Evening star., 1953-12-26
'DrawMatchingSe Seixas
And Hoad Heighfens
JUS Davis Cup Hopes
BY the Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Dec. 26.-The
United States received break
today in the draw for the Davis
Cup challenge round which
opens here Monday.
The first singles match will
pit Vic Seixas of Philadelphia
against Australia's Lewis Hoad.
The United States champion,
Tony Trabert of Cincinnati, will
meet Ken Rosewall in the second
singles encounter.
'We couldn't have had had a
better draw if we had arranged
it ourselves" Bill Talbert, cap
tain of the United States team.
enthuSed. II am confident we
will start off with two victories
and put the pressure on the Aus
tralians."
Talbert went on record yes
terday with the prediction 1--WE
will win the Davis Cup and I
think it will be four matches
to one."
The American captain had
been hoping the luck of the draw
would pair Seixas against Hoad
since the Philadelphian has
beaten Hoad in their last six
meetings, four this year. Ira
bert's power is figured to cut
down little Rosewall just as in
Forest Hills last summer when
Tony won the United States
championship.
Experience to Help.
Talbert said he figured the
experience of Trabert and Seixas
would be a determining factor.
Rosewall and Hoad, each only
10, will be playing in their first
Davis Cup matches.
'"The Davis Cup is not like
an ordinary tennis tournament"
Talbert pointed out. You're
playing for your country in
stead of yourself. I think it will
be tough on the kids and think
our boys, playing in their third
challenge round, can rise to the
occasion"
The first match of the three
day challenge round starts at
1:15 pm. 10:15 pm. tomorrow,
EST, in the United States) be-
fore a sellout crowd of 1850.
Seixas and Trabert were
nominated for the doubles Tues
day against Rosewall and Hoad,
although Talbert and Harry
Hopman, Australian team cap
tain, each reserved the right to
make a change an hour before
the match.
Benched Seixas Against Belgians.
In the recent interzone final
between Belgium and the United
States Talbert benched Seixas
and substituted himself in the
doubles. The United States won
that match to break a IL tie
with the Belgians.
The two final singles will be
played Wednesday with Hoad
opposing Trabert and SeiXas
playing Rosewall in the last
match of the five-match round.
Hopman said he was not dis
pleased with the draw although
it is known that he preferred
Hoad to meet Americas big
seige gun, Trabert, on the OPEN
ing day. This would have paired
Seixas with Rosewall, who has
trimmed the Wimbledon title
holder in their last six meetings.
Draw Held in Stadium.
The draw was held in the
Kooyong Stadium under a bright
sun. With both teams standing
in a single line and with a
cleaning Davis Cup as a back
drop, names were pulled from a
bowl by Amos Peasley, United
States Ambassador to Australia,
and Sir Dallas Brooks. Governor
of Victoria. Sir Norman Brookes,
president of the Lawn Tennis
Association, presided.
A crowd of about 5000 paid
two shillings (about IS cents)
each to witness the semifinal
workout of the two teams.
Seixas, who has been of form,
showed his best tennis in weeks
as he trounced Trabert, Ga, in
a fast set. Then he and Trabert
teamed to win two sets from Tai
bert and young Ham Richard
son in the doubles.
However, the most impressive
exhibition of the day was put
on by Hoad. He played Frank
Sedgman and each won seven
games before the match was
stopped.
In contrast. Rosewall was far
from impressive. He dropped a
set to Ken McGregor, now a pro,
and was easily beaten. 6-1. by
Sedgman.