The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-19
AMERICAN TENNIS
TEAM Is FAVORED
Australians, However, Con-
slider They Have Even Chance
of Retaining Davis Cup
RECORD OF PREVIOUS TRIP
United States Players Have
Never Won Challenge Round
in AntipOdes.
RECORD OF PREVIOUS TRIP
ny SAMUEL J. BRooKMAN.


On the turf courts at Auckland. New
Zealand, next week, America and AUS
tralia are to meet in Davis Cup tour
nament for the seventh time on Austrai-
asian soil. They are to decide the
championship round of the international
series of 1920. with the Australians the
cup holders and the United States play
ers the challengers In this country.
tennis deyotees, confident that in VIII
lam T. Tilden I'd and William NJ. john
ston the United States has the two
leading players in the world, are looking
forward to almost certain victory. On
the records of the year. their confidence
surely Is well founded. 1t may sur
prise many, however, to know that the
Australians consider their chances every
bit as bright as those of the INVADERS
that they really expect to WIN
From an American standpoint de-
feat for Tildep and Johnston would De
regarded as the tennis upset or all tlme'
It may be we'll to bear in mind, however.
that in 1911, on the occasion or the
Americans last trip to Australia, Maui
rice E. Mclaughlin, William A Larned
and Beals c. Wright, a great trio or ten
mis- stars then in their prime. arrived IN
New Zealand bubbling over with con-
fdence and left little Liter with de-
cislve defeat registered against them'
In five matches against Norman ~
Brookes, Rod Heath and ALT Dunlop, the
American had failed to win one. 1t will
be remembered that the damp New
zealand climate affected Larned so
severely that he had to give up all
thought Of competing and that the otner
two PLAYED far below form. Americans
do not look for a repetition OF that ten
mis- debacle. but you never can tell.
America has yet to win chalienge
round in Australia. On their nrst TWO
trips to the Antipodes. In 1905 and 1906
to be exact, the United States team
were triumphant In final rounds. but on
the next four visits they were turned
back in more or less decisive fashion,
once in a preliminary and three times
in challenge rounds. So the balance
leans rather. heavily toward the Aus
tralian side.
WHY Americans Arc Favored.
Considered in the list Of past perform
ances there is every reason to FAVOR the
chances of the Americans. Australia
leading singles player, Gerald Patterson
was beaten decisively by Tilden In the
title round of the British championship
last summer and lost to Johnston in the
American singles championships of 1913.
Norman Il. Brookes lost to Tilden In
1919 and has since been beaten by q
number of Australians of the younger
tennis set. According to Australian ten
mis- critics the defending team hopes TO
break even in singles and to win the
doubles. In that event Brookes. as cap
tain of the team, may decide to confine
70 oh "a e..
terson and either Anderson or Hawkes.
for the singles. Anderson broke even
in two matches against the British team
in the last challenge round, while
Hawkes., a newcomer. who has scored
several victories over Brookes In Aus
tralia- Brookes and Patterson appear
to be almost certain to represent the cup
holders in doubles.
Unless illness prevents, Tilden and
Johnston will shoulder the entire burden
for the American team just as they id
in the final round against the British
last summer. Watson NJ Washburn is
not likely to be participant unless Til
den and Johnston happen to clinch the
victory in the first three matches. In
that event he may be given chance in
the singles on the final day of the series.
Beals c. Wright, William A. Larned
and IIolcombe Ward were the first
AInerlGdI5 10 Iildkt a. ltlliii5 ZIP W
Australia. In 1905 they faced Brookes
wilding and Dunlop when the Austral an
stars had not yet reached the height OF
their efficiency and won five straight
matches. In the challenge round in Eng
land a few months later the Americans
met an overwhelming defeat at the
hands of Hugh l.. Dogerty, Reginald +.
Doherty and S. II. Smith. The follow ,ng
year Ward and Raymond u. Little
"a Dapific tn meet III 81
Australians and triumphed again over
wilding and Poidevin by n score of three
matches to two. Again they faced the
British that year In the challenge round
and again were trounced five straight.
Australians Repeat.
In 1907 in a preliminary round Beals
Wright and Karl Behr went to Austria
liza to meet defeat by score of to 2,
Brookes and Wilding being the winners.
The latter repeated the following year
in a challenge round in Australia at the
EXPENSE of Wright and Alexander to 2.
In 1909, after Larned. Clothier, Hackett
and Little made a clean sweep against
the British In the final round, none OF
the victorious squad found II possible to
make the long trip to Australia for the
challenge round and In their stead Maui
rice II. Mclaughlin and Melville Long
of California were sent. The youngsters
found the Australians too much for them
and were beaten by score Of matches
TO 0. Two years later Mclaughlin,
Larned and Wright met NTH the disas-
trous experience already referred TO. and
that was the last visit Of an American
team TO the Antipodes.
The Davis Cup came TO America In
1913 after the British had relieved the
Australians of the trophy In 1912. In
1914 Brooles and Wildlng. competing Mt
Forest Hills, won II back again, and the
Australians have held II ever since.