The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-25
AMERICANS MEET
ENGL|SHMEN TODAY
TENNIS FOLLOWERS CONFIDENT
THAT DAVIS CUP WILL BE RE-
TURNED TO UNITED STATES,

WASHINGTON, July 24--With the
United States and English teams in
roles Of challenger and defender, re-
spectively. the challenge round at
Wimbledon tomorrow marks the be-
ginning Of the hnal play In the
twelfth tournament for the Davis cup.
emblematic Of the worlds team tennis
championship. Donated in 1900 by
Dwight F. Davis an a trophy for in
ternational competition. the cup and
contest have grown In Importance
until today the struggle for posses
sion of the prize--a massive silver
bowi--has taken rank second to none
In the worldwide sport competition.
For this emblem OF championship
in tennis the teams Of seven countries
were drawn into play this summer
exclusive OF the English quartet,
which in the position of cup holders
stood out and awaited the arrival OF
the ultimate challenger, which proved
to be the United States team. France.
Germany, Belgium. Canada, the
and the true international char
acter Of the play Is shown
by the fact that three of the
preliminary rounds were played in
England. one in the United States
and another in Germany.
The United States team won from
the Australian trio four matches to
cne in tho play at the West Side club.
New York city. early in June. Ger
man PLAYERS eliminated France at
Weisbaden by a similar score on June
sth, 9Th and 9TH. When the Cana
dian and South African teams met
later in the month the Maple Leaf
won three matches to
one.
In he semi-flnal rounds h.S1 Cam
ada and the United States had a clean
sweep. the Canadians defeating Bel
GUM. which had drawn a bye. FIVE
matches straight. and the United
States team disposed of Germany by
a similar score o. matches. Thus it
came about that players from the
new world met In the fina1 round, with
the American winning right to face
the English racquet wielders in the
las. stage of the cup quest.
The team to which the United States
Lawn Tennis association pins its faith
Of regaininC the Davis cup IL COM
posed OF three youngsters and one
vea,.an. rtss tie the fact that
Maurice r. Mclaughlin. R. Norris
Williams 81. end Wallace r. john
snn are young IN years. they form a
most i.i snidatle trio when consid-
cred from a tennis tournament stand
point.
During the thirteen years since the
Davis cup was frs, put in play. eleven
championship tournaments have been
completed and the score OF cham
pionships stands as follows: British
Isles. s: Australasia, 4: United
States, 2. Not including the present
series. forty-three players, represent
ing six countries have battled for
the trophy. the number by nations or
colonies being: United, States, Is;
British Isles. IA: Australasia S.,
France. s: Belgium. 2: Austria, 2.
As soon as play for the trophy was
announced England challenged the
first contest In the summer OF 1900
in straight matches Two years later
the British Isle players had another
try. but were repealed three matches
to two. Encouraged by this improved
showing they returned again in 1908
with a team composed OF the Doherty
brothers. and won four matches to
one
England held the cup until 1907.
when the Australasians won with
their two famous stars, Brookes and
wilding. The trophy was held In
the antipodes until last winter. when
the British Isles team, consisting OF
Parke. Dixon and Beamish, won and
took the bowl back to England.