Up in Smoke

Not so long ago, the U.S. Davis Cup squad--on paper, at least--looked as though it had an even chance of bringing the cup back from Australia this December. Dick Savitt, Australian and Wimbledon champion, was thelogical No.1 man in singles. Up & coming Tony Trabert, U.S. clay court champion, could play the No. 2 singles, and team with veteran Billy Talbert in the doubles. Then the paper plans began to go up in smoke. A week after Trabert was ordered to duty with the Navy, Talbert quit the squad to go back to work as a salesman for the Security Banknote Co. in Manhattan.

With two-thirds of his paper team up the chimney, non-playing captain Frank Shields now has a squad that might well have its hands full with little Sweden in the interzone final. Remaining members: Savitt; Vic Seixas, who lost the U.S. championship to Australia's Frank Sedgman in straight sets; Budge Patty, who has never regained the touch that made him 1950 Wimbledon champion; and Hamilton Richardson, 18-year-old former junior champion. Shields says he has one hope left: the chance of the Navy's transferring Trabert to Australia for temporary duty just at Davis Cup time.

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