The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-04
DWIGHT DAVIS
ALWAYS KEEN
TENNIS PLAYER
Fact That He Awarded Famous
Cup 0vershadoWed His
Ability at Nets.

B as /.
~ WIGHT FELLEY DAVIS, the
new president OF the u. s. L,
IL r A., was born in st. Louis
in 1879. He is at present a resi-
dent here, where he Is q director
of the War Finance Corporation.
From his youth he has been an
ardent deyotee of tennis and in his
younger years the holder of the
national doubles championship with
EHolconnbe Ward Although ne is a
full six feet IN height and built IN
proportion, he was. during his tour.
nament career, exceptionally fast
in court play. His height. reach
and speed permitting him to cover
court to the fullest extent.
As the donor OF the fanoas Davis
Cup, representative of the worlds
team tennis championship he is
known throughout the world This
has in recent years to some ex-
tent overshad0wed his splendid rec
ord both in tournament and in ma
tional play and the untiring efforts
which he has given to the develop
in this country and abroad.
Davis began playing tennis in
1894 and he took part in his first
tournament at Magnolia, Mass,
during that season. He was
graduated from Harvard in 1900.
While still an undergraduate he
attracted national attention as a
player of unusual caIibre and
ability. In his junior year At JIar-
ward he won the intercollegiate
championship in singles and paired
with Holconabe Ward. the doubles
championship.
WON TITLE IN 1899.
Ward and Davis won in 1899 the
Eastern doubles and then the ma.
tional doubles and successfully de-
Tended the latter championship in
1900 and 1901. The neWeexecutive
of the United State Lawn Tennis
Association never reached quite the
same height in the singles, but was
always a formidable contender, for
he was runner-up inc the aH-comers
of 1898 and '99, being eliminated
only after a hard contest by Nal.
colin p. Whitman and ]. p. Paret,
respectively.
AS president Of the United States
Lawn Tennis Association Davis viii
have the pleasure of witnessing the
United States players defend the
trophy again during the season of
1928. It appears certain at the time
Of this writing that fully as many
nations will challenge for the cup
as was the case a year ago when
the players Of fourteen different
countries entered the quest for the
cup.
WILL BOOM KID PLAYERS.
1t is expected that under Presi.
dent Davis administration there
will be a national boom in tennis
among the youthful players of the
country. AS Park Commissioner Of
st. Louis, Davis was instrumental
in developing one of the best sys.
TENS of court layouts in the mum.
cipal tennis records of the country.
1t is certain that he will carry this
| enthusiasm and section of his acti.
vities forward on a national basis
as president of the u. 8. L. T. A.
Based upon the example set by
Davis in st. Louis, other cities
have come forward rapidly in the
| matter of municipal tennis activi-
ties and today there are a number
which offer remarkable playing
facilities to the youth of these
cities. There is, however, much
/ work to be done along these lines
in other localities and it is under
stood that it will be one Of the first
| tasks of the new tennis executive
| to work for a real national develop
ment in this department of tho
game.
Davis, who is married and hat
four children; son and three
daughters. adds his name to thu
ALREADY long list of u. s. L. T. A
presidents who were famous or
the tennis courts for many years
prior to rising to the executive
chair of what is without doubt on,
OF the best organized and mos,
progressive Of all amateur spor
governing bodies. Il