GLORIOUS SHOTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1937, Page 11

GLORIOUS SHOTS.

TENNIS ARTISTRY.

AUSTRALIAN CUP TEAM.

BRILUANCE OF BROMWICH,

After watching the brilliant exhibition matches of the Australian Davis Cup team at Stanley Street courts yesterday, Auckland tennis enthusiasts will no doubt share with Australia the optimism and confidence the Commonwealth has in lifting the trophy from England this year. Their hardest job will be to defeat America in the final of the American zone.

Not for many years has the Australian team been so evenly balanced. A little time ago J. H. Crawford, captain of the present contingent, was head and shoulders above his team mates in playing ability, but that day has gone, and now any one of his youngsters, A. K. Quist, V. B. McGrath and John Bromwich is capable of beating him at any time, and all have in recent months.

Chief interest in the appearance of the team yesterday centred in the 18-year-old John Bromwich, a freak player of the type of McGrath, who has burst into world tennis with the same blaze of glory as did McGrath nearly five years ago. Much is expected of young Bromwich and, judging by the form he displayed yesterday, he has immense possibilities. Already he has beaten Australia's best. If he" could beat Donald Budge, the American star, Australia would probably sweep on to victory. | A Certain Winner. Shrewd Auckland judges watched with particular interest the efforts of the [youthful Bromwich and the artistry of the veteran Crawford. They wanted to judge for themselves if Bromwich has all that is claimed for him. They must have been convinced. Firstly, he has an excellent temperament. Nothing perturbs him. His stroke equipment is not yet complete (how- could it be at 18 years of age?) but he has a vicious, deeply-angled shot off his right wing that is. a sure winner. He plays the shot with both hands, plays balls on his left wing with his left hand, and serves with his right. hand. Actually, he has no backhand. His service at the moment is perhaps his weakest stroke.

Has Crawford slipped as far as the critics would have us believe? He has retained that consummate artistry that is Crawford's alone. His strokes are as prettily and as perfectly produced as ever, and he looks fitter than he has done for years. He still moves about the court with that perfect rhythm, 1 which is poetry in itself. It is hard to accept that Crawford, at 28, is. "burned out." Auckland would prefer to believe that the big, good-natured Australian has still enough in him to reach the heights which won him the French and Wimbledon titles in 1933. You can never tell with Crawford. But Crawford's record in the past two seasons by no means produces complete confidence. On the contrary .... Volatilj Quist. When the Australian team is finally chosen to play America, the burden will probably fall on Quist, McGrath and Bromwich. The volatile Quist has improved so much since Auckland last saw him that now he is a player of rare polish. There is more subtlety in his game. There is more decision in his attack, and now, like F. J. Perry, he never stops attacking. McGrath yesterday, appeared content to rest on his Australian laurels. He seldom attempted to bring into force his reserves. The most noticeable feature about his play was the vast improvement in his service. But the best and most consistent service of the lot was that produced by Crawford. He has never served better in Auckland. McGrath, Quist and Bromwich in turn watched aces shoot past them. It was a delightful afternoon's tennis. During an interval the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, wished the Australian team bon voyage and every success. The team's manager, Mr. C. E. Sproule, returned thanks and declared that his team was going overseas with every hope and confidence. Matches played resulted: — Singles. —A. K. Quist beat J. Bromwich, 4—6, 6—2, ft—4; J. H. Crawford beat V. B. McGrath, 7—5, 7—5. Doubles.—J. W. Gunn and N. G. Sturt beat M. T. Wilson and J. T. Mayson (Auckland), 6 —l; J. Bromwich and A. K. Quist beat J. H. Crawford and V. B. McGrath, 6 —2, 6—2, 4—6, I—6, 6—4.