Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-27
PLAY FOR TROPHY
TO BOOM TENNIS
AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEST
WILL HELP THE GAME
Team VIII Go to England to Try to
Regain the Davis Cup.
Britons Won II
Last Year

The announcement that the challenge
issued by the United States Lawn Ten
mis- association for Dwight F. Davis
International tennis trophy has been
accepted by the English association is
expected to boom the game greatly
both in this country and in England
during the coming season.
The decision last season not to at
tempt the recapture of the cup was a
severe disappointment to tennis en-
thusiasts, although it was realized that
the stand taken by the committee was
we'll taken.
This year there was no indecision in
the action of the National association
and the dispatch from the English body
notifying the United States Lawn Ten
mis- association of the acceptance of the
challenge removed the last doubt as to
the match.
1t is quite certain that when the team
appears on the English courts next
July there will be at least two members
who have never figured in the racquet
battles for the Davis trophy
Before the association sent a formal
challenge for the match of 1905 care
full canvass of the leading players was
made, in order that the committee in
charge of the affair might know just
what men it could depend upon in case
the trip was made.
Strong Team VIII Do
The replies to it's queries were In al
most every case satisfactory, and the
challenge was forwarded with the firm
conviction that the strongest players in
the country were available.
Among those approached were William
A. Larned, American champion in 1901
'92-'93; Holcomb Ward, runner-up in
1903 and champion last season; NJ. d.
Whitman. champion in 1898. 1890 and
1900; w. ]. Clothier, former intercol-
1egiate champion; Kreigh Collins, west
ern champion, and Beals c. Wright of
Boston. Nearly all answered favor
ably. the notable exception being
Whitman, who stated that business
cares would prevent him from consider
ing the invitation.
From the men eligible most formid-
able team could be selected, but the
exact personnel will not be known un-
til some time in June.
1t is probable that the schedule of
the clubs included in the United States
Lawn Tennis association will be ar
ranged in such a manner that aspirants
for places on the team will have plenty
of opportunity to develop top form be-
fore the final contests for places.
Not more than four players will be
taken as active participants in the con-
tests, although several others will un-
doubtedly accompany the party as ad-
visers and spectators.
Britons Won in 1903
From the four players it will be pos
sible to secure three men for the single
matches and a team for the doubles.
In the series of 1903 at the Longwood
courts. near Boston, the American team
consisted of w. A. Larned, Robert d.
Wrenn and George L. Wrenn, jr., while
the English trio were H. L. and r. F.
Doherty and H. S. Mahoney, although
the latter did not take part in the play.
The series resulted in sweeping vic
tory for the visitors the latter winning
three out of four matches, losing only
default by r. F. Doherty to w. A.
Larned. II. L. Doherty defeated Rob-
ert D. Wrenn, 60. 6-3, ga; the same
player won from w. A. Larned, 6-3, 6-S.
60, 2-6. 7-5; r. F. Doherty defeated
r. D. Wrenn, GA, 3-6, 6-S, GA.
In the doubles the Doherty brothers
won from the Wrenns 7-5 9-s, 2-6, 6-S
The Davis trophy was first offered
for International play in 1900 by
Dwight F. Davis of st. Louis, a per-
petual challenge cup. The English as
sociation challenged that year, and was
defeated in three matches, o. A. w.
Gore, f. B. Black and H. r. Barrett
composing the visiting team, while N.
d. Whitman, d. F. Davis and Holcomb
Ward were the American representa-
tives.
Americans Win
The next match was played i'm 1902,
when the Americans again won three
out of five matches.
The English team that season con-
sisted of the Dohertys and Dr. Joshua
PIN, while the United States Lawn
Tennis association was represented by
M. d. Whitman, w. A. Larned, D. N.
Davis and Holcomb Ward.
The next season the English players
achieved their desire and carried the
cup to England.