Evening star., 1907-06-23
AFTER THE WORLDS
TENNIS TROPHY
BeaIs Wright and Kari Behr
Now in EngIand-Hope to
Capture Davis Cup.

NEW YORK, June 22-Beals c. Wright
and Karl Behr are now in England. where
they hope to regain possession Of the Davis
trophy, emblematic OF the worlds tennis
championship. 1t was hoped that the COM
mittee could secure the addition of Ray
n,ond D. Little to the party, but Little was
unable to make the necessary arrangements
to go. and unless w. J. Clother. the pres
ent holder of the American title In singles.
can be persuaded to follow Wright and
Behr to the other side. then the entire bur-
burden Of defeating the Australian challen-
gers and the English cup defenders will
fall on the shoulders Of Wright and Behr.
The preliminary trials for the Davis cup
will be played by the American and Aus
tralian teams at the historic courts at VIM
bledon July 13. Is and 16. The challenge
matches will follow between the English
team. the present holder Of the cup. and the
winner Of the preliminary event at Wimble-
don on July 20, % and q. How the Amer
lean challengers will fare in this years at
tempt for the cup is causing unprecedented
speculation in tennis circles. There Is q
general opinion that England will lose this
year on account of the withdrawal Of the
Doherty brothers from competitions; but
whether Wright and Behr. for America, or
A. F. Wilding and Norman E. Brookes. tho
hope Of Australia. will be the victors is not
spoken of so decisively.
The Feeling Abroad.
The feeling abroad. however. is that the
cup will be carried across the water either
by the American or Australian team. H.
L. Doherty. the English champion. has re-
tired from the game. His elder brother
will likely follow suit. on account Of ILL
health. his withdrawal being reported sew
eral times. The retirement of the younger
Doherty is chiefly due to the petty dissen-
sions between the All-England Club and the
Lawn Tennis Association. w. H. Collins
president OF the association. persuaded Do
herty into promising to remain the defender
of the cup. but Collins has now resigned his
post. and Doherty feels that his obligation
ceases. England still has some champion
players however. for the Doherty brothers
have thrice been defeated by S. H. Smith
and F. L. Riseley. and 1t is altogether prob
able that the later combination will defend
the cup against this years challengers.
The years representatives from Australia
will be much stronger than the team Of
year ago. Brookes. who replaces Poide-
Win. being relatively strong as Wilding.
they figure that. having been defeated by
the American team In only one match last
year, they will be able to win the prelim-
mary this year. Brookes has greatly i'm
proved since he was last in England. His
ground strokes are more safe and deadly.
and his free-hand drive Is almost as pow
erful as s. H. Smiths. This. at least Is
what his partner. Wilding says Of him
after seeing him play at Melbourne.
Wright's Condition.
Australia's winning depends much on the
form Of Beals Wright If he Is thoroughly
recovered from the effects of the blood
poisoning following the accident just be-
fore last years international tournament
and which necesstated the amputation of
the index finger of his right hand, he will
be the mainstay Of the invading pair.
Wrlght's work on the Riviera a short time
ago, when he was beaten two love sets by
Ritchie, confirmed in the minds Of many
the belief that he is handicapped by his
Illness. Others however. can see no rea-
son why Wright should not show his mag
nifcent form of 1905, as he is a left handed
player. and the operation on his right hand
will not affect his actual handling of the
racquet to the slightest degree. Wright's
work during the preliminary practice rounds
In this country showed that he has re-
years ago. but he Is far from being the un-
beatable player in singles at the present
time that he was in 1905.
In Behr America has a young and very
promising supporter. Behr has the dashing
style and brilliance Of Larned without that
players occasional erratic tendencies But
this is his first visit to English courts and
English climate. and he will be pitted against
thoroughly experienced and acclmated op-
ponents. 1t seems unreasonable to expect
him to be the chief instrument in winning
the cup for America. 1t seems more reason
able to base the whole question on whether
or not Wright can reach his form of two
seasons ago. If he can. It will be any
body's match: IL not. then Wilding and
Brookes should be the challengers for the
Dwight Davis cup. and it can be truthfully
said that the challenging team this season
stands better chance of winning the
trophy than in several years past. 1t is
the intention of WRIGHT Rshr tn for
in some Of the minor namants and in
the all-England championship. which be-
gins at Wimbledon Monday. This will af-
ford them the practice which they need,
but they will not continue in the tourna-
ments in the event Of 1t straining their
game or in any way handcapping them.
tionals this year is that the matches bring
out so many unknown and heretofore un-
tried players. For that reason they will be
watched with interest throughout the world
rhar lor fSarana aic L. x,ln ,rnd