LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20915, 24 July 1933, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS.

DAVIS CUP INTERZONE FINAL. AUSTIN'S SENSATIONAL WIN. ENGLISHMEN BEATEN IN DOUBLES.

In the Davis Cup lawn tennis inter-zone final, British Isles v. the United States, two singles have been won by the British Isles and the doubles by the United States. The sensation of '.he match was H. W. Austins defeat of 11. Ellsworth Vines (American and former worlds champion) with the loss of only six games in three sets. F. JPerry beat W. Allison. G. M. Lott and J. van Ryn beat Perry and Hughes in the doubles, which were played on Saturday. If Austin beats Allison or Perry beat Vines in the two remaining singles, the British Isles will have won the match and will meet France in the Davis Cup final. THE DOUBLES. (UJCITED PRESS ASSOCIATION-BY ELECTRIC TELEORAPH—COPTBIOm I (Received July 23, 3.10 p.m.) PARIS, July 22. In the doubles match of the Davis Cup inter-zone final, Lott and van Ryn (United States) beat Perry and Hughes (British Isles), 8-6, 6-1, o-j. The doubles were played ill sweltering heat. Hughes began the service. There were many spectacular volleying duels in the early games. Britain generally was superior, and in spite of van Ryn's fine driving recoveries, led 5-3. Hughes dropped his service, losing a set point, and the Americans came with a run. Smashing powerfully and combining perfectly, they levelled the score at 5-5. They then won eight points in succession, and t-;stureu Perry's service. Great Britain drew level, the Americans missing two sitters. After that van Ryn, who was the best man on the court, was chiefly responsible for the Americans taking the set. Great Britain started the second set hesitatingly, and were overwhelmed by the American superiority overhead. Perry had five deuces before winning the service, and making the score 2-2. The Americans led 5-3 and 40-30 on Perry's service. Hughes, with a terrific smash, reached deuce. Then the linesman miscalled a ball out, giving the Americans the advantage. The British took the decision laughingly, but the crowd demonstrated. Lott threw away the next point and Great Britain took the game, but Lott, with magnificent services which were a prominent feature of the match, clinched the set. In the third set the Americans consistently found holes in the British defence, and assisted by van Ryn s volleying and Lott's devastating services and greater strength in all departments, won a comparatively easy final set, although Groat Britain fought gamely.

THE SINGLES. PARIS, July 21. The opening day's singles resulted:— H. W. Austin (British Isles) beat H. Ellsworth Vines (United States), 6-1, 6*l, 6-4. ,F. J. Perry (British Isles) beat Wilmer Allison (United States), 6-1, 7-5. 6-4, ; Great Britain's sensational straight set wins were the result of both Englishmen playing the games of their careers, driving and smashing their way to victory without giving their opponents a chance to recover from the shock tactics. The matches were played in stifling weather, before a small attendance.

Vines v. Austin. Vines, playing with a strapped ankle, won his service in the first set. Austin then took six games in succession, achieving brilliant strokes and forcing Vines by his angles to come half-way up the court, and then skilfully passing him. Vines failed to overwhelm the Englishman with fierce forehand drives, became rattled, and did not attempt to save a hopeless position in the last game, double-faulting twice in succession. Vines crashed over terrific service aces in the second game of the second set to level at 1-1, but the Englishman again won his owi) service and broke through Vines's for a 3-1 lead. Americans expecting a come-back were dumbfounded when Austin took the fifth. Vines, again double-faulting in this sixth, enabled Autsin to lead 5-1. Vines tried a change of tactics, slowing the pace, but he was still inaccurate and lost the set 1-0. Austin opened confidently in the third set, capturing Vines's service. The American then settled down to a dour game. Lobbing admirably, he began to find his volleying touch, and strengthened his service to lead 2-1. Austin won the sternly contested fourth game alter nine deuces, and continued to lead 5-3, He was within two points of the match when Vines, by a tremendous effort, serving cannonballs, reduced the lead to 5-4. Austin then won. his service, and the match, amid tremendous cheering. The match lasted only 07 minutes. Perry v. Allison. Perry also opened sensationally, breaking through Allison's service to love. He went to 4-1 amid inexplicable protests from the spectators which the umpire sharply suppressed. Allison, like Vines, was overdriving. Perry was easily superior, and won the set in 10 minutes.

Allison led 3-1 in the second pet as the result of good volleying. Perry recovered with shrewd placements and brisk volleys, and a grim duel developed to 4-4. Perry's fine volleying enabled hirn to forge ahead 6-5. He then broke through Allison's v j ce to love, executing remarkable kills and forcing the pace tremendously. Perry led 3-1 in the third set, but became erratic, and Allison levelled at 4-4 with two aces. Perry then recovered, and won the set and the match after two match points. UNEXPECTED WIN. ENGLISHMEN RECOVER FORM. The recent play of Austin and Perry in Davis Cup matches and at Wimbledon did not give Great Britain any hope of winning the inter-zone final against the United States of America. Their runaway victory in the first day's singles was the most unexpected result that big tennis has produced for many years past. America's win in the doubles leaves the match at two to one in Britain's favour; and if Monday's form is no better than Friday's America will have an impossible task to win the next two singles. Even if Vines reasserts himself and beats Perry, Austin should be able to account for Allison. Austin and Perry have both been regarded as rather lower in the world ranking than they were two years ago when Great Britain won the European zone in the Davis Cup competition.

Last year they got no further than the seini-iinal round, in which they were I defeated by the Germans, Prenn and | von Cramm. This year at Wimbledon j Perry, though ranked first in Great Britain, was defeated in the second round by N. G. Farquharson, of South Africa, and Austin, though he reached (he quarter-finals, was summarily defeated there by the Japanese, Satoh. They won their match against Australia in the European zone final of the Davis Cup largely on account of the relative weakness of the young Australian player, McGrath; and they were given very little chance of defeating the redoubtable Americans, Vines and Allison. Austin's Style. Neither Austin nor Perry was included in the world's "first ten" last season, but Vines and Allison were both there. Austin's style of play is well remembered in New Zealand, where he toured about four years ago with Gregory and Collins. He has represented Britain in Davis Cup matches since 1929. He generally plays a quiet, well-balanced game, stroking brilliantly. His principal handicap in previous years has been his lack of stamina. His best scoring stroke is the forehand. Perry has represented Britain in | Davis Cup matches since 1930. He made a successful tour of America in 1931, beating seven'of the first 10 United States players. This tour greatly improved his own play, and he beat the Australian J. B. Crawford in a memorable fifth-round match at the 1932 Wimbledon championships. His favourite and best scoring stroke is the forehand driven taken early on his way to the net. Hughes and Perry have been Britain's best doubles team for the last two years.

FRENCH ELATED AT SINGLES RESULT.

POOR PLAY BY VINES

(Received July 23, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 22. The "Manchester Guardian" says that the British success in the singles was not due to staggering tennis so much as to the American failure to appreciate the conditions of a remarkably slow court. Vines played so shockingly that only nerves could be held accountable for his display. Allison was not much better. The French players were elated, as they would prefer to meet Great Britain in the final. PARIS. July- 21. The critics agree that Vines played below form. He was obviously stale. Austin proved the better stroke player and a clever strategist, and handled Vines's serve well. Perry and Allison were better matched, but the American could not compare with the Englishman's agility and decisiveness at the net, or his exuberance overhead.

NEXT YEAR'S COMPETITION.

'Received July 23, 7.5 p.m.) BERLIN, July 22. Germany eliminated Ireland in the preliminary round for the 103-1 Davis Cup competition. COPENHAGEN, July 21. Denmark eliminated Greece by four match.es to one from the 1934 "Davis Cup series.

ELIMINATING MATCHES.

PRESENT SYSTEM UPHELD

(Received July 23, 6.30 p.m.) PARIS, July 22,

Representatives of the Davjs Cup countries, by seven votes to six, decided to maintain the new system of eliminating matches in the European zone.

HARROW TOURNAMENT.

QUIST'S SUCCESS

LONDON, July 22.

At the Harrow tournament, in the semi-finals of the men's singles, A. Quist (Australia) beat J. Satoh (Japan), 6-2, 4-0, 6-4. D. P. Turnbull (Australia) beat E. Itoh (Japan), 6-1, 6-0. In the final Quist beat Turnbull, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Turnbull and Miss Lylfe beat J. Giesen and Miss Ingram, 6-3, 6-4. In the final of the mixed doubles Turnbull and Miss Lyle beat Quist <Australia; and Senora Pons, 6-2, 4-6, e-3. Turnbull and Quist beat Wilde and Giesen.

OTHER TOURNAMENTS.

JAPANESE FINAL AT FRINTON-ON-SEA.

LONDON, July 22,

In the Frinton-on-Sea tournament, in the semi-final of the men's singles, R. Miki (Japan) defeated A. C. Stedman (New Zealand), 6-4, 8-6. R. Nunoi (Japan) defeated N. Sharpe (England), 6-1, 6-3. In the final, Nunoi beat Miki, 6-2, 6-1. In the final of the tournament at the New Forest, J. B. Crawford beat V. McGrath, 0-6, 6-0, 7-5.