TWO AMERICAN WINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1925, Page 7

TWO AMERICAN WINS.

a - * DAVIS CUP FINAL. TILDEN BEATS BOROTRA. LACOSTE OUTPLAYED BY JOHNSON. (By Cable.—'Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 10. The challenge round for tho Davis Cup was begun at Philadelphia to-day between America, the holders, and France, winner; of the inter-zone preliminary round. On the first day W. T. Tilden (America) met Jean Borotra (France) and W. M. Johnson (America) met Rene Lacoste (Franco). The games resulted:— Tilden beat Borotra, 4—6, G—o, 2—G, 9—7, 6—4. Johnson beat Lacoste, 6 —l, 6 —S, 6—3. Lacoste and Borotra will meet Vincent Richards and R. Norris Williams in the doubles to-morrow. In the second singles on Saturday, Borotra will meet Johnson, and Lacoste will be pitted against Tilden.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) A SENSATIONAL BATTLE. BOTH MEN EXHAUSTED. BOROTRA'S GRIM STRUGGLE. (Received 2 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 10. The Tilden-Borotra match lasted nearly three hours. The conditions were very strenuous, the heat being exceptional. Borotra played the same tennis as against Patterson. He had a. splendid chance when he led in the fourth set,- four all, at fifteen-forty ou Tilden's serve, but was unable to maintain the lead. The weather was against a good display. Borotra, at two-one in the fifth set, showed signs of collapse, and Tilden was also exhausted and his tennis became poor. Tilden won three love games, winning the set, Borotra was hardly able to see the; match through owing to exhaustion. In the first set Borotra was slightly,, nervous, while Tilden acted as though he was not trying. Borotra broke through Tilden's service at two aU, playing steady and brilliant tennis. The games then alternated with the service, Borotra winning the set, 6—4. In the second set Tilden was mora serious and broke Borotra's service, aud took a three-love lead. Tilden sho-wed his real game and walked away from the Frenchman, winning the set, 6—o, In the third set Borotra broke Tilden's service and won the first game. Tildeu lost his service in the fifth, and the Frenchman, distinctly outplaying tho American, took the set, 6—2. In the fourth set Borotra was still steady and got a two-love lead. Tilden ' was vow obviously trying, but was i unable to get enough length or control, jHe broke through Borotra's service iv [the fourth, squaring the set at two all. [ The games alternated with the service to five all, when Borotra broke through Tilden's, winning the eleventh game. Borotra's errors helped Tildea to wiu the twelfth. The games then went to, six ail and seven all, when Tilden outlasted the Frenchman rather than outi played him. The American finally took the set o—7,0 —7, with Borotra aimost in a stagej of collapse in the last game in which the Frenchman was so spent that he served two double faults and assisted Tilden with other errors. In the fifth set Borotra was so tired that the gallery thought he would haveto default, but he fought the games to two all. The Frenchman lost all pace and was too fatigued to cover the court, but he held doggedly to three all. Tilden was then also aimost spent and the exhibition of tennis by both was very poor. Tilden won the seventh and Borotra the eighth, which was the Frenchman's final effort. Tilden won the next two, the set 6—4, and the match. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. Tilden defeated Borotra in one of tho most sensational battles in Davis Cup history. The champion was' forced to the limit, and only succeeded through superior generalship. Then the bounding Basque, his martial spirit undaunted, succumbed to weariness after racing from side to side of the court. As it was, Tilden took off his shoes to avoid slipping on the smooth grass, while Borotra on one occasion fell to his knees exhausted, striking •in futile fashiou towards the ball. Both players appeared tired out in the fourth and fifth sets. Borotra, rising to superior heights even on the verge of collapse, battled on by sheer nerve, bringing off the most dazzling shots in his effort to check Tilden's smashing attack. In the end Tilden's reserve strength and steadiness at crucial moments ga\o him victory, although it was one of. the closest calls he ever had. Borotra's net Iplav was his greatest asset, time after | time he cut off Tilden's drives at tho I net or returned strokes which seemed • certain points for the American ckainjpion. I LACOSTE OUT-DRIVEN. Johnston, showing real championship (tennis, rushed through Lacoste, the (American losing only one game, off his ' own service, and he took the set, 6—l. j In the second set Johnston's fast | attack still baflied the Frenchman, who | was unable to control hie returns, and j Johnston won the set, 6—l. In the third set Lacoste improved, ard I reached the lead at 4—2, when Johnston i rallied. The games alternated with the | service with four all, until Lacoste broke : Johnston's service on the thirteenth and made his own the fourteenth, winning the set, S—o. ° In the fourth set both played evenly until Johnston resumed his former stride, winning the set, 6—3. Johnston was in very fine form. Driving from the baseline in the first two sets he quite outplayed Lacoste, who 1 ailed repeatedly. ' Lacoste was constantly outdriven in the baseline duel, but battled heroically. The Californian hit with smashing power and beautiful precision In the third set the Wimbledon winner pu led himself together, breaking throuA. Johnston s service, to win the 6 et lie was unable, however, to maintain the pace m the fm_\ B et.- (A . and j^ 9 -