Evening star., 1930-04-05


" Australia is returning to
~ the Davis Cup arena this
\ season with a young team,
which may be the dark horse of
the international ties In Europe.
Gerald Patterson has seen his
best days, James Anderson is no
longer in the amateur ranks, and
Jack Hawkes. seems to have
passed out of the picture, although
Hawkes., I understand, still Is play
ing first class tennis.
The Aussies have decided to cut en-
tirely with the past and put their re-
lance In the upcoming young players
taking tip from the French associa-
ton. Before France rose to the top
Australia was the strongest opponent Of
the United States and reached the
challenge round in 1922, 1923 and 1924.
In fact, from 1914 to 1925, Australia
was in the challenge round every year
the matches were held except in 1921,
when Japan was the opponent of the
United States. Then, In 1925, France
eliminated the Antipodeans due to the
great play Of Jean Borotra and since
then the French and the United States
have met in the challenge round.
Have Played in United States.
The team representing Australia this
year will be composed of Jack Craw-
ford, 22-year-old captain; Harry Hop
man, Edgar F. Moon and Jack Willard.
They are well known to American tennis
fans, for they have played in the United
States. competing in the big invitation
tournament and national champion
ships.
Crawford. a pretty stylist is the best
player. and Is regarded by some experts
as the coming brightest star in the
world. though I am inclined to believe
that he is not quite aggressive enough
or fast enough on his feet to get to
the top of the tennis heap. But there
is no denying he has beautiful form in
the execution of his strokes and when
he is right" he is an exceedingly
tough man to beat.
Hopman is as fast as Crawford is
leisurely. He has a fast service and is
very active all over the court and plays
more in the style of the young Ameri-
cans. He and Crawford make a crack
doubles combination and both played
on the 1928 Australian team. Moon,
powerful fellow known as The Farm
Hand" has the endurance of an OK, and
he has made great progress during the
last three years, while Willard also
rates among the best of the younger
generation of players in Australia.
In 1928 Australia was drawn against
Italy in the first round and was put
out, to the surprise of the tennis world,
by matches to /. Both Patterson
and Crawford fell before Baron de Nor
purge. This match. however, was not
real test Of the Australian players, for
they had just travelled half way around
the world and had not had time to be-
come acclimated to get into form for
so stiff trial in their very first en-
gagement.
Will Be Watched.
The showing of the Aussies this year
will be watched with close interest, for
there Is a tendency to regard Australia
as once more the coming nation in
the game. In fact, it would be no sur
prise to great many people who know
/ their tennis to see the Antipodians come
through to the final of the European
zone and possibly meet the United
States.
Crawford will be dangerous in both
his singles and he and Hopman will
take a lot of beating in the doubles.
So keep your eye on the Aussies.
Copyright. 1890. by North American News
paper Alliance)