1939-05-18 — Page 25

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 18, 1939.

LAWN TENNIS

DAVIS CUP MAY

HINGE

ON THE DOUBLES

And Australia Has World's Finest Pair

PROBABLE CHALLENGE ROUND PROSPECTS; BROMWICH KEY MAN

As departure of our Davis Cup team approaches one hears many interesting discussions regarding its prospects writes the tennis correspondent of the "Sydney Referee."

They all centre on the Chal- lenge Round against America, which position Australia is ex- pected to reach without great difficulty.

Consensus of opinion seems to be that the doubles rubber will decide Australia's fate.

Despite the outstanding doubles record of Bromwich-Quist, there are many who lack confidence in the ability of this pair to win the vital rubber.

In my opinion, if the doubles mat- ch is to decide the future of the famous trophy, then Australia has every reason to feel most confident about the outcome.

The doubting element reveals the viewpoint that. Quist is a very uncer- tain quantity regarding the winning of a singles rubber.

On his day, they aver, he may be capable of so doing, but if two singles

ADRIAN QUIST

are to be won Bromwich is the player that will have to do the job.

The tremendous mental and phy sical strain of such a procedure is then put forth as a reason why his be play in the doubles rubber will seriously handicapped.

matches.

ca.

Likewise Budge for Ameri-

Their successes were recorded

against opponents of much greater class than will oppose Bromwich this year.

Incidentally, both Perry and Budge played prominent parts in winning Davis Cup doubles matches to clinch the issue of the respective series.

un-

Despite his unimpressive and orthodox stroke equipment Bromwich has proved his outstanding ability during the last eighteen months.

Budge, often referred to as the greatest player of all times, has been the only one to prove his master, and, even so, not so convincingly.

Thus the conclusion is reached that Bromwich has every chance of notch. vic- ing the necessary dual singles tories for Australia, and clinching the issue by playing his usual part in a doubles victory against any Ameri- can combination.

Our Greatest Pair Acting on the assumption that Aus- tralia can capture two singles mat ches, no matter by whose efforts, it makes the doubles match one of utmost importance.

It is a position which every sound critic of tennis must say is decidedly in favour of Australia.

In the Bromwich-Quist combination we have a team which has establish- ed an illustrious record, and one which makes it the logical claimant for the honour of being the greatest pair ever to play for this country.

Rather unusual circumstances sur- round their springing into existence as a pair.

Midway through 1937 each was scheduled to appear in championship events in Brisbane, Queensland.

A semi-official request from the National authorities. made, I understand, that Bromwich and Quist should pair together in the doubles championship.

was

Even in moments of the wildest im-

that

agination one could never have cast the amazing success accrued to this pairing.

The opposition encountered in Queensland tourney was not of standard and Bromwich-Quist able to capture the title quite fortably.

new

Tennis Stars In

Revolt

The British Lawn Tennis Association is facing a revolt of ranked players and first-class players due to their action in regard to the selection committee for the 1939 season.

1

Mr. E. R. Avory and H. G. N. Lee, leading British lawn tennis players, were nominated by the players as advisers to the selection committee. This was with the approval of the L.T.A. The selection committee ignored them, and both players resigned in protest.

Then followed the election of the 1939 selection committee. The players were again asked to select a candidate. They selected E. R. Avory.

When the results of the election were announced it was found that Avory had been rejected and the five old selectors had been elected en bloc.

There is a move on foot to call a meeting of all players to discuss the situation and formulate a plan of action. It is rumoured that drastic action will be resorted to to compel the LT.A. to recognise the rights of the players.

The meeting will be called when the L.T.A. asks the players to nominate two players as advisers to the selection committee. Following the Avory-Loe incident, there is a great deal of doubt as to whether there will be any acceptances.

uppish left-handed ground strokes, suggested a lack of the aggression so essential for high-class doubles play:

Unorthodox: tactics and lack experi- ence against top-rank doubles pairs were other handicaps that overshad- owed the youthful Australian.

Knowing the classic doubles. pairs he would soon be opposing, many con- tended that Bromwich's type of play would provide an absolute feast for his doubles opponent.

It is tennis history now how the "Bromwich Doubles Feast" did not

eventuate.

Mechanical Accuracy

A FAMILY RUGGER FIFTEEN

Sydney.

A Rugby fifteen, all

closely related to one another, play- ed at Drury, N.Z., on April 8. More- over, they won the match, says the "New Zealand Herald:

"

"A Rugby match of unusual interest was between a team composed of 14 Bromwich's mechanical accuracy en-grandsons and one great-grandson of abled him to effect ground stroke re-the late Mr. James Cossey, of Drury, turns of low-rajectory, both in return and members of the Drury Rugby Club. The last match played by the Cossey of service and during rallies,

His amazing retrieving ability fre- family was on October 13, 1934, when quently resulted in seeming winning they beat a Drury side by 12 points to strokes by the opposition going back 8. The family combination was again to difficult spots that brought errors. successful in the latest match, by 14

Furthermore, unorthodox tactics to 11. often allowed him to make openings which only himself seemed to realise existed.

115 DESCENDANTS

"Born in Onehunga în 1849, the late Mr. Cossey, came to Drury with his It was soon evident that Bromwich parents when quite a small child. At was not the easy mark_in doubles

the time of his death on July 31, 1937, that he. seemed. Even so, I think, fore the visiting pairs and our own lead aged 88, there were 12 children, six sons and six daughters, 56 grandchild- hasing combinations considered. he was ren, and 47 great-grandchildren.

still the vulnerable spot of his team.

"The Cossey team comprised: Albert Early defeats of Budge-Make and Cossey (captain), Reginald Cossey, Henkel-Von Cramin by Quist-Brom-William Cossey, Douglas Cossey, Pa wich greatly increased the confidence trick Cossey, Thomas Cossey, Ewen of the Australia pair.

Cossey, Leslie Cossey, Ronald Cossey,

the

high

were com-

not

of

The success actually was great import, but it must have been pleasing to those responsible for it, and certainly the

combination warranted a further trial.

Extreme Test Then again, it is argued, if Quist match, he fails in his first singles

attain

With Budge-Mako (U.S.A.) and his may lack confidence to

route best form in the doubles match on Gramm-Henkel (Germany) en

for Australia, it was quite evident we the second day.

would soon see Bromwich-Quist tested in the extreme.

par-

These two aspects, coupled with the "footfault" tendencies possessed by both Bromwich and Quist, ticularly the latter, are advanced. as reasons for doubting their ability to succeed ip a doubles match that means so much to Australia.

Not Impossible Task

Quist's prospects in singles against high-class opposition are certainly his If he produces open to doubt. best, then victory on each occasion is well within his grasp,

+

Such circumstances are in the lap of the "gods of sport," and only the occasion itself can supply the answer. as to whether the best Quist is func tioning.

Om-

Australia must win two singles to have a chance: off success, and) wich Is the one we look to for

per

The American pair, holders of their country's National doubles, and Wim- bledon doubles titles, as well as being Cup doubles outstanding in Davis matches were regarded as the world's

No. 1 pair.

I closely watched the first matches Keith Cossey, Lawrence Cossey, Sidney which the Australian combination

Cossey, Reginald Bregman, Peicy Platt, played against, the respective visiting and Kenneth Morgan. The linesmen, Messrs. Alfred and James Cossey, were pairs,

Bromwich, of course, was the cen-sons of the old Drury pioneer, tre of attack in both matches, but

"The match was in aid of funds for lightning-like serves, flerce volleys, the United Districts queen, Miss Jessie and smashes could not break down his Parker The carnival is to raise the robot-like play.

balance of money required for the dis- I was rather astounded at the fact trict's Centennial effort, a Plunket rest- that a player with his cumbersome room and à children's playground." doubles style of play could prove 30 effective.

His methods were against all prece dent for high-class doubles play, and should have proved most vulnerable against classic aggression on the part of the Americans and Germans. Quist Realised Position

toire. A

Victory, of course, went to the Aus

short time after- tralian pair, and wards a similar result. was achieved at the expense of Henkel-Von Cramm.

From that time onward the Quist- Bromwich combination has recorded triumphs that leave little doubt that they are established as the best pair in the world during the last two years.

Complete mastery over Budge-.. Mako, Henkel-Von Cramm, Hopman- Schwartz, and Crawford-McGrath is absolute verification of their prowess. Quist Not Affected

"footfault Strangely enough the bogy" does not upset Quist in doubles His ability is not undermined by as is the case in singles, frequent "footfault calls," neither does in he suffer temperamental lapses concentration and the will, to win.

*Bromwich seems to have ambst flex-steadying infiterice on his older

tremendous In the left court, at his best, Quist is without a peer in the world in doubles.

concerning Any doubts he had

dis- Bromwich's ability appeared to appear early in his first match with him against Budge-Mako.

I feel certain that Bromwich's re- In close proximity to them, and al-actions to the efforts of the champion ways a serious danger, was the Ger- doubles exponents was an eyeopener man combination of Von Cramm-to Quist, and gave him Henkel, who were rightly regarded as confidence. the No. 2 pair in world's grading.

the With

renowned Crawford McGrath pair also ready for action, as soon as the International season got under way, Quist and Bromwich were confronted with a more searching test.

At this stage Bromwich had de finitely convinced even his severeat critics that he was Australia's No. 1 singles player.

His doubles ability was an entirely. different matter, because of his ambi- dextrous stroke equipment,

Bromwich's "Gibraltar-like" defence allowed Quist to exploit his renowned doubles ability to the fullest.

He rose to great heights, and gave the most brilliant and, finished hibition that żona, Cam