Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-11
WIN, LOSE OR
HNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Davis CUPS Luster Lost

NOW THAT LEW HoAD has yielded to Jack Kramer's
arguments that he could boost his standard of living
by becoming the headner in Kramer professional tennis
troupe Australia left without its solid Davis Cupper
Which could be good for the tennsminded of the
United States, Sweden and Italy-the countries which
happen to be the next best qualified in amateur tennis
although certainly lowers the quality of Davis Cup play
Last year. you may recall the Aussies lost Ken Rose
wall to the pros Before that it the great Frank
Sedgman and Ken McGregor 1t might not be precisely
accurate to say that all turned pro because
really amateurs anyway They made decent living
socaled amateurs just do some of guys and dolls
Nevertheless, Davis Cup competition has become
secondrae play Back in 1900 Dwight F. Davis, then
student at Harvard donated the international Lawn Ten
mis- Challenge Trophy prize for competition
between the United States and the British Isles Years
later Davis Secretary of War in the Coolidge admin
stration.
Meanwhile, the trophy popularity known as the Davis
Cup down through the years stood symbol of tennis
supremacy
SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS competition for the cup has
grown with countries from practically every part of the
world seeking to gain the trophy But only four countries
have won the Davis CupBritish Isles United States Aus
traa and France And for of these appeared
to run in cycles
Until comparatively recent times the best players
represented their countries But the pros have been
skmming the cream off the top year and nowadays
only the and youngsters still seeking to make
their mark make up the teams. AS result Davis Cup
matches no longer furnish the worlds best tennis That
is now provided by the pros.
OUR CAsPAR NAMES, who still plays fair game
himself, puts it this way:
Lets take the Davis Cur nut of the bushes WHY not
open up to the pros? Right you've got four singles
and doubles match. One country and Australia
lately has been dominant swing it with two out
standing players"
what Mr. Names proposes is that each country bring
s Davis Cup squad to- say six memberS-ha pros and half
amateurs They would play singles matches and one
doubles and at least five of the squad would have to mar
ticipate. " p'
Maybe 1t sounds crazy" Names says "but right now
the Davis Cup is farce. We're watching second-rate
tennis We have been for some years Right in our own
back yard we've lost some good ones Tony Trabert
rancho Gonzales, Kramer himself Bobby Riggs Don
Bulge and Ellsworth Vines Not to mention Tilden and
Richards" CIV
WINNIE RICHARDS, PERHAPS. was the one who
struck the first mortal blow amateur tennis Winnie
only 70 or "a years old when he jumped from the amateur
ranks back in 1926 Probably he changed the COMPLEXION
Oh laws cup play Without Richards one of the greats
uncle sam couldn't stave of France when they had such
as Cocnet LaCoste and Borora, the Bounding BASQUE
Bill Iliden perhaps the greatest of ALL couldn't do IL
Inen ne Joined the pro ranks officially giving nm
wat ]okngy called his amateur card and after Tiden
there came the Others
- from an American viewpoint at least you've got IN
IKE the loea OF pros and amateurs meeting in Davis cun
pay AS our Mr. Names says, Wed have quite team
Win Gonzales, Trabert and couple of others
Inc same holds true Tor Australia Thevd have
oeogman Rosewall and Hoad"