The San Francisco call., 1913-08-17
DWIGHT +. DAVIS
|. BY GIVING 4 CUP
HELPED TENNIS
Steady Growth of Game
Dates From Presentation
of the Beautiful Tro-
ply in 1900

Steady growth OF international tennis
the famous challenge cup by Dwight
+. Davis in 1900 for international COM
petition During the first few years in
the history of the cup England and the
United States had monopoly on play
ers strong enough to .strive for the
in the battle for the bowl which carried
with it supremacy in the lawn tennis
world
The first challenge for the cup was
John Bull. who could not see why his
young cousins across the large pond
blematic of the worlds tennis cham
pfonship. so he sent over three of his
sons. trio OF the best tennis players
in England. to curb the Yankees and
capture the emp. Incidentally one or the
men was H Roper Barrett, who with
c. P. Dixon tried hard TO lower the
colors of Maurice E. McLoughlin and
Wimbledon The other two were A. W.
Gore and e d. Black
BRITONS DEFEATED
60 SUEe were LIACSc pAdlctc u r-ANNA
ability to trim the American squad OF
Malcolm D. Whitman. Ho1combe Ward
and Dwight F. Davis that they didn' {
even bother to take any preliminary
practice. Instead they spent the time
prior TO the matches. which were held
at the Longwood Cricket club OF Bos-
ton. early In August. tripping about the
country The result OF the matches
PLAYED Is now matter OF history
whitman vanquished Gore in the
straight sets Davis took three sets out
OF four from Black. and the douoles
team of Davis and Ward defeated Black
and Barrett in three sets The malcn
between Davis and Gore in whicn tne
American lad at 81. S-au. was never
finished The English challenged again
In 1901. but were a little wary. and
as they could not gather team OF
SUFFICIENT strength withdrew the cnai-
1enge.
ENGLAND SUCCESSFUL
England was successful on her third
attempt TO lift the cup The matches
were played on the Longwood Crichel
club courts, August 4, and s. 1903 T.
F. Doherty injured his shoulder IN
practice, but rather than forfeit MS
place on the team he defaulted his
first match TO Billy Larned and tnen
came back and defeated Robert D.
Wrenn in three sets out of five. h l.
Doherty easily disposed of Wrenn IN
straight sets and took three out OF
five from Larned- The Dohertys to-
gether grabbed of the doubles from
the wrenn brothers. losing only one
set During 1903 the Britons made q
clean sweep in America, for H L. Do
herty carried off the national singles
title at Newport by beating Larned,
and with his brother. successfully de-
Tended the doubles title which they
had won the preceding year.
America failed TO challenge in 1904.
but Belgium, France and Austria sent
teams TO England None of them could
do anything against the holders In
1905. however, the United States de-
cfded that 1t was about time the bowl
should come back to Uncle Sans tro-
ply room Ward. Larned, Beals c.
Wright and William ]. Clothier were
delegated to wrest the trophy from
John Bulls grasp Belgium. France,
Australasia and Austria felt that they.
too. would like to have the bowl, and
sent teams to the scene of the fray.
Their aspirations, however, were
Knocked into the proverbial cooked hat
by the Americans In the preliminary
rounds In the challenge round at
Wimbledon II. L. Doherty captured i've
set matches from both Ward and Lar
ned.
SFEClANILAn o1AME<c
Wards match against Doherty was
one of the most spectacular conflicts
ever seen in Davis cup series Ward
batt1ed down Doherty's defense and
won the first two sets at 81 and S.
His great battle was too much for him.
however, and he wilted. losing the next
three sets with very little struggle
s. H. Smith topped Larned and Clothier
In three out of four sets each The
~ <t-- x.k <frn Ar~n -
cans complete by vanquishing Ward
and Wright in three sets out Of i've
In 1906 Ward. Wright, Raymond D.
Little and Kreigh Collins were chosen
for Americas challenging team. but an
accident to Wright which necessitated
the amputation OF the index finger OF
his right hand kept him from playing
In England Collins was unable TO get
into form when he struck the change
OF climate. and so Ward and Little had
the task all to themselves. France and
Australasia also challenged, but the
former defaulted.
America beat the Australians 3 to 2
in the preliminary round Both Aus
tralasian victories fell to Arthur F.
wildfng. who vanauished Ward and
Little In the singles. In the challenge
round S. H Smith took straight sets
from Ward and repeated with Little
H L Doherty topped Ward in three
sets, but was forced to dve before he
vanuuished Little The Dohartys took
the doubles, two sets to one.
CUP TAKEN AWAY
Beals wright and Karl Behr started
for America IN 1907. but were unable
to get beyond the preliminary round.
where they were beaten by Norman E.
Brookes and Wilding. the brilliant
Australasians- The antfpodeans de-
feated England's representatives. A. w.
Gore. H. Roper Barrett and NJ J. G.
Ritchfe. with very little trouble and
took the cup to the other side of the
world
j. c. Parke and Rftchfe came 10
America In 1908 TO play In the prelim-
tnaytes and took only one match from
the Americans at Longwood- Wright
and LAxned played In the singles,
Wright losing the lone match TO
Ritchie, while p. b Alexander ana H
H. Hackett were on the turf for the
doubles.
Alexander and wright went around
the world to play the Australians in
the challenge round. and although they
made a brilliant showing against
Brookes and wflding were unable TO
take the cup home Wright defeated
both OF the Australians in the singles
and doe mainly to his brilliant play,
the doubles went to ave sets before
Australia won ae e--A 6-A S--T. 2-s,
80.
Altar winning tha preliminary In