THE DAVIS CUP.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14525, 29 November 1912, Page 9

THE DAVIS CUP.

» OPENING OF THE CONTESTS.

AUSTRALIA DEFEATED.

WINS FOR DIXON AND PARKE.

United Press Association— By Electrio Te'.egreph—Copyright. (Received November 2Sth, 11.10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, November '■&■ Thoro was perfect weather for the commencement of the- Davis Cup contests, and the courts wero in excellent order. Tho attendance was forty thousand. XHxou yielded to tho persuasion of his colleagues, and decided to. play inctead of BoainishThe Englishmen wero given a fino reception. - PAIIKE v. BROOKES. Parko (England) and Brookes (Austral in) contested tho first match, which ended in a disappointment for the Australians. Brookes served first and took tho game to fifteen. Ho won Parkes service, and won tho iirst three games to love. Parko took tho next, and Brookes the following. Brilliant driving by Parko was cheered. Parko getting 3—4 won on Brookcs's service to love, making four all. Park? took the sot amid great cheering. In the thirteenth game Brookes lost the service, finishing with a double fault. In tho second set Brookes was poor on tho volley, breaking down repeatedly, and failing to find his length. In his efforts to do so ho sent the ball over tho back line. In this set i arJie got two sets in against him, «i feat that had not been done for years with Brookes.

In tho third set Brookes was extremely tired. "When Parlce was s—l,5 —1, Brookes won a sequenco of six games by grim determination. The seventh and eighth woro lost by Parko rather than won by TJrookfvs.

Tn tho fourth set Parko won the first game off his own service, Brookes netting two returns off easy serves. Brookes won the next gamo off his own service, after vantage to the server had been called eight times. After two all Parko went out with a sequence of four. Brookes was very tired and scarcely able to step aside to intercept the ball at the net.

Throughout tho match Parke executed perfect drives either deep down the sido line or across from corner to corner. Such perfect driving had never previously been witnessed here.

After four all in the first set Brookes never looked like winning. Ho mistimed balls and got too many on tho irood. . . Parko received an ovation at the conclusion of tho match. DIXON v. HEATH. Dixon (England) started by serving finely, and won the game on it. He served to Heath's forehand, but three serves were not returned. Although ho served two doublo faults, Heath won tho last four games, Dixon breaking on the service.

In tho second set Dixon won the first two games, and lost tlio service in the third, finishing with a doublo fault. Heath did tho same in the next. Tho seventh gamo was ono of tho best of tho day. Heath taking it and tho next by fine serving. After 4—4, Dixon won the service by splendid serving and volleyinrr, taking Heath's service to love and the set; 6—4.

In tho third set, D-ixon won the first.two games, Heath taking tho th'rd. Dixon won tho next off a poor half-volley by Heabli. 3—l. Heath made it 3t-2 off Dixon's service, finishing tho game with a fino pass. Heath won the next to a service to love, making tho game four all. Tho rfinth game was by splendid rallies, I>ixon winning that, also tho next and the sob. •

In tho fourth set. Dixon took the first two games, killing beautifully weak returns by Heath, who won the third. Heath won a service to love, making tho gamo two all. Dixon won tho next three, pounding Heath's backhand. Heath won a service to lovo after a fine uphill fight. Dixon carried the game to 6 —3 with vantage to server, but twice failing with <a double fault, allowed Heath to get out of the difficulty and win, 5—4; Dixon leading. Dixon won the next off Heath's service, and tho match.

■ A striking feature of tho day's play ■was tho complete breakdown of the Australians' service, Heath serving nearly as many double faults as first Forvieo faults. His service had no sting or length in the second ball, which Dixon punished severely. Both seemed afraid to hit. It was a question of a good man playing a better, and both playing badly, tho difference between the two accounting for the scores. ' Parke boat Brookes, B—6, 6—3, 5—7. 6— 2. Dixon beat Heath, 5—7, 6—4, 6—4, 6-4. Great Britain—Two rubbers, six eets, 48 games. Australia—Two sets, 37 games.

THE CONQUEROR OF BROOKES

PARKE'S STYLE OF PLAY

Tho following description of Parke's play in tho Victorian Championship is taken from the "Argus":— ''Parke's driving was quite a revelation, and Jones never seemed to havo oven an outside chance against him, fino player though he is. Parke has held tbo championship of Ireland for many years, and has represented tho British. Isles in several Davis Cup matches. Ho plays his singles very largely from the back line, only going in to the net at suitable opportunities to finish off a rally. Ho is a short mnn, nontly, but very strongly, built, and exceptionally "fleet of foot. He was for somo years one of tho finest Rugby footballers in the British Isles. Parko is regarded as tho originator of the Irish drive, and it was with this stroke that ho scored most consistently against Jones. It is a fine, free, forehand drive, without any frill or flourish—a simple, unostentatious, but very hearty, smite, delivered :vith an almost horizontal racket. The ball travels with amazing pace and accuracy. Many great driving strokes havo been seen on the same court before, but it is doubtful whether any of them could be picked out as equal to Parko's for gracefulness and effectiveness combined. It is hardly comparable with Brookes's forehand shot, because the- Victorian champion hits his in entirely different manner, catching the l>all as it is rising with a peculiar flick which, by imparting an enormous amount of top spin, makes ii> dive down quickly in its flight. Brookes's drive is a short, dipping ono its curved flight through the air militating against its pace. Parke's, on. the other hand, is a pure length drive, which carries comparatively straight through the air, usually skimming the net and travelling and fast to within a foot or so of the back-line. It is executed with delightful freedom—just a straight-forward swing of the racket—from"any position on the court, and often when ha is running at top speed. His back-liand drive is also a delightful stroke, which could well be accepted ias a perfect model of the English back-hand at its best."

A writer in tho "Sydney Mail" sa-y s of Parke:— "J. C. Parbe'is an Irish player. Five times ho has won the Irish championship: three times he has represented England in Davis Cup contests. He is easily the best athlete or the team, and his stamina is so good that if he can run his matches into five sets he seldom loses. His service is

plain, and the weak part of his game, vaicii otherw.se, tuougii essentially orthodox, is full of ansa and vim."

DIXON, THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN

O. P. Dixon, tho captain of the English team, who beat lieiith, is one or the most interesting ot lawn tennis personalities (says ti writer in the •'Sydney Mail"). He is 39 years of age, stands well over tho average height, ami is a very heavily-built man —not at all the type that one would expect to be a lawn tennis champion. On the court, however, his stop is wonderfully light and springy, and his general activity surprising. His lawu tennis career is interesting in that it is divisible into two sections. The first of these culminated in h:s reaching tho final of the All-England championship in 1901, in which ho was defeated by A. W. Gore. At that time he was" an exponent of.tho older methods, with an ordinary, plain service, and a good series of jjround strokes. He was beaten by a base-liner of practically similar methods. _ L-.sid low about this time by a severe illness, lie relinquished tournament and competition play for tix years, and when he did resume it was as a player of entirely changed methods. He adopted the "American" service, and adapted tho rest of his gamo to suit that method. Since then In has improved from year to year, till at the present time his game is stronger and bolter than it ever was before. " In stylo he is typically English, gripping his racket in the English way, and making his .strokes, especially on the volley, back-hand particularly, with a charming grace and certainty. He uses a very strong "direct American" service, tho "reverse" only occasionally, but ho is quite !English in his use of it. IDo does not let all his strength and energy go out to every service, but, with a- graceful, easy bend of tho body, ho gets tho necessary "twist" on the ball, and, by goofl timing, all tho pace that is needed. Hustle is tho characteristic of tho American methods; Dixon, however. 2°ts the same result quietly, calmly, and without ever giving rise to tho impression of being in a hnrry. He serves well within his power all tho timo, and consequently ho is able to "place" his se'rvico" infinitely better than most of the pxponcnts who strive after whirlwind effects.

VICTORIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

ENGLISH PLAYERS' DEFEAT

NEW ZEALAND COMPETITORS

(FROM OTTH OWN COP.f.F.3rONDENT.) SYDNEY, November 23. Tlio members of the English Davis Cup team livened up interest in tho Victorian lawn tennis championships by entering for both the singles and doubles contests. The first day Dixon, Beamish, and Lowe- were successful in winning their matches against "somewhat weak opposition without much difficulty, but on the second day Dixon met with unexpected defeat in tho singles and doubles, his partner in tho latter being Lowo.

On tho first day Dixon and Lowo met St. John (Queensland) and Blair (Victoria) and won G-2, 1-6, 6-2, β-d. Tho English pair won tho first set pretty easily, but seemed rather lost in tho second set, which their opponents,' by exceptionally fine play, won at «a loss of only ono game. The visitors scored tho third set fairly easily, again thanks to somo brilliant driving and volleying of tho English captain, but they had a tough struggle beforo they could take tho set at 6-4. From a quartet who did well the English, captain stood out conspicuously. For precisian of attack, for strength and accuracy of service, for suppleness of wrist, for easy command of strokeß, both fore and back hand,, and for defence where defence was needed, he ehono.all the time. Dixon is really a charming player to watch. Ho has outmwn tho flurry and excitement of youth; he has all tho skill and grace of maturity. If ho is destined to be beaten in the Davis Cup, it will bo by a player who is quick enough and clever enough to 'bustle him at tho net, and, perhaps, pass him on the side lines. Bub such a player will liavo to bo very quick and very clover indeed. Though somewhat overshadowed by his partner, Lowo played a really good game. Tho pair worked admirably together, never bustling each other, and seeming always to know by instinct ■ what the ottier was going; to do. Tlio play of St. John in this match was the subject of most favourable comment. He is one-of tho most, graceful players in Australia, his volleying and smashing aro delightful to watch, his dexterity being remarkable, though ho is handicapped by having only ono arm. Ho was tho best of tho four in quick net volleying, and camo out victorious in practically every exchange of tho kind during the match. Despite his physical disadvantage, St. John hns a fine American service, which he delivers with exceptional accuracy, and without any of the strange contortions which so ofton accompany it. Ho holds the ball between the stump of ihis right arm, a\\A tho racquet resting above- it, and tosses it into the air. . Playing in the singles against him next day, Ollivier, of .New Zealand, found St. John an easy victim, but, according to the "Sydney •Morning Herald, ,, St. John was then "in bad health, and no£ strong enough to fight the singles hard." I Tho downfall of Dixon in the second round of tho singles next day Caused great surprise. Rice, his .vanquisher, gave a really magnificent display. Too much importance must not, of course, as one of the Sydney papers points out, bo attached to tiie Australian's victory, for Dixon, who so thoroughly beat the brilliant Frenchmen, Gobert and Dectigis, in tho Davis Cup preliminary a few months ago. aad who went to within a few strokes of defeating the American champion Lamed when he was at the top ot his form last year, was certainly not tho Dixon who went down so easily ou Thursday. Tho Englishman won the first set easily, playing with confidence and ease, but he faded away in the second and- scored only one game. Rice at this stage was driving with great pace from tho back lino, and as usual his excursions to tho net were very rare. Dixon, who is an exceptionally hea\*y man for a tennis player, and nearly 40 years of age. appeared to be feeling the heat, it was a very warm day, and he, too, played more from the base line than ho does usually. In tho third set Dixon tried to pull himself together again, but by this time Rice's driving was really magnificent, and the Englishman's only hope seemed to be to get to tho net wucnover possible. However, he still persisted in playing mostly from tho back of the court, either because ho wanted to practice driving or felt the heat too much to continually run in. Rice took the set, 6-4, and "won the fourth also at that score. Later in the afternoon Dixon suffered an even more overwhelming reverse. He was playing with Lowe, the fourth member of his team, in the doubles championship, being faced by A. B. Jones and Wright, tho New Sonth Wales pair. The stands were crowded with s*x?ctators, who anticipated seeing a fine contest. AH that they saw, however, worn plucky but hopeless efforts of the English pair to cope with the vigorous onslaught of their opponents. Dixon did not play nearly as well as ho had done m tho match against St. John and Blair on the previous day, and Lowo, who has no protensions as a doubles champion, could do very little to help him. Jones and Wright took tho first set at 6-2, and

I tho EngSrhmcn undo a better fight for , the seooiid, but their opponents never : * really gave thorn :> chance, though • Dixon and Lowe played grimly on. j They had apparently accepted defeat, j and" the third was a* love- set. in which j tho New South "Wales pair simply ran ; all over them. This match gave A. B. : Jones an opportunity to display his j high all-rmmd skill as* a doubles player, j His volleying, particularly his low work, ) j was sound, almost to tho point of j>or- i feoiioi!. Wright was an excellent j partner. As an off-sot to these re- J verses, however, the Englishmen were j ablo to claim two very fine perform- : imces in Parko's defeat of A. B. Jones, and Lowe's vlctorv over "Wright, i j A long five-set- match was that Jbe- i tween OJlivior. the champion «f New | Zealand, and Thomas, of South Ail?- i ] tralia. In the end victory rested with j tho New Zoa'.ander, but it was only ; by a margin of two games. "From \ the form shown in this. match." to- j marks tho "Melbourne Ago," "it ■ would appear that tho more extravagant claims made on behalf of Ollivior — somo holding that lie should hfivo been picked to practise for the Davis Cup— arc- scarcely justified. It is possible ; that his form ajjainsi Thomas was not , (

his best." Other Now Zealandcrs who competed at the mooting worn T. R. Grigson (formerly of Auckland, and now settled in Melbourne), Brown and Quill. Brown, good player though ho is in club matches, seemed liko a men? novice, against Brookes, who boat him absolutely pointless—6-0, 0-0, 0-0. St. John, the one-armed Queonslandor, boat Grigson—β-l, G-l, 8-6; and A. B. Jones beat Quill—6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

ENGLISH TEAM'S VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TOUR

(raESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGKAM.) WELLINGTON*. November 2S. In connection with the visit to New Zealand oi : tho Juiglish Davis Cup team, Mr A. J. Peiuunck, secretary of tiie i\cw Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, received detailed udvico _ to-day from the Australasian Association regarding the tour. Tho members of tho team:—C. P. Dixon (captain), A. E. Beamish, J. G, Parke, aiid F. Lowe;—■ have booked passages to Auckland by tho Marama sailing from i>ydney on Monday December 16th, and arriving at Auckland on tho_ following Friday. Tho Xtw Zealand representatives for tho first match — Geoffrey Ollivier, J. 0. Peacock, F. M. 13. Fisher and R. N. K. Swanston—will meet tho English team on tho Mount Eden and Epsom courts, at Auckland, ou Saturday and Monday, December 21st and 23rd. Tho Englishmen will then journey to. Hastings, via Rotorua and Taupo, arriving in timo to compete in tho Australasian championships to be held there commencing on Monday December 30th.

After that the team will proceed south to Christchurch, where a second representative match is to be plnved on January 4th and 6th. From tho southern citj , the team will come straight back "to Wellington and here play tho third and final representative match of tho tour on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 7th and Bth. On tho following Friday tho visitors will tako their departure from Wellington for Sydney. Tho New Zealand players to take part in tho second and third representative matches at Chmtehurch and Wellington respectively will bo selected at a later date.