DAVIS CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 125, 28 May 1932, Page 9

DAVIS CUP.

U.S.A. V. AUSTRALIA. Hopman Fails to Win Set Against Shields. RAIN STOPS CRAWFORD'S GAME (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11 n.m.) PHILADELPHIA, May 27. In (ho Davis Cup match between United States and Australia, the opening .singles resulted:— P. X. Shields (U.S.A.) boat PL Hopman (Australia), o—4, (s—l, o—2.

IC. Vines (U.S.A.) was leading J. Crawford (Australia) by two ?ets to one — "three all" on fourth set—when rain halted play for tlfe day. Vines won the first two sets, (i—2. o—4, and Crawford took the third, fi—2. Kopman Down in Straight Sets. In the Shields v. Hop man rubber the A.iiHjrican began the. service and lost t he game. A briek wind was blowing across the court, making play difficult. They were both cautious, playing a backcourt game. The score was 2—2 when Hopnian dropped his service in the fourth. Shields then again lost his service, and the Australian went into a 4—2 lead, the American netting and outing. Hopnian, however, lapsed into inaccuracies, and, dropping his service in the eighth game, the score was 4—4. The Australian now attempted a fatal mixing of pace, alternating deep court drives with short volleys, but Shields was steady on his returns and ran out to set, Hopnian losing his service in the tenth game, in which he was unsteady. Despite the wind, the heat on the court was terrific. Hopnian seemed badly tired. The American ran up a s—o5 —0 lead in the second set with the greatest of ease. Hopnian was having obvious difficulties with his game. He stoo<l "forty love" in tiie second game and from two points down in the fourth he "deuced" the game. Throughout he bravely stood his ground in the forecourt, smashing the American's lobs, but again and again he was passed ny sharply-angled shots. He now changed his racquet, and with it his luck, winning the sixth game, He played at the back of the court in the seventh game, but netted and outed, while his opponent was steady.

Hopman outed the third set with the service. He was not playing vigorously. Shields, who is noted for his cannonball service and tremendous forehand drives, was also not extending himself in the heat. He, however, quickly ran up a- 3—o lead. His play was "spotty" in the fourth, in which he served and lost. Hopman steadied remarkably in the next game, which ho won by carefully timing his returns. He dropped the next two games by netting, outing or being passed at the net. The American gained the final game by a smashing forecourt attack. The match took an hour to play. Stroke analysis: Shields, 2 service aces, 21 placements, 22 nets, 25 outs, one double fault. Hopman, no eervice aces, 5 placements, 24 nets, 40 outs, 4 double faults. Crawford Tackles Vines.

In the rubber between the Australian nnd American national champions Crawford served and lost the first game. The wind if anything had smartened and gave the balls very uncertain direction. The Australian stood two points down on his service in the fifth game, but "deuced" nnd won it. They were playing slowly, matching strokes in a deepcourt duel. Vines' vigorous service in the sixth game caught Crawford unprepared, so that he was hardly able to put a racquet on a ball. The American thus took a commanding lead of 4 —2, which he increased to 5—2, when Crawford had trouble with his service in the wind in a long-drawn-out "deuced" seventh game. Vines ran out to set on the Australian's repeated nets in the eighth. Crawford opened the second set with the service, but although the game was thrice "deuced" he was unable to pull it out, losing the final point on a double fault. The Australian lost the second game o—B,0 —8, then won the third on his service at love, with a remarkable show of well-placed forehand drives. The Australian was now battling. He fought bitterly for the next game, which was five timee "deuced," but the American on superior accuracy won it, to take a 3 —l lead. Crawford again reached the heights, to win the fifth game, in a hard-fought repeatedly "deuced" contest, to pull his service out after standing two points down. Hβ evened the score at 3—3 by breaking through Vines' service, then went into the lead a t 4 —3 ; winning the seventh game at love, compelling the American to run dizzily from side to side of the court after impossible returns.

Vines, however, was now not to be denied. He took the following three games, principally on earned points. He made seemingly impossible "gets," returning Crawford's smashes to Ms feet, and placing his shots out of the Australian's reach. Vines Loses a Set.

Craw fiord opened the third set with a love service game, and broke through the American's service in the second. He increased his lead to 3—o before lapsing into errors. Vines' service pulled him out in the fourth game, but he lost the fifth by repeatedly finding the net with badly-timed returns. The Australian now led at Crawford at 5—2 was clearly in control. His backhand was beautifully timed, compelling the American to run wildly back and forth. J. lie Australian allowed Vines only a single point on the latter's service in the last game. Crawford lost his service at the openin"- of the fourth set. The American increased his lead to 2—o with a sizzling service and striking passing shots. Crawford was having hard luck. He lost the third game to love on a netcord ehot. The American was formidable overhead in the fourth, in which Vines later lapsed into errors. He was out of position to take the Atietralian's wellplaced returns from the service, and was unable to handle the Australian's service in the fifth game. The score was evened at 3—3, when the American lost his service in the sixth.

A rapid thunderstorm developed, the match was halted, and play abandoned for the day. Experts' Opinions.' Vines and Crawford will resume on Saturday where they left off. The doubles'will be played late to give Crawford an interval of rest. In addition to the Davis Cup doubles. Allison and van Ryn v. Crawford and Hopman, there will be an exhibition game between Clemenger—Sproule (Australia) and Richards—Williams (U.S.A.)