Evening star., 1932-04-30
PRENTICE SAYS j. S.
BARS WAY TO CUP
Predicts Davis Trophy for
AntipodeS if Americans
Are Conquered.
BY r. ID. THOMAS.

~ ERNON PRENTICE, non
X playing captain of the
- United States Davis Cup
team, was a pleased man
today following the smashing
doubles triumph of Wilmer Alli-
son and Johnny Van Ryn which
clinched the American zone tie
with Canada at Chevy Chase, but
Prentice sees critical trouble not
far ahead for Uncle Sans tennis
StalWartS.
Australia and not England, conqueror
of the Yanks last year, is the feared
obstacle between the United States and
the challenge round with France.
In the meantime, Frank Shields and
Ellsworth Vines set out this afternoon
to make it a grand slam over Canada
in the first round series sewed up yes
terday when Allison and Van Ryn de-
feated Dr. Jack Wright and MARCEL
Rainville, 6--2, 6-1. 6-2. In the con-
cluding singles, Shields was to meet DR..
THE Australian team is journeying to
l. Havana to meet the Cubans, but
looking to a later clash with the
Americans at Philadelphia. The Cuban
affair is hardly more than formality
and much the same may be said OF the
United States next skirmish with Mexico
ut New Orleans.
Frankly" said Capt. Prentice, we're
tho tic with Australia 19PE
Crawford is one of the five greatest
tennis players in the world. He might
beat any body and Go it on successive
days. And Hopman is another really
formidable player. We have great
doubles team in Allison and Van Ryn,
as you may have noticed yesterday, but
the Australians don't figure to be easy
there, either.
I'm well pleased with the showing Of
our team so far and we figure to i'm
prove considerably. We may have to II
the United States is to get past Aus
tralia.
IN venture this prediction, though:
If Australia whips US it will carry on
to victory over England and take the
Davis Cup from France"
CAPT. PRENTICE was asked if he
~ thought the United States would
achieve as much if it hurdled the
Australian obstacle.
II hesitate there" he said. You see,
Crawford is an experienced campaigner.
We are depending a lot on youngsters.
Vines, our No. man, has never played
in Europe and there's no telling what
might be his reaction to the conditions
of advanced competition for the Davis
Cup He may need more seasoning to
play his best tennis before a great GAL
lery with the most important prize in
the game at stake. I'd say the Aus
tralians would have better chance to
win in Europe than We"
COME of the experts had uneasy
- thoughts for the future of the
Yankee net team, while Vines, its
ace, struggled to beat DR.. Wright in
the opening singles at Chevy Chase.
His streaks of erratic play might have
meant disaster If the opponent had
been a Crawford or Hopman, but such
feeling was dispelled when the 20-year-
old answered the Canadians challenge
with burst of brilliancy which quickly
squelched his foe.
In his play at Chevy Chase Vines
has clearly shown himself to be a
money" performer 1t required cour-
age to master himself for the rally
that turned back wright ana some
idea of the youngsters mako up may
be gained from an aside he made to
Capt. Prentice at the crisis of that
battle. He passed Prentice while
changing courts Don't worry, cap
tain" he said with grin, IN win"
After that, it ceased to be a contest.
WINES gives the impression of al
' ways having a lot in reserve.
To put it another way. he plays
a lazy game-lazy until the lad is
hard pressed. Then the critics COM
pare him with Tilden.
The victory of Allison and Van Ryn
over Wright and Rainville was pure
tennis art. The Canadians were sunk
from the start but sensational rallies
made it the most interesting contest
Of the tie.