DAVIS CUP TIE N.Z. Losing 1-0 To Philippines

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30094, 30 March 1963, Page 12

DAVIS CUP TIE N.Z. Losing 1-0 To Philippines

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) MANILA, March 29. The Philippines led New Zealand, 1-0, after the opening day’s day’s play in their Davis Gup, Eastern Zone, lawn tennis match at Manila today. The Philippines No. two, J. Jose, defeated the New Zealand champion, L. A. Gerrard, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 9-7, in a marathon 2|-hour first singles.

The second match, between New Zealand’s I. S. Crookenden and the Filipino champion, F. Ampon, was Stopped by bad light with the score at one set each. Crookenden won the first set, 6-4, and Ampon the second, 6-4. It will be resumed tomorrow before the doubles match. The match between the 24-year-old Gerrard and Jose, who was the Asian Games singles champion in 1962 was played in sunny and breezy weather, with the temperature in the low nineties. Baseline Rallies Rallies were confined to the baseline, and only occasional rushes were made to the net. It was won by the steadier player. Gerrard started strongly volleying strongly and accurately, and jumped into a 4-0 lead in the opening set before Jose held his service and won his first game. The next two games went with service before Gerrard took the eighth game with cross-court placements that forced Jose into netting his returns Gerrard took the set point with an ace which Jose did not attempt to return In the second set. Jose played a defensive game, staying at the baseline and steadily returning Gerrard's shots The Filipino went to 3-0 before Gerrard moved to the net in the fourth game to hold his service. Gerrard won the next game

with his accurate cross-court placements, but then doublefaulted twice and was called for a foot fault in the bitterly-fought sixth game which went to deuce three times. Gerrard took the next game, to be 3-4 down but Jose’s steadiness at the baseline brought the Filipino the next two games for the set. 6-3. The opening two games of the third set were won on serve, then Gerrard, with shots that often brought up clouds of chalk dust as they landed on the line, moved into a 3-1 lead However. Jose began using drop shots and lobs to drive Gerrard back, and into errors, and the Filipino won the next five games, to lead the match 2-1 Slowed Up Game In what turned out to be the crucial fourth set. Gerrard appeared to be on the way to victory when he gained a 3-0 lead But Jose once more slowed up the game with drop shots which on the clay court almost stopped dead after hitting the ground, and the Filipino won four games, to lead 4-3 Gerrard rushed the net to win the eighth game at love, then Jose’s powerful service caused Gerrard to drop points on his returns in the next game Gerrard fought back to win the next game, and outplayed Jose in an eleventh game of long rallies to lead 6-5 Jose played his shots deep in the crucial twelfth game and pinned back Gerrard, who shook his racket in protest when a linesman called a shot by Jose good when it appeared to be out of court This point won the game for the Filipino, and the score stood at 6-6 Both players then held service, and Jose moved to 8-7 with another service win Gerrard fought back from 0-30 to 30-all. but then netted a volley. He boldly rushed the net to save the first match point and the game was deuced four times before Gerrard double faulted to end the singles in Jose’s favour. Powerful Service In the second singles Crookenden. aged 19. had his 42-year-old opponent, Ampon. in difficulty throughout the first set with his powerful service The New Zealander scored three aces during the first set which he won 6-4 With darkness fast approaching. both Crookenden and Ampon played baseline tennis without trying hard for points From 3-4 the Filipino won the next three for toe set, 6-4 Gerrard said after his match: "Jose was too good for me.’ He said toe heat had not bothered him. nor had the clay court, which looked rough and uneven in the third set, upset his play