The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-24
YANKEE CONTENDERS
FOR DAVIS TENNIS CUP
Three of United States Four Representa-
tives Abroad Are Young Men at
the Game, Haskell Being the
Only Old Player.

4
at Wimbledon July 25 marks the be-
ginning of the final play in the twelfth
tournament for the Davis cup, emble-
matte of the worlds team tennis cham.
| pionship. Donated in 1900 by Dwight +.
Davis as a trophy for international COM
| petition, the cup and contest have grown
in Importance until to-day the struggle
| for possession of the prize--a massive
silver bowl-has taken rank second to
none in the world wide sport competl-
ton.
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 po-
| sition of cup-holders, stood out and
awaited the arrival of the ultimate chal-
lenger, which proved to be the United
States team, France. Germany, Belgium,
Canada, the United States, Australia and
South Africa all entered the lists and
the true international character 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
Australasian trio four matches to one
in the play at the West Side club, New
York City, early in June. German play.
ers eliminated France at Wiesbaden by
a similar score on June s. 9 and T. When
the Canadian and South African teams
met later in the month the Maple Leaf
representatives won three matches to
one. In the semi-fnal rounds both Can
ada and the United States had clean
sweep, the Canadians defeating Belgium.
which had drawn bye, five matches
straight, and the United States team
disposed Of Germany by similar score
OF matches. Thus it came about that
players from the new world met in the
final round. with the Americans win
ming the right to face the English rae
quet wielders in the last stage of the
cup quest
The team to which the United States
Lawn Tennis association pins its faith
Of regaining the Davis cup is composed
of three youngsters and one veteran.
Despite the fact that Maurice Il. Me-
Loughlin, r. Norris Williams I'd, and
Wallace +. johnson are young in years,
they form a most formidable trio when
considered from tennis tournament
standpoint. McLoughlih who is but
twenty three years OF age was born at
Carson City, New, in 1890. He stands
five feet ten and onehalf inches and
weighs about los pounds in condition.
The present United States champion
first learned his tennis on the asphalt
courts of California. II was not until
1909, during his first eastern invasion,
that he played upon a grass court.
Williams represents the foreign meth.
DDS of tennis play on the American team,
for he was coached abroad. The son
of C. Duane Williams, who lost his life
in the sinking of the Titanic, he was
born at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1891,
and finished his freshman year at Har-
ward university just previous to the be-
ginning OF the present Davis cup play.
His father, always an enthusiastic ten
mis- player, saw to il that his son while
still in his teens. had the best coaching
and practice available and the result is
shown in the fact that Williams plays
the best all around and most finished
game of any of the American quartet.
Although he never played in this coun-
try until last spring his game immedi-
ately attracted attention. lie won the
clay court championship at Philadelphia
and was only put out of the champion
ship at Newport in the sixth round,
when Mclaughlin defeated him, g.,
81, a., 3-6, 6-3.
These two players, who are bracketed
one and two in the national rankings.
will with Capt. Harold II, Hsckett, lead
the attack in the play at Wimbledon
against Parke, Roper, Barrett, Dixon
and Gore, the English defenders. Hack
EFT is the veteran OF the quartet, being
player of many years experience on
both American and foreign courts. Al
though prominent singles player as
far back as 1902 it was not until he
doubled with T. r.. Alexander, three
years later, that he came into the cham
pionship limelight. In 1907 the pair won
their first national doubles honors and
We're invincible until 1911, when they
bowed to Little ard Touchard.
Hackett is a noted tennis tactician
and his play frequently appears both
simple and easy TO the spectator but
when he is at the top of his game
more skillful placement player and de-
ceptive server world be hard to name.
In the unavoidable absence of Bundy,
Hackett was conceded to be the strong
est player available to double with Nc
Loughlin. johnson, VINO acts as reserv
list, completes the quartet. He is also
one of the recently developed young
sters who promises TO make American
tennis history in the near future. In
{ he English singles Johnston worked his |
way to the fourth round before being |
defeated by r. d. Watson, 90, s-6, |
81, Is. At Newport last August |
he forced Mclaughlin to go full five !
sets before he would admit defeat in
the final round of the championship !
singles, the scores being SO, &c, O., |
So
During the thirteen years since the |
Davis cup was first put in play, eleven |
tournaments have been |
and the score of champion
ships stand as follows: British Isles, 5 |
4; United States, 2. Not |
the present series, forty three |
players, representing six countries, have !
battled for the trophy, the number by |
nations or colonies being United States, |
Is; British Isles, IA; Austrakas, 5;
France, 5 Belgium, 2; Austria, 2.
As soon as play for the trophy was
England challenged the
United States for the cup, losing the /
first contest in the summer Of 1900 in
straight matches Two years later, the |
British Isles players had another try but /
were repealed three matches to two. En- /
,ouraged BY this improved showing, they t
a l.