DAVIS CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 142, 19 June 1933, Page 7

DAVIS CUP.

CLEAN-CUT VICTORY.

Australians Beat Japanese at

Paris

THREE FIVE-SET ENCOUNTERS,

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph— Copyright)

(Received 12 noon.)

LONDON, June 18.

In the semi-finals of the Davis Cup contest in Paris on Saturday Australia won the first two singles in the tie with Japan. Craw c ord beat Nunoi, 6—2, 4 —6, 6 —3, 4—o, 7—5. McGrath beat Satoh, 9—7, I—o, o— i, 7 —5. When the Australians won the double to-day, Japan was eliminated, although the other two singles will be played on Monday.

The score in the double was: —Crawford and Quist beat Satoh and Nunoi, 7_5 ; 7_o, o—3, 3—o, o—3.

Crawford and McGrath won two great victories over Nunoi and Satoh after many tense moments, thus placing Australia in a position where only a complete landslide in the three remaining events can lose them the match.

A great crowd of spectators showed keen interest in the games. They protested so vigorously on one occasion against a linesman for giving one of Crawford's drives in his favour against Nunoi that the whistling and "boohing" continued till the unhappy official retired and another was found.

The quality of the tennis was Cleveland often exciting.

Crawford's match with Nunoi Avas a matter of mathematical manoeuvring. It had rained heavily'all the morning. Then the wind freshened and dried the court, which, nevertheless, was slow, to Nunoi's advantage.

Crawford began more quickly than usual. He led s—l5 —1 and took the first set as though he were practising. Nunoi then demonstrated that he has vastly improved all round, compared with when he was in Australia. He served better, his back-hand was stronger and his hitting cleaner and more accurate. The Australian was smashing ineffectively but was establishing a commanding grip in the second set. He played two successive, shots close to the base-line which, the crowd considered, were outside, hence the barracking incident. Crawford regained his confidence in the third set, but in the fourth Nunoi, with graceful shots in all directions, led 3—o. However, he went down .to 3 —4 when he increased the pace on both wings. The Japanese led 2—o in the fifth set, scoring with mighty smashes. Crawford's reply was to 'take the next three. He kept Nunoi running to the side. Then the Australian had to fight all he knew to' prevent defeat. He won because he was cool in the crisis. Satoh's experienced attacking powers were expected to defeat MeGrath, but the boy's tenacity pulled him through. McGrath's service ' often was astray in the early sets, permitting the Japanese to smash repeated winners. Subsequently the Australian improved and troubled Satoh.

Rain interrupted in the second set. which the Japanese won by tei'rific smashes. In the succeeding sets his bursts of inspired smashing seemed to leave McGrath standing helplessly, but he pluckily kept his head and played coolly. He saved a wonderful match in which he showed he is capable of giving measure for measure.

In the Britain v. Czecho-Slovakia tie in England Perry (Britain) beat Menzel, 6—l, o—4, 6—3, and Austin (Britain) beat Hecht, 6—l, 11—9, 6—4.

Perry played inspired tennis. Even his opponents on several occasions applauded the brilliance of his shots.

Rain interfered with the match between Austin and Hecht. The latter showed great retrieving powers throughout.

QUIST MAKES GOOD.

FRENCH "BARRACKERS" VOCAL

(Received 2 p.m.) , PARIS, June 18. After a very exciting match Australia qualified to meet Britain in the final of the European zone. This is the best Australian performance for many years. Crawford and Quist acquitted themselves memorably in their first partnership, displaying great harmony in their game.

Although the newspaper "L'Auto" soundly scolded the French crowd owing to their barracking on Saturday, the crowd was again vocal all the afternoon and disagreed with the judgment of the officials regarding the condition of

the court, which was sloppy following heavy showers. They demanded that play begin to time, and the players agreed, though it was still raining, and

this compelled an adjournment after the first game and again at tho end of the first set. Other adjournments also were necessary, inciting much whistling, hissing and booing, which were frequent when the onlookers considered the linesmen negligent. Several times they thought the Australians were given the benefit of the doubt.

The match was full of scintillating tennis, but was notable for the inability of tho Australians to ram victory home. Morally they won several times, and had three set points in the second set when they led 6—5, 40—love on Satoh's service. They also led 5—2, 40—15, on Satoh's service in the final set, yet this developed into a long advantage game. Similarly tho Australians failed to win games when they held a commanding position, sometimes through over-care, sometimes through audacity.

Quist, although this was his first serious Davis Cup contest, acquitted himself magnificently. He served with groat power, killed with the majority of his smashes, and won points with drives down the centre. Crawford displayed his customary court-craft. Satoh was a little out of touch, but Nunoi was remarkably consistent and retrieved brilliantly.

KENTISH DOUBLES.

AMERICAN STARS BEATEN. LONDON", June 18. The final of the Kentish women's doubles, at Beckenham, on Saturday, was won by Misses Heeley and Round, who beat Mrs. Helen Wills-Moody and Miss Ryan, 6—4, 6—4.