LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20903, 10 July 1933, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS.

MEN'S SINGLES AT WIMBLEDON. CRAWFORD BEATS VINES. AUSTRALIAN'S BRILLIANT PLAY. (rXITJSD PP.7,38 ASSOCIATION—BT ELBCTSIC TBLEORAPH—COPTIII »HT ) LONDON, July 7. J. B. Crawford, of Australia, today won the All-England lawn tennis singles championship at Wimbledon, defeating the holder, H. Ellsworth Vines, of the United States, in a thrilling five-set final, 4-6, 11-9, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Seven thousand persons saw the epic match, perhaps the finest final ever played at Wimbledon. The players walked from the court amid thunderous cheers. Vines full of sincere congratulations and Crawford sympathetic to the former champion. D. D. Prenn, H. W. Austin, Henri Cochet, Jean Borotra, Enrique Maier and others commend the dazzling nature of the match, and agree that the second set, <:or brilliance of strokes, Crawford's supreme control of his backhand, and his subjection of the most savage player in the game's history, was unequalled. Vines said to Crawford: "I'm glad you won, Jack. That's honest. I don't envy you your position. You're on top of the world to-day, and will be dethroned to-morrow. You'll have no peace. They'll all be after you." Crawford's modest comment was confined to: "It was my day." The deciding factor was Crawford's fine serving, for he not only won the toss, but also commenced serving in every set. That, coupled with his ability to break through Vines's service at critical stages in the second and fifth sets, won the match. Vines's driving was as good as Crawford's and his volleying was better. Crawford's backhand was admirable, and stood the strain of repeated attacks. Mile. Suzanne Lenglen said: "Crawford played the most marvellous and most perfect tennis I have ever seen." Crawford said: "I lost the last game in the fourth set without regret, because I wanted to begin the fifth set with new balls, with which I seldom lose my service. I was glad to win the ninth game and lead 5-4. knowing that Vines dare not risk anything, and that he would be compelled to play to or near me, allowing me to take the offensive." The Play. Crawford, opening service, took the first game on four errors by Vines, who won the next, in which he once aced Crawford. The American took the next two games, aceing Crawford three times in the fourth game. Crawford then struck a better length, but Vines served at such pace that Crawford was unable to time the ball, and Vines breaking through the Australian's service, led 5-2, and eventually won the set 6-4 by powerful serves and drives. Crawford so far seemed cramped by the American's speed and afraid to go for winning shots. Vines made 23 errors in the first set, and Crawford 15. The Second Set. Crawford splendidly saved the first game in the second set from 0-40, but Vines, risking errors, brought off a series of perfectly-placed backhand and forehand drives, and levelled the set at 1-1. The games went with service to 9-9. Most of the rallies; seemed to go to Crawford, but Vines's cannonball service won him many points, several times aceing the Australian. Crawford at last broke through the American's service for set, after a series of driving duels as severe and as deep as could be wished for. Crawford was behind 15-40 and 0-40 on two of his services, but managed to win both by great passing shots. Crawford made 32 errors, and Vines 33 in this set. Crawford's Best ' (, orm. Crawford had thus far scored one outright ace only, but consistently held his service. Now, playing at the very height of his form against Vines's own beautiful, driving, Crawford led 3-2 in the third set, and again captured Vines's service for a 4-2 lead. The American's driving began to lose its previous ideal length, and Crawford went rapidly ahead and took the set in 15 minutes. Crawford, who was coolness personified, made nine errors against Vines's 20. Crawford was now blending speed and subtlety in a remarkable degree, but his long run of service supremacy ended in the third game of the fourth set, when Vines, driving deeply and powerfully, broke it for a 2-1 lead. Vines Improves. Another burst of high-speed driving sent the American to 4-2. Here Crawford's service was again broken by the American's versatile attack. Vines making winners of every volleying opportunity. He won the set 6-2. Crawford had made 14 errors in this set, and Vines eight. The tense atmosphere of the final set was heightened by the first seven games going with service. Many of Vines's deliveries would have been aces to anybody else, but Crawford, who gallantly returned the majority of the cannonballs. Crawford also was more than holding his own in the driving exchanges, rarely allowing Vines to reach the net; but once there the American was supreme. It was now a matter of who would first yield his service. Vines won his to even the scores at 4-4. Serving excellently, Crawford led 5-4. Then Vines netted two easy strokes, and Crawford winning the next Doint by an cxauisite passing shot, led 40-0. He won the last point and the game to love. The match lasted two hours. HIGH PRAISE FOR WINNER. CRAWFORD CONGRATULATED BY THE KING. (Received July 9. 8.20 p.m.) LONDON. July 8. Mr H. S. Scrivener, writing in the "Morning Post." says that none who saw it will ever forget the Wimbledon final. Crawford's victory was a veritable triumph of court craft. "The Times" says that Crawford on each visit has shown himself more an

accomplished player than before. He was superior to Vines in the production of strokes, and in the calmness with which he played them. Crawford and his wife were presented to their Majesties the King and Queen in the vestibule of the grandstand at Wimbledon, the King heartily congratulating the champion. ELATION IN AUSTRALIA. (Received July 9, 8.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 9. The whole of Austrana is elated at Crawford's victory. Thousands of congratulatory cablegrams have been sent to him. A considerable section of the public waited till the early hours of Saturday morning for the result, which was broadcast successfully throughout the Commonwealth. Crawford's father and mother at Bondi listened in, tremendously excited, a constant stream of neighbours calling with congratulations. CHAMPIONSHIPS FINISHED. MRS MOODY KEEPS WOMEN'S TITLE. MISS ROUND'S PLUCKY FIGHT. (Received July 9, 8.1 p.m.) LONDON, July 8. Wimbledon, as usual for several years, had fine weather for the whole of the All-England championship-:, which closed on Saturday with the best women's final seen for years. The King and Queen of Iraq were present, and every seat round the centre court was occupied when Miss Round deservedly won the long middle set from Mrs Helen Wills-Moody. This was the first time the incomparable Mrs Moody had lost a set to anybody for several years; but to-day she had to fight all the way to retain the title. It was an exciting, hard-hitting match throughout. Miss Round showing unexpected abili'y both in severity and placing. Results: — MEN'S SINGLES. Final. J. B. Crawford (Australia) defeated H. Ellsworth Vines (United States), 4-6, 11-9, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. WOMEN'S SINGLES. Final. Mrs Helen Wills-Moody (U.S.A., holder) defeated Miss D. E. Round (England), 6-4, 6-8, 6-3. MIXED DOUBLES. Quarter-final. N. G. Farquharso.i (South Africa) and Miss Mary Heeley (England) defeated R. Miki (Japan > and Miss D. E. Round (England), 10-8, 6-3. Semi-finals. G. von Cramm and Fraulein H. Krahwinkel (Germany) defeated C. H. Kingsley and Mrs L. A. Godfree (England ), 6-3, 8-6. N. G. Farquharson and Miss Heeley defeated Jean Borotra (France > and Miss Betty Nuthaii (England), 8-6. 11-9. Final. G. von Cramm and Fraulein H. Krahwinkel (Germany) defeated N. G. Farquharson (South Africa) and Miss Heeley (England), 7-5. 8-6. WOMEN'S DOUBLES. Semi-final. Mme. S. Mathieu (France) and Mids E. Ryan (U.S.A.* defeated Mrs J. B. Pittman and Miss Joan Ridley (England), 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Miss F. James and Miss A. M. Yorke (England) defeated Mrs L. A. Godfree and Mrs L. R. C. Mitchell (England;, 5-7, 6-0, 6-4. Final. Mme. S. Mathieu (France) and Miss E. Ryan (U.S.A.) defeated Miss F. James and Miss A. M. Yorke (England), 6-2, 9-11, 6-4. MEN'S DOUBLES. Semi-final. Jiro Sotah and R. Nunoi (Japan) defeated G. von Cramm and E. Nourney (Germany), 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. Final. Jean Borotra and Jacques Brugnon (France) defeated R. Nunoi and Jiro Saloh (Japan), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. WINTER COMPETITION. SATURDAY'S MATCHES. The Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association's winter inter-club competition was advanced a further round on Saturday afternoon, when the seventh series of matches was played at Wilding Park. Winter players have been fortunate in the weather this season, for only on one occasion so far has the competition had to be postponed. Ideal weather was again experienced on Saturday. By defeating Fendalton, Canterbury College maintained its lead in the competition and has so far won all its matches. Fendalton offered stubborn resistance on Saturday, and each of the four singles matches went to three sets. The University players, however, were the winners of the final set in each case. This match was only the second the Fendalton team has lost New Brighton and Linwood each had a comfortable win over Woolston and South Christchurch respectively, while Shirley had a narrow win over North Linwood 11. North Linwood I. had the bye. Competition points to date are as follows: „ x ,_ P. W. L. Pts. Canterbury College .. 6 6 0 6 Linwood ..6515 New Brighton .. C 5 1 5 Fendalton .. 6 4 2 4 North Linwood' I. ..6333 Woolston .. 6 3 3 3 Shirley \, 7 2 5 2 South Christchurch ..7161 North Linwood 11. ..6060 Results of Saturday's matches were: Shirley v. North Linwood 11. Singles. W. A. Hooper beat F. Cooper. 2-6 6-2. 6-1. R. L. Sutherland beat W. Bock, 6-2. 6-3. N. A. Baggs lost to H. Smart, 6-2, 4-6, 2-6. T. M. Mitchell lost to J. Bolland, 4-6 3-6. Doubles. Hooper and Sutherland beat Cooper and Bock, 6-3, 6-3. Baggs and Mitchell v. Smart and Bolland, 4-6, 0-2 (unfinished). Shirley won by 61 games to 54. New Brighton v. Woolston. Singles. M. McGillivray lost to R. Austin 2-6. 5-6. K. Hardie beat E. Biddle. 6-3, 6-2. W. L. D. Hay beat E. Parish, 6-4, 0-6. 6-0. W. M. Sexton beat E. Jordon, 5-6, 6-1, 6-0. Doubles. McGillivray and Hardie beat Austin and' Biddle, 6-5, 6-2. Hay and Sexton beat Parish and Jordon, 6-3, 6-5. New Brighton won by five matches to one

Linwood v. South Christchnrch. Singles. N. R. Mansfield beat \V. A. Welsh, 6-3. 6-1. D. Jamieson beat C. Heinz, 6-2. 6-0. W. A. Downing beat H. Bonniface, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. A. E. Downing lost to J. Hayward, 6-1, 3-6, 2-6. Doubles. Mansfield and Jamieson beat Welsh and Bonniface, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. Downing and Downing beat Heinz and Hayward, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. Linwood won by five matches to one. Canterbury College v. Fendalton. Singles. A. R. Cant beat D. M. Lusk, 3-6, 6-0. 6-2. R. A. Young beat C. P. Jones, 6-1. 3-6, 6-3. i L. N. Larsen beat B. Winchester, 6-5, 2-6, 6-2. J. G. Langrish beat R. P. Jones, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Doubles. Cant and Young beat Lusk and C. P. Jones, 6-2, 6-0. Larsen and Langrish lost to Winchester and R. P. Jones, 2-6, 1-6. Canterbury College won by Ave matches to one.