TENNIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 211, 19 June 1933, Page 2

TENNIS.

DAVIS CUP CONTEST.

PARIS, June 17

In the Davis Cup tennis match between Japan and Australia, results^ are:— . '.

J. Crawford (Australia) beat R. Nunoi (Japan) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. ', V. McGrath defeated J. Satoh, 9-7, 1-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. At Rolandgards Stadium, after many tense moments, Crawford and McGrath won two great victories over Nunoi-and Satoh, placing Australia in a position where only a complete landslide in the three remaining- events can lose the match.

The great crowd was keenly interested, and protested so vigorously on one occasion against a linesman giving one of Crawford's drives in his favour against Nunoi, that whistling and booing continued until the unhappy official retired, and another was found.

The quality of the tennis was clever, and often .exciting. Crawford's match was a matter of mathematical manoeuvring. It rained heavily all the morning, but the wind freshened, drying the courts, which, nevertheless, were slow and to Nunoi's advantage. .' Crawford Begins Well. . Crawford began more quickly than usual, and led by five games to one. He took the set as though he was practising. Nunoi then demonstrated that he had vastly improved all round. He was hitting more strongly and cleanly, and was more accurate. Crawford was smashing ineffectively, but was establishing a commanding grip., In the second set, Crawford played two successive shots', close to the baseline, which the crowd considered to be outside, so that the. barracking incident occurred. Crawford regained his confidence in the third set, but in the fourth Nunoi, with graceful shots in all directions, led 3-0, but went down to 3-4, when he increased his pace on both wings, and evented the scores. He led 2-0 in the fifth set, scoring with mighty smashes.

Satoh K3pt Moving. Crawford's reply was to take the next three games, keeping the Japanese running from side to side. Then the Australian had to fight all he know to stave off defeat. He won because ho was cool in a crisis. Satoh's experienced attacking powers were expected to defeat McGrath, but the boy's tenacity pulled him through. McGraths service was often astray in the early sets, permitting the Japanese to smash repeated winning shots. He subsequently improved,

and troubled. Satoh. Rain interrupted the second set, which the Japanese won by terrific smashes. In the succeeding sets" bursts-of inspired smashing seemed to leave McGrath standing helplessly, .but he pluckily kept his head, and played coolly, so that he saved a wonderful match, in which he showed himself capable of giving measure for measure.

To-morrow, 'in the doubles, Crawford and Quist will play Satoh and Nunoi.

BRITAIN IP-LAYS CZECHOSLAVIA

LONDON, June 17

In' the semi-final between Britain and Czechoslovakia, results were:— F. J. Perry (Britain) beat R, Menzel (Czechoslovakia), -6-1, 6-4, 6-3.

H. W. Austin (Britain) beat L. Heeht (Czechoslovakia), 6-1, 11-9, 6-4. : , • :

Perry played inspired tennis. Eyen his opponent on several occasions applauded the brilliance of his 'shots. Rain interfered with the play of Austin and Hecht, but the latter showed great retrieving powers throughout.

KENT CHAMPIONSHIPS.

v WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL

; LONDON, June 17. . In the Kent tenuis championships, in the women's doubles final, Misses M. Heeley.and.D. E. Round beat Mrs F. S. Moody and Miss E. Ryan, 64, £4. .' :-< . . v