Evening star., 1923-06-17

LenZo ShInlZu, whose brilliant play
was one of the sensations OF the te
among the first ten players of the cc
Shimizu. now captain Of the Japa-
nese Davis cup team. declares that
his former partner in Calcutta, Oko-
motto, is of equal skill. and hoped to
include him on his team, but Calcutta
is so far from America that Kashio
was substituted for him. kashio is
an able all-around player who is
handicapped only by a lack of STAN
ina. His game is heady and we'll
conceived but lacks speed, and he
will. therefore, be used only in the
doubles, If at all.
Great Addition to Team.
The important addition to the team
is NJ. Fukuda. the man who defeated
Kumagae in the Japanese national
I championship. By sending him. ia
pans team-our challengers in 1922
fe%cmes as formidabl as any we
n - meet. Fukuda is certainly a
Kumagae when he first appeared in
our tournaments. His form is supe-
rior 10 that Of any of his cOuntrymen,
and l believe that he will be ranked
amongst our first ten az the close of
the season provided he can accommo-
date his game TO grass.
Already he has given proof of his
adaptahility. for in his first turf
tournament. played at South Orange,
he disposed of all his opponents
player as Frank Anderson in the
finals in straight sets. During his
matches / saw him shake his head
and smile al number of bad bounds,
but whenever he could get his racket
on the ball he hit with great vigor
and decisiVeness on both hands.
His victory is most creditabIe one.
handicapped as he was by an unaC-
customed surface and by spikes.
FUkuda previously had proved his
worth as a doubles PLAYER at the
Chevy Chase Club at Washington and
1t Westchester- -Biltmore, but these
were played on clay, and he was play
ing for the first time in his life on
grass at South Orange. He has made
an impressive beginning and he will.
l am sure, serve as an admirable
substitute for Kumagae.
Is a Clever VoIleyer
Fukuda's volleying is one of the
features of his play. He hits the
ball cleanly and severely. striving for
an outright kill at every stroke
When any one lobs to him he grins.
counting the point already won He
steps backward faster than some
players can go forward and manages
TO reach the deepest lobs before they
L W accustomed
TO ShImizu's deadly reverse sma sh
but Fukuda's is even more powerful,
and il is. If anything. surer
II Fukuda has any weakness in his
game II is that common to all jap
anese players and to all other dev-
otees of the western grip-low fore
hand Toleys. But his racket grip is
more orthodox than theirs. so he
manages TO return many balls from
this position that are impossible 10
a IL II
In the speed of his forehand and
oackhand driving. made possible by
an exceptionally powerful physique
which enables him 10 cover any
amount or court without firing, and
! lis exceptionally sound overhead
work when he is drawn to the net.
This equipment is hard to beat, and
therefore ~Fukuda is, like Shimizu
almost impossible to defeat in a base
line duel. 1t remains to be seen how
attack.
Needs More Experience.
Shimizu, sound baseIiner that he is.
twice succumbed to VosheiIs volleys
and Sma shes, and il is probab BILE that
the Japanese champion. who has never
had an opportunity to practice
against this type of game. will eX-
perience equal difficulty in Countering
such an attack.
show the holes in Fukuda's game
and tennis fans are waiting with in
tereSt to see what the Japanese cham
pion will do against our best players
on grass court. Personally, l con-
slider that while his game is, in some
respects, sounder than either Kuma-
gae's or Shimizu's, his lack of ex-
perience viii weigh against him in
the summing up of the years play,
and 1 feel sure that Shimizu will out
rank him, at least this year. Ulti-
mately. Fukuda may very well sur
pass the little Japanese captain, as
his game is a stronger one and he has
youth on his side.
Japans first Davis Cup tie is TO be
played against Canada at Montreal.
July 25, 26, %. on the turf courts of
dian team will be selected at or i'm
mediately after. their national cham
pionshipS. which begin at Toronto
July {. Trial contests will be held
for places on the team. but Crocker,
Laframboise. and Jeff Peers will al
most certainly play for their country.
Their chances of winning are slim, as
Canadian players are separated from
cne another by thousands of miles
ing any great amount OF good praC-
tice.
Japans players. on the contrary.
have daily opportunity to oppose
themselves against the best American
players, and I consider Japan's
chances for success very bright, pro-
vided Shimzu. who is ill at present.
RECEIVERS his health as expected.
Canada has fighting chance and
Ter players are determined to do
their best. They all in strict
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