TENNIS ARTISTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 17

TENNIS ARTISTRY.

DAVIS CUP PLAYERS.

MALFROY'S BRILLIANT DOUBLES. McGRATH AND CRAWFORD WIN. A doubles match in which the play reached superlative heights and a singles which revealed the subtlety and artistry of the famous young Australian, Vivian McGratli, delighted packed galleries at Stanley Street yesterday afternoon when J. B. Crawford, virtual champion of the world, and young McGrath played C. K. Malfroy, of Wellington, and N. G. Sturt, of Auckland. Aucklanders knew Crawford. They had seen tlie tall, smiling Australian produce his dazzling shots with a grace that is all his, they had marvelled at his ground shots, at liis smash, at his volleying, at his speed and uncanny accuracy in drives down either sideline. So it was that young McGratli, the 17-year-old Australian Davis Cup star, was the main attraction. Aucklanders wanted to see the famous twohanded back-hand that had puzzled the critics of England, France and America. They saw it, and were amazed. Clean Hitting. This two-handed back-hand is a shot that carries surprising speed as it flashes across court. McGratli was slow to tsettle down to it, playing carefully for the first three games of his match with Malfroy, just feeling his touch. And when he found it, he won point after point with clean placements and passing shots that were superb. Perhaps McGratli's most effective shot off

his back-liand was a cross-court drive when receiving in the ockl court. lie played Malfroy's fast serve with terrific force. It skimmed the net, raised a cloud of chalk on the side-line, and left the New Zcalandcr smiling and bewildered.

There were feelings of disappointment at the display of Crawford. He did not show the form he had shown on hits previous appearances in Auckland. Ho was not fit, suffering from a cold contracted on the Mariposa, and had admitted in the morning that he did not feel like playing. On occasions, however, he showed in the doubles match some of the shots for which he is renowned. His ability to halfvolley a ball smashed at his feet and turn into a winning shot was surprising. He and Malfroy occasionally engaged in delightful volleying duels, and then he was the Crawford we had seen before. Malfroy At His Best. The "star turn" of the doubles was unquestionably the young New Zealander, C. E. Malfroy. After his indifferent exhibition against McGratli, one was prepared to see him make all sorts of mistakes in the doubles, but he not right on to hiti game, and played brilliantly. Never before has Malfroy reached such heights in Auckland. He played sensational shot<s at times bewildering the Australians with his swift and accurate volleying. He was more impressive in the second set than at any other stage of the match, accing the Australians with his fast serve, going in to volley shrewdly, smashing from all parts of the court, and thrilling the crowd with a dazzling exhibition. Crawford said afterwards that he had a lot of respect for the ability of Malfroy.

The pair liavo been and gone, and Aucklandcrs have seen them, who have made tennis history. They have now seen both Crawford and Vines, he whom the Australian defeated in his epic match. Whether fairly or not, they will be judging. They have now seen the youngster, MeGrath, whose backhand set tile world a-talking. Him also will they judge. Though the visit was more of an "ave atque vale" affair, it was infinitely worth while. Its educative value to Auckland tennis has been immense. Doubles Described. Round after round of applause greeted J. 15. Crawford and Vivian MeGrath as tliey walked on to the court for thendoubles match with C. E. Malfroy and N. G. Sturt. There was more applause when New Zealand took the first - game, in which there had been some brilliant shots by Malfroy. There was an exciting rally in the second game when Sturt and MeGrath tried to out-manoeuvre each other, and MeGrath passed Malfroy with a brilliant volley to the sideline. The game was hard-fought, with many deuces, but the finesse of the' Australians won it.

.To bring the scores, to two all. Malfroy served brilliantly. ITe "aced" MeGrath, sent a ball down that Crawford could not return, and won the game with a powerful smash to the feet of Crawford. Bursts of applause came after nearly every volley now, for, although the New Zealanders were being outplayed by the artistry of Crawford and MeGrath. the play had reached dazzling heights. The clean ground shots of the Australians were amazing. They pickcd up well-nigh impossible balls to score.

I Malfroy Carries the Weipht. , Malfroy now gave glimpses of the old Malfroy, playing spectacular tennis, bringing off sensational shots that even Crawford could not cope with. He was the will-o'-the-wisp of the court, diving here and darting there to volley and smash with force and accuracy. Sturt was playing well, but not with the "sting" of his partner. It was good to watch—the superb strokes of Crawford, the eccentric backhand of McGratli, the brilliance of the acrobatic Malfroy, and the gallant fighting spirit of Sturt. It was Australia's set at 6 —4. Towards the middle of the second set it became apparent that Malfroy was carrying the weight of the burden. His serving was magnificent, often compelling a defensive return both from Crawford and McGratli. He was superior to his partner in all departments of the game, though that led him at times to poach on his partner's confines and thus tend to produce bad positional play. Malfroy covered the court well, however. Sturt was better at close quarters, since at times from the back line his ground shots broke down. The Australian pair were well balanced and very much at their ease. McGratli's backhand proved as effective at the net as at the back line. The pair were seldom out of position. McGratli's service and overhead might have been more severe. Crawford's service did not permit of much attack. His overhead permitted of no return. It was noticeable that he used a half-volley to get to an attacking position at the net. Australia won the first game in the second set and New Zealand thereafter five in a row. Australia took th seventh game and New Zealand the eighth, and set, at o—2.0 —2. For the remainder of the match the relative play was that of the second set, though Sturt improved. His service had more devil, though the point that gave Australia a 2—l lead in the fifth set was a double fault by him. At times Malfroy rose to great heights. His positional play and his anticipation were in the first flight. Crawford produced winners when a mere return would have been creditable. McGratli used the centre-of-tlie-court theory with effect. Sturt Beats Rowlands. After seeing the McGrath-Malfroy game yesterday it was difficult to decide just how good was the singles which followed, between N. G. Sturt, erstwhile winner of the New Zealand doubles, and 11. C. Rowlands. The game was in the nature of a stop-gap and was ended when Sturt was leading, 6—3. 5—3.

It was ccrtainly like water after champagne, though in fairness to both it must be stated that neither has had any practice to speak of, since the tennis season has not yet opened, and grass courts are not yet playable.

One missed the crisp finish of McGrath's strokes, the ease with which perfect shots were executed and difficult positions retrieved. Sturt double-faulted twice in the first game, while Rowlands showed immediately that he was going to have difficulty in settling down. It was largely on Rowlands' errors that Sturt was enabled to establish a 3—l lead. Better forehand driving gave him another game, and then, with good net play and several pretty drop shots, Rowlands drew up to 4—2. Sturt took another game, but lost his own service. Rowlands crept a game nearer. Then Rowlands also lost his serve, giving Sturt the set 6—3. Sturt found his feet the more quickly, and played steadier tennis, but there was nothing brilliant about either. Rowlands struck a better patch and some better cross-court work gave him two games. Sturt, however, came back and did not lose another game. He made fewer errors himself, and waited for his opponent to make them. The match was ended when the second set stood at 5—3, leaving Sturt with victory well in sight. Detailed Scores. V. MeOrath (Australia) beat C. E. Malfroy (N.Z.), 6—2, 6—2. J. 13. Crawford and V. McGrath (Australia) beat Malfroy and N. G. Sturt (N.Z.). 4—6, 6—2, o—l, 4—6, 6—2. X. G. Sturt beat 11. C. Rowlands, 6—3, 5-3.