RIGGS AVENGED.

Auckland Star, 4 September 1939, Page 14

RIGGS AVENGED.

BEATS BROMWICH. ONLY THREE SETS NEEDED. QUIST FALLS TO PARKER IN STIRRING STRUGGLE. (Romivi'il I'J noon.) PHILADKLPHIA, September 3. Contrary to expectations the United States Davis Cup team took the first two "ingles against the Australians in the challenge round commenced on Saturday. K. L. Riggs defeated J. Bromwich easily, while F. A. Parker triumphed over A. KQuist, after a stirring tive-set struggle. The results were:— K. L. Riggs (United States) beat J. K. Bromwich, <5—4, 6—o, 7—5. l'\ A. Parker (United States) beat A. K. Quist, o—3, 2 -6, 6—4, I—6, 7-5. Tliu Australian captain, H. Hopman, made Hie following comment:—"l am dumbfounded, and it all seeing so unreasonable. It fdiould have been the easiest thing in the world for Bromwich and Quist to win. They knew what they had to do—Broinwich to force his opponent all the time, and Quist to hammer at Parker's forehand. However, I do not think the situation is altogether hopeless." In the doubles, played this afternoon. Bromwich and Quist beat J. R. Hunt and J. Kramer. "~ The score wus:—s—7, 6—2, 7—5, G —2. Deficit Reduced. In the teams' event the games ticked ill with the service until the twelfth. 'I here was little to choose between them, although their styles are considerably different. Hunt and Kramer have a cannonball service and are formidable smashers from mill-court, while the Australians are infinitely bettor volleyers. There was a momentary diversion in the ninth game, when the Australians, standing 0- H), almost cracked Hunt's service, but the Americans' overhead game finally prevailed. The Australians stood 30 —15 in the twelfth, but the Americans, driving the Australians behind the baseline and handling their defensive' lobs with surpassing ease, broke Bromwich's service to win the set. The Australians now awokp. They attacked tlio Americans from the forecourt with a finesse and force that kept tlieir opponents slipping around flat-footed over the court, to take the ..first three games. The visitors apparently had begun to take Hrxprna'n's advice finally—namely, to attack. Bromwich in particular, who wai now winning many earned points. The Australians then just as surprisingly lapsed and lost the next two games. Quist rescued his service in the sixth game from deuce on Hunt's overhitting. and they cracked Kramer's service in the seventh, despite Bromwich losing important points at the net. The Americans then dropped the eighth game, playing casually, and the challengers squared the rubber. In the third set the Americans won the first three games, taking two of them to love. Their cannonball service and overhead smashes drove the Australians off the court, but the visitors rallied and won the fourth. Hunt lost his service in the fifth and the Americans under-hit their shots in the sixth, and the scot'e evened at 3—3. The games then held to the service until the eleventh, when the Australians broke through Kramer's to love. Bromwich served to win in the twelfth game, after two set-points. Tho Australians won the first four games in what was destined to be the final sot, rescuing Quist's service in the second from 15 —10 and winning the others from 30. They were volleying far too well for the Americans, who, moreover, continuously netted their returns. _ Hunt and Kramer stemmed the tide in the fifth game, only to have the Australians take the sixth to love. The Americans again rallied in the seventh, but it was a "flash

in the pan. ' as the Australians ran out in short older ni the eighth game, after t« it i' licing mat> lipoin t. Kv oi \ member of the Australian contingent. :i •■ni Sir N'.ii nuin Brookes (who helped A lit hoii v \\ ilding to briny the cup hark 1014) to .lack Crawford, were immensely em aged li.v the team's fine win. Sir Norman even yesterday liad not altogether lost hopes. Armed Guard on Trophy. The match opened in In illiant sunshine, but the courts were still moist. Tile stands, which have a stating capacity of S-iiin. wei e comfortably r. led. Tile Davis tup had been placed on an adjoining court, with two armed policemen guarding it. Dropping his service in the fourth game Qnist was down 1-'? in the first set against Parker. The .Australian broke Parker's service in tie.' tilth, but his recovery was short-lived. Th- American ran to a ">-2 lead, and finally won the set at (>- 4. Quist came on to form in the second set and led at 4 I. lie was playing well at this stage, his shots mi either hand having good length ami pace. lie finallv look the set easily at 0-2. Fortunes continued to fluctuate. Parker taking the third set at 0 1. Quist was at his best in clinching the fourth at 0' I. Pinker was worried by his opponent's drop shots, and frequently hit his returns out. Parker quickly amassed a .1— 0 lead in the final set, chiefly due to errors by Quist. I'll f • latter fought back desperately and drew level at 4-all. Oiiist again tell into errors, and lost the next game, but he had another chance when Parker dropped his service in the tenth game. The crowd was shouting with excitement as the fortunes changed. However. Parker took the next two games and the rubber by means of superb placements. Riggs. who wore spiked shoes, and Bromwich had an even struggle over the early stages of the first set. with each holding his service until the Australian broke through his opponent's in the fifth. However, Riggs returned the compliment. Playing a back-court game they fought hard for each point until Riggs stood at 5 —4. The American, breaking Bromwich's service with deadly volleying, took the set at o—4. Although the opening game in the second set was characterised by brilliant smashing by both players, Riggs soon began to dominate the play, Going to the net he blasted the Australian from the court and won 6— 0. Broniwicli showed signs of staging a recovery in the third set. running to a 4—o lead. He was giving the American the same medicine that the latter had administered to him, and the crowd cheered the Australian enthusiastically. However, it was a set of contrasts, as Riggs then won the next three games and pulled out his service in the eighth with a series of amazing volleys. Bromwich could not hold his opponent after this, and the American moved to a 7—5 victory.

When United States lieat Australia by three rubbers to two at Philadelphia exactly a year ago. Bromwich vanquished Riggs 0 4, 4 (i. (5 0. (>-2. The other Australian victory was in the doubles, Bromwich and (,>uist beating J. T). Budge and (!. (J. Mako, o—f>, o—3. 0 -4, (j— 2. Budge conquered Bromwich in four sets and Quist. straight; and the last-named also fell to Bigus in four sets. After Kisisxs had beaten his compatriot K. T. Cooke 12 0. 8 (i. 3 0. 0 -3. 0 2) in the British final on July S, of this year, the following cablegram was dispatched from New York:--"M issing Wimbledon has made Bromwich keener than ever to beat Riggs if he meets him during the Australian Davis Cup team's present tour, thus proving his claim to be world's No. 1 player," says a message from Longbeach. California. "The results from London have depressed -Brojm v ' £ 'h. who feels he could have won the championship and also, with Quist, the doubles (which title Riggs and Cooke annexed). Bromwich's team-mates feel he should be sent to Wimbledon in 1940 and given a chance to fulfil his greatest ambition. American writers expressed surprise at his non-entry this year."