Evening star., 1951-12-25
ittChagrined
Over Failure 10
Make Lineup
Seixos Will Oppose
Southpow He Beat
In Recent Tourney
BY the Asseeiated Press

BY the Assoeiated Pres.
SYDNEY, Australia, Dec. 25.-
The Australians threw mild jolt
into the American camp today by
naming Left-hander Mervyn Rose
as one Of their two singles players
in the challenge round starting
tomorrow at White City Stadium.
Rose, who has been sensational
in practice in the past few days,
will face Vic Seixas in the opening
match at / pm. tomorrow 90
pm. today, United States, EST T..
This will be followed by what
looms as the feature battle of the
three day series, that between Ted
Schroeder and Frank Sedgman.
The doubles teams will not be
announced until after the days
play. but there is no question of
their composition-Schroeder and
young Tony Trabert for America
and Sedgman and Ken McGregor
for Australia.
U. S. Players Disappointed.
The American players indi-
vidually and collectively had hoped
the Aussies would pick McGregor
as their second man. They feel
that they "own" the big fellow.
They're not quite so sure about
Rose.
Seixas defeated him in the hard,
five-set final of the recent New
South Wales tournament here and
Dick Savitt downed him in the
Victorian championships at Mel
bourne, but there still is a healthy
respect in the American camp for
the slim southpaw with the burn
ing service.
The draw was held before a
somewhat glittering assemblage in
the ballroom of the Australia
Hotel. with arc lights sending
the temperature into the upper
reaches and movie cameras whir-
ring gently.
Sir Norman Brookes. president
of the Australian Lawn Tennis
Association. drew the slips from
the glittering Davis Cup for his
side and Donald Smith, the Amer
lean Consul-General, represented
the United States.
The only faint stirring among
the spectators came when Roses
name was announced as the other
three singles performers had been
anticipated.
Savitt is Bitter.
The unhappiest man in all Aus
tralia on Christmas morning prob
ably was Dick Savitt. The player
who holds both the Australian and
Wimbledon crowns apparently had
believed to the last that Frank
Shields. non-playing American
captain, would relent and name
him instead of Schroeder.
He was volubly bitter about it.
II still think the deal was ar
ranged before we ever left Amer
lea" he declared. 1--WE been beat
ing Ted in practice"
When asked if he had considered
Savitt, Shields said "if Dick had
shown the same form 10 days ago
as he's showing now, he would
be in there. -
This appeared to contradict
Shields declaration all along that
he would pick the team "on form"
just before the matches.
Shields said on the basis of
their practice matches Of the past
few days there has been absolutely
nothing to choose between Seixas
and Trabert.
Il finally decided on Seixas be-
cause I feel it gives us balanced
strength to use Tony only in dou-
bles. think that's the main rea-
son the Australians are using Rose
instead of McGregor in singles"
Hopman Wanted McGregor.
Harry Hopman, Australian cap
tain, was believed to have argued
to the bitter end in favor of en-
ploying McGregor for both singles
and doubles. but had been over
ruled in the end by Brookes.
Whatever happens in the next
three days, either ShieldsA or the
Aussie selectors are going to be
the official whipping boys of ten
mis- circles for some time to come.
Shields can't help knowing he's
on the spot in his choice of
Schroeder over Savitt, but it's a
calculated gamble and he's ready
to stand the consequences. He is
counting on the veterans fighting
spirit to pull him through.
The feeling of this observer Is
that the doubles will decide
whether the cup stays down un-
der or returns home.
Prior to the draw, the American
players and guests had a gay
Christmas party in Shields suite.
The members of both teams con-
tented themselves with short
Warmups in the afternoon.
T:~assS N.u Ia LII