Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-03

chances OF countries other than the
United States in the DGUts Cup COM
petition this year.
TOR the first time since the
- zone system was adopted
in Davis Cup matches, ia
pan will play in the Euro
pean series this year.
Year after year the Japanese
have been challenging in the
American zone, partly because
some or all of her players were in
the United States.
This time Japan has decided to send
her team to the Western front, where
1t will come up against the best players
on the Continent, and so benefit by
plenty Of stiff opposition.
The addition Of the Japanese to the
strong teams entered in the European
zone should make the play in that sec
tor more interesting than in many years.
Japan has the most formidable looking
team since zenzo Shimizu was in his
prime.
Included will be Takeichi Harada.
Every one who has followed tennis in
the United States and Canada knows
him. He was good enough to rank
third in the United States national
ratings in 1926, and while he has
dropped out of the picture more or less
during the last two seasons, he still Is
playing fine game.
Has Twice Beaten Cochet.
Early in the Winter "Tacky" de-
feated Henri Cochet twice in Japan,
when the French team was touring the
Orient, and any one who can beat
Cochet under any circumstances is a
good player. So it Is needless to say
the best players in Europe must look
out for him.
In addition to Harada, who plays a
typically American game, featured by
speed OF the ground and service and a
decisive net attack. Japan will be repre-
sented by YoShiro Ohta and Tamio Abe
Ohta and Abe have played on the team
| for the last two years, and any one
who recalls their showing last year
against the United States will admit
they are far from set-upS.
think Ohta Is going to be a tough
customer for all of them. He laces the
ball with terrific speed, he can get it
back until the cows come home, his
back-hand is unusually steady, and he
can put the ball away at the net beau
tifully, So good a player as Johnny
Van Ryn fell before Ohta last year,
!
I think the Japanese has it in him to
beat lot Of players ranked ahead OF
him.
| Abe. beSpectacled, smiling third men,
| Der Of the team, has been improving
right along since he came to America
In 1928, and during the Winter he has
been practicing regularly in California
He has given trouble to lot of good
players, and he may give them more
this year.
Worried O. S. Last Year.
Last season Ohta and Abe we're good
enough by themselves to give the United
States moments of worry in theil
match in washington. With Harads
added. you can figure how formidable
q combination Japan should be. Ha.
rada and Ohta, in my opinion, are a.
good a pair of singles players as any
team in Europe can muster outside
France, and Abe. paired with either o!
these two, would give any Of the
doubles teams all the fight they an
looking for.
So much am impressed by the po-
tential strength Of Japan that If hac
to pick any team at this moment x
come through in the European zone
think Harada and his teammates woulc
be my selection, even over England.
OF course, it remains to be seen how
Harada will play after his absence from
European courts, but If he can find hi
meets the United States in the inter
zone match.
Next and final chapter-AuStralia
| (Copyright, $780, by North American News
| paper Alliance)