U.S. Leads After Doubles Win

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30557, 28 September 1964, Page 3

U.S. Leads After Doubles Win

(A’.Z. Press Association—Copyright) CLEVELAND, Sept. 26.

I'he United States took a 2-1 lead over Australia today in the Davis Cup challenge round when R. D. Ralston and C. R. McKinley beat R. Emerson and F. Stolle, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The singles yesterday were split.

From the start today, McKinley 7 and Ralston showed better team-work and more understanding of how to combat the high wind.

When facing the wind, the Americans lobbed, forcing the Australians to hit overheads made difficult by the movement of the ball in the air.

Three smashes, two by Stolle and one by Emerson, in the sixth game of the first set cost the Australians Emerson’s service and eventually the set at 6-4. In the second and third sets the Australians were playing much better tennis as individuals, but they never really showed well as a team. The., broke McKinley’s service in the first set and Ralston’s in the second set to take both sets at 6-4 and open up a 2-1 lead. Stolle was serving better in both sets than he had ever previously but his forehand was still not sure. The match did not produce any great tennis. The best feature was the volleying by Emerson and both the Americans. McKinley was probably the outstanding player in that | department. I Stolle dropped his serve un- ! der a volleying barrage in the ! second game of the fourth set. Tried Hard The Australians tried hard to break back, but could never reach game point against either of the Americans as the cup defenders won the set 6-3. The final set was a thriller as first the Americans took Emerson’s service and the Australians broke back against Ralston’s serve. Emerson showed little of the unbeatable form which he displayed against Ralston yesterday. He started the service game which he lost by serving a double fault. When the Australians broke back against Ralston it appeared the fifth set could go for a long time. McKinley and Ralston looked the stronger pair and they broke Stolle’s service in the ninth game without allowing the Australians to take a point. McKinley served well in the final game and although the Australians reached deuce two good serves which first

Emerson and then Stolle could not return in court won the match for the United States. Took Heed The United States captain, Vic Seixas, said after the doubles that during the interval when the United States was down, 2-1, he told McKinley and Ralston to be more aggressive. He said they should move around more at the net. The players followed his advice and went on the attack to win the last two sets. Seixas said Ralston had played well and that the victory should help him in his singles match against Stolle tomorrow. Harry Hopman said Stolle was the weak player in the Australian pair, but that Emerson was also patchy. He said the Americans won because they handled the conditions better. Discussing line calls against Stolle early in the" match which caused him to speak to the umpire, Hopman said that he did not expect to get the calls reversed, but he wanted to make sure that the umpire was aware of the situation. Hopman agreed that the win slowed up the Australian serves enough to allow the Americans to run around the backhand and hit forehand returns. Hopman said that he now expected to win, 3-2, with both Australians winning their singles tomorrow. Too Much Stolle found the slow composition court and McKinley’s great stamina too much for him in the opening singles. The American won, 6-3, 9-7, 4-6, 6-2, in a match lasting almost two hours. Emerson annihilated Ralston, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2, in the second singles. The Australian won in only 59 minutes. He was always in command after the first set and his confidence improved as he brought off one spectacular shot after another.