Davis Cup Rivals In Semi-Finals

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 18

Davis Cup Rivals In Semi-Finals

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) ADELAIDE, November 20. The Australian Davis Cup team members, R. Emerson and F. Stolle, and the American No. 2, R. D. Ralston, today reached the semifinals of the South Australian singles championship. Emerson, the defending champion, defeated M. Mulligan, 6-4,6-2, and Stolle defeated the British No. 1, M. J. Sangster, 10-8, 6-3.

Emerson, Australia’s top Davis Cup hope, gave a most heartening display. Mulligan said later: "Emerson is playing much better than in Sydney.” Sangster began well in his match with Stolle, but he wilted in the 90 degrees temperature. Sangster was leading 5-2 in the first set, but in the heat lost two successive services, allowing Stolle to draw level and go on to win. Stoigtowill meet Newcombe, of New South Wales, in the semi-finals. Knee Injury Ralston, apparently unaffected by a knee injury suffered yesterday, beat K. Fletcher, 6-1, 12-10, in another quarter-final. Ralston ran through the first set. but struck trouble from Fletcher in the second. Ralston was down 8-9 and 0-40, but rallied to save three set points and went on to win the game. Emerson and Ralston will meet in tomorrow’s semifinals, which will be the best of five sets, for the first time in the tournament. Other results were:— Women's Singles—Quarter-

finals: Miss M. Smith beat Miss A. Jenkins. 6-1, 6-1; Miss R. Ebbern beat Miss K. Denning, 6-1, 6-0; Miss J. Lehane beat Miss M. Schacht, 6-3, 6-0; Miss L. Turner beat Miss J. Tegart. 4-6. 6-2, 6-1. Men's Doubles.—Quarter, finals: Ralston and M. Reissen (United States) beat S. Matthews and G. Stilwell (Britain), 6-3, 6-2; Sangster and R. Taylor (Britain) beat Mulligan and W. Bowery (Australia), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3; O. Davidson and Newcombe beat P. McPherson and T. Clayton (Australia), 11-9, 4-6, 6-1; Fletcher and A. Roche beat Emerson and Stolle. 26-24, 9-7.