Davis Cup

The crowd that watched the opening matches of 1932 Davis Cup play at Washington last week was not really very much concerned about who would win. Everyone knew that the U. S. players--Ellsworth Vines, John Van Ryn, Wilmer Allison, Frank Shields--were too strong for soft-stroking Marcel Rainville and old Dr. Jack Wright, Canada's two best singles players. The real question was: had Vines reached anything like the form that won him the U. S. championship last year?

After Allison had beaten Rainville in straight sets, Vines and Wright came out on the red clay courts of the Chevy Chase Club to play their match. Wright was playing over his head but still there was no question left about the condition of Vines's game. It lacked the crispness that distinguished it last year. Wright, a graceful player, was very steady. Vines played with blinding speed but little accuracy, broke a racket on a smash but barely won 8-6, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

It was the longest, closest match in the series, but not the best. That came the third afternoon, after Mrs. Hoover had seen Allison & Van Ryn win the doubles, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2, when young Frank Shields, substituted for Allison to show what he could do, beat Wright 8-6, 6-1, 8-10, 6-1. Hardest hitter in the U. S., Shields made it clear that Allison, whose game is amazingly improved this spring, was not yet sure of his place as No. 2 singles man on the team. When Vines disposed of Rainville, 6-3, 6-3. 6-4, the series was formally over--all 5 matches for the U. S.

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