U.S.A. Downed.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 1 (Supplement)

U.S.A. Downed.

Title to Perry—An All-British Final. — Great Match with

Crawford

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAN FRANCISCO, September -11,

Sixty-four of the world's greatest tennis experts assembled at Forest Hills, New York State, to contest for the coveted United States singles tennis championship, and, after a series of still' battles tho final witnessed two representatives of the British Empire struggling for supremacy, tho two great rivals for honours being Jack Crawford, of Australia, holder of the championships of Australia, England and France, and Frederick J. Perry, of London, the redoubtable hero that enabled Great Britain to wrest tho Davis Cup from world competition. The last American hope of saving something out of the tennis wreck of

1033 was blasted by tho twin shotmaking wizards of the British Empire, Australia's marvellous Jack Crawford and England's brilliant Fred Perry.

With a sudden, dynamic surge that swept everything before him, and broke up an otherwise dramatically close battle for points, dark-liaired, 24-year-old Fred Perry, of England, defeated tho great Jack Crawford of Australia for the tennis championship of the United States in live sets that thrilled throughout.

The American attendance of 14,000 spectators, little short of a capacity crowd for tho second all-foreign contest for the national singles title in history, watched tho liery Perry" strike with the speed and power of a king cobra in the last two sets. The British Davis Cup hero came from behind after losing two heart-crushing set duels, to win by scores of o—3, 11—13, 4—o, o—o, G—l.

Perry, proving himself one of the greatest match players of modern tennis history, smashed. Crawford's 19.')3 winning streak when the marvellous Australian was almost within sight of achieving tho unprecedented "grand slam" of tennis, for Crawford had previously captured the Australian, French and Wimbledon singles . championships.

The lithe, slim youth-from the Old Country became the first Englishman in 30 years to capture the most coveted crown of American tennis. In succeeding tho twice former title holder, Ellsworth Vines, of California, who had passed out of the picture in the fourth round, Perry duplicated the feat achieved in 1903 by Hugh L. Doherty.

These two, Perry and Crawford, were distinctly the players of the year and the class of tho tournament.

For three sets they waged a close and frequently exciting and blistering contest for points, in which the fortunes shifted with highly dramatic swiftness. In the long and bitterly-fought second set, the luck finally went to Crawford, and the Australian looked like a winner when he also took the third set with a masterful display of tactics. There were dramatic moments that favoured him in each of the three sets, just when it seemed as though Perry, the aggressor throughout, was about to complete his command of the match.

In the twenty-second game of the long set Perry was within two points of winning, only to have Crawford rally behind a series of forcing shots to save his service.

In the twenty-third game Perry led 40—30 as Crawford whirled to. make a spectacular return of a difficult shot behind the baseline. As he completed the stroke, Crawford spilled, much as he had done the day before, and landed flat 011 the turf. Perry was at the net, his racquet poised for a "killing" return, only to plop the ball into the net. Many conjectured it was done purposely as a sportsmanlike gesture in consideration of Crawford's accidental fall.

lost his service and faded in the twentyfourth game with wild returns, enabling Crawford to square the match and forge ahead with more confidence.

Losing the poise and control for the first time, the Britisher double-faulted,

Something happened to both between sets. However, Perry came back like the proverbial raging lion to sweep everything before him in two lightning sets, while Crawford, despite a commanding lead, tired and had his defence shot to pieces. The Australian, whether or not his twice- twisted left knee troubled him, obviously lacked the necessary stamina for the full route. His famous backhand, which had been under severe pressure from the outset, cracked completely and his service, • too, fell apart. Perry's old practice of letting his opponent tire himself in the opening portion of the match and then applying pressure when the spectators considered Perry beaten, was being put into force once again, and it once more succeeded in one of the most crucial tests of his

The Briton is the fourth "foreigner" in r>2 years to capture the American title. Doherty was the iirst in 1901, then the French enjoyed a holiday as Reno Lacoste was victorious in 1920-27, and Henri Coeliet emerged on the top in 1928. Perry's battle with Crawford lasted two hours and live minutes.