The 1946 Davis Cup: Part 2

Jack Kramer was a unanimous singles choice.

We had been in Australia for 30 tumultuous days. (Click Here.) With the challenges complete, Captain Pate asked us whom we thought should play in the David Cup final.

The singles were dealt with first. The record of the test matches was this. Jack Kramer and I tied for first place, Parker was third, Talbert fourth, Tom Brown who had been sick for several weeks, fifth, and Schroeder last.

Kramer, reigning national champion, was a unanimous choice for one of the singles. For the second there was complete disagreement.

Unknown to us, Frankie Parker, had been promised second singles by Captain Walter Pate and the Association. This met great objection from the other players.

When Australia had taken the Cup from us in 1938 Parker had lost badly to John Bromwich who would again be on the Australian team and was a cinch to repeat his victory.

I knew by this time they would not play me in the singles even though I thought I deserved it. Billy Talbert had said he did not want to play and Tom Brown was too ill to play.

That left the man at the bottom of…