Again, the Davis Cup

The famed Davis Cup, stowed away in an Australian vault for six years, was polished last week for an old ritual. In Melbourne's ancient Town Hall, twenty envelopes, containing challenges from 20 nations, were plucked one by one from the big silver bowl. This ceremony, to determine the 1946 Davis Cup draw, set the wheels of international tennis turning again.

Great Britain, faced with the task of building a brand-new team, drew France's better-seasoned team as a first-round foe, seemed sure to die a quick death. Sweden, best bet to win the European zone eliminations, drew a first-round pushover, The Netherlands. The U.S., with the Philippines No. i on its victim list, had still to choose its team from a serviceable but slightly shopworn list of likely Davis Cup candidates.* Cockily aloof from it all were the confident Australians, Davis Cup victors in 1939, likely repeaters in 1946.

The Newcomer. Australia had reason to be cocky. Though brilliant Adrian Quist was a little past his peak and suffering from recurrent asthma, two-fisted Jack Bromwich was better than ever. Aussie ace in the hole: a 24-year-old wonder who sometimes plays barefoot, named Dennis ("Dinny") Pails.

In last week's National Tennis Championships at Adelaide, Pails ripped through Quist, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. When he squared off against Bromwich in the finals, he carried his more seasoned senior to five sets, lost the match 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2. A stubborn, powerful player, with the doglike retrieving instincts of Georgia's Bitsy Grant, he also had plenty of offensive equipment, a cannonball service, a good backhand, a devastating overhead. He swung his heavy (15 1/4 oz.) racket two-handed in Bromwich-Vivian McGrath style.

When the Davis Cup finals are decided at Melbourne's Kooyong courts next December, the defending Australian team will be Bromwich and Pails in singles, Bromwich and Quist in the doubles. Said Australia's tennis boss Sir Norman Brookes, one of the wiliest players who ever trod a court: "We hope to retain the Davis Cup for a couple of years, at least . . . that is, if you'll allow me to pick the [U.S.] team."

* The top five: Frank Parker, Jack Kramer, Ted Schroeder, Don McNeill, Billy Talbert.

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