Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-02
TEAM TO co FOR DAVIS CUP
Tennis Players to Represent United
States in Australia.
WILLIAM A. HARMED WILL NOT 60
His Younger Brother May, whue
Doyle and Behr Are Looked Upon
a. other Likely Invaders
frsm Here.

NEW YORK. Aug. with the certainty
that there viii be no elimination tennis
matches for the Dsvis cup in either Eng
land or America this year, interest in tn,
championship honors Of the world ha,
really narrowed down to the proposed trlr
to Australia. Whether or not the commit
tee in charge Of these matters for the
United States Lawn Tennis association car
prevail upon two or three good men to SC
to the Antipodes much will depend. The
matches in Australia are not scheduled e
take place until November, and therefore
there is plenty OF time TO make the neces-
sary preparations. The trouble this year
will be in picking a team with a fair
chance Of victory and getting the men to
go. Thus far no one has really played
tennis In this country to warrant any con.
fidence Of success. The national cham
pion, William A. Larned, has said that he
will positively not make the trip to Au.
stralla. With the exception of the work
shown at seabright. William ]. Clothier,
the 1905 champion, has not performed well
enough TO warrant his selection. He hal
been beaten by Edwin Larned in the mid
die states and c. B. Doyle OF Washington
also has taken him into camp.
There has undoubtedly been an effort
- -
on the part Of some moving spirits to get
Edwin P. Larned into such shape that he
can qualify. but the young brother OF the
champion is not CLASSY enough for such
an undertaking. He has beaten CIothier
and Little, and that is about all. Clothier
was away off his game. and Little has been
out OF the running all year. Larned has
been beaten several times by Mollenhauer
In the Long Island championship, and by
George y. Touchard in the Felipe cup
series.
Karl Behr will naturally come In for
consideration, but the once fast Crescent
Athletic club man has not done any kind
OF work this year, and he would have to
improve a great deal to be justified In de-
manding consideration. Likewise Little has
been going back steadily. II is likely that
Beals Wright will be one of the team, as
he is always good when' It comes to the
international matches, no matter how care
less he may be in the first part of the
year. He understands international play
ing better than any other star in the
country, and he would very likely accept
an invitation 10 go.
Frederick B. Alexander has shown up
strong this year He was going along
splendidly when he sprained his ankle, and
there are many who hin he can carry off
the Newport honors II he maintains his
recent form Whether or not he could be
induced to go to Australia Is still a ques-
ton. II he accepts 1t would mean that
Beals Wright and Fred Alexander will be
the team, a pair not to be despised. 1t is
hardly likely that England could beat the
pair with both of the Dohertys out Of the
game. Gore. Richie, Barrett and one or
two others from the British Isles would
probably find their hands full with the
singles II they went. In Australia, should
America get through the elimination series
with Great Britain. there would be Brookes,
who IL In all likelihood the best player of
the day. Even Brookes might strike a
snas II the two. Americans were In top
form, and certainly there is no other
Kangaroo who would be troublesome. Thus
the championship would resolve itself into
a question Of how strong a doubles team
could be gathered.
Harold Hachett, the partner OF Alexander.
has announced that he canno go, so that
Wright would probably hav to team with
Alexander. and just HOY strong a combina-
ton they would make is problematical, as
they have never been tried.