Spanish Hopes Dashed In Davis Cup Challenge

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30944, 28 December 1965, Page 3

Spanish Hopes Dashed In Davis Cup Challenge

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, December 27. Australia today won the opening singles in the challenge round of the Davis Cup in Sydney.

In the opening match, F. J. Stolle beat M. Santana, 10-12, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 7-5. In the second match, R. Emerson beat J. Gisbert. 6-3,6-2,6-2.

The defeat of Santana, the leading Spanish player, b y Stolle, Australia’s No. 2, doomed any chance the challengers had of taking the cup from Australia.

■ The Spanish captain, Mr J. Bartroli, virtually conceded 1 defeat after Australia won | the two opening singles of the Davis Cup challenge [ round today. Mr Bartroli told a press conference: “Now we can expect nothing: we can only 'hope.” ; All Spain’s hopes had I rested on Santana who until today had not lost a set in ■ Davis Cup singles this year. ■ His defeat was a bitter disappointment, but his display won him a standing ovation from the capacity crowd. Australia’s captain, Harry Hopman, said: “It was a wonderful match. Manuel was better than I expected.” A former Australian Davi< Cup player, Adrian Quist, said it was the finest opening rubber he had seen in a challenge round Hopman and Bartroli agreed that stamina was the key factor. Hopman said: "It was obvious from the fourth set that Santana was tired. He was not getting to the ball as well “Stolle, on the other hand, was playing as strongly at the finish as at the start.” Mr Bartroli said: “Santana was very tired at the finish. “This, and the knowledge that so much depended on him, made a big difference.”

The three-hour match pro- ■ vided an absorbing contrast in style. Santana, in the first two sets, frequently left Stolle hopelessly stranded at the net with his passing shots. The Spaniard played them from all angles with linesplitting accuracy. Particularly effective was his heavily top-spun forehand. He also beat Stolle frequently with delicate volleys, especially acutely-angled drop volleys. Stolle relied largely on his big service—wonderfully reliable at critical moments—to stay in the match. But from the third set Santana lost his magic touch. As the flow of passing shots dried up, the Australian was able to play more confidently from the net. Stolle also began to hit returns of service with more variety and Santana gradually fell into error at the net. Santana battled desperately to save the final set and his touch returned long enough for him to break back after Stolle looked like racing to a quick win. Broke Again But the tall Australian broke through again in the 11th game with three returns of service that Santana could not touch. Santana saved one match point in the next game with a powerful return of service. That was his last spark. Stolle forced him into error with a deep volley, then slammed down an ace for the match. Gisbert barely gave Emerson a work-out. The Wimbledon champion, although not at his best, had

far too much power and accuracy for the Spaniard, whose backhand return of service was his only stroke of challenge round standard. Gisbert began each set strongly, but quickly faded as Emerson applied the pressure. The Australian won nine successive points in the first set, then 14 as he clinched the second and raced to a lead in the third. It was all over in 50 minutes.

Spain must win tomorrow’s doubles to keep the tie alive. Santana will team with J. L. Axilla against the Wimbledon champions, J. Newcombe and A. Roche.