reid and Miss Eva Churn.

WEEKEND

FOOTBALL

PROGRAMME

The following are the next week-end:

| ClubTM

SATURDAY

Police

(Club, 4.30 pm.)

Referees Lawrence.

Linesmen:-Gomes and Clark

South China “A” v South China “Bu

(Caroline Hill, 4:30 pm.) Referee: Omar.

Linesmen:-Barretto and Silva.

SUNDAY

Kowloon Chinese South Chins

(Caroline Hill, 4.30 paň.)

Referee: Sidebottom..

Linesmen: Dredge and Mellgren, Police

Eastern

(Club, 430 pm) Referee:

Grant. Linesmen:-Edwards and Godfrey.

ANCHOR

BEER

SATISFIES!

Refreshing

“BREWED FOR

THE TROPICS”

HOT Summer days demand

more than just -cool

You need quick

eplacing those nec

that the beat takes out of you.

ANCHOR BEER IS THE ANSWER

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