DOUBLES DECIDE DAVIS CUP STAYS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30945, 29 December 1965, Page 3

DOUBLES DECIDE DAVIS CUP STAYS

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, December 28. Australia retained the Davis Cup today when it gained a winning 3*o lead over Spain in the challenge round.

J. Newcombe and A. Roche beat M. Santana and L. Arilla 6-3,4-6,7-5,6-2.

Immediately after Australia’s win, Harry Hopman, the team captain, warned that the United States would provide a tough challenge next year.

“Arthur Ashe and Cliff Richey will be particularly good,” he said. “Clark Graebner is also tremendously improved.”

The three are members of a six-man American team now touring Australia.

Newcombe and Roche were rarely in trouble today. Only late in the second set and early in the third did Spain appear to have a chance of causing an upset. Newcombe was the outstanding player. He did not drop a service and his fierce volleying and smashing continually kept the Spaniards off balance.

Santana rarely showed the touch which thrilled the crowd in his singles match yesterday. He tired badly towards the end and breaks on his service allowed Australia to win the fourth set easily. Generally the Australians served and volleyed with far more authority than the Spaniards did. They also lasted much better in the 114 degrees.

Arilla battled hard, but his second service lacked penetration and his returns of service were too high. The near-capacity crowd of 9000 was behind the Spaniards throughout. Their winning shots were greeted with far greater applause than were those of the Australians. When a let was called after Spain had won a point, the crowd jeered and whistled.

Yet when Australia was the victim of a particularly bad line call, there was hardly a murmur.

The big Spanish cheer

| squad turned out in strength again. But except for a few ragged cheers at the end of the second set they were silent. Not Disappointed The Spanish captain, Jaime Bartroli, said afterwards he was not particularly disappointed by today’s defeat. “Our big disappointment was Santana’s defeat yesterday,” he said. Bartoli said Australia proved superior because its were fitter and more used to grass courts. “Australian players have years of physical exercises behind them,” he said. “We had only a few weeks. 1 will recommend when we return home that more emphasis is placed on fitness. “The Australians also had a big advantage in being used to grass courts. Our

men could not play the shots they are used to on hard courts.

“I would like to see some grass courts in Barcelona, but it is very difficult.” Bartroli said that in spite of the defeat, it had been a wonderful year for Spanish tennis.

“We used to watch films of challenge rounds in Australia and dream about one day playing in one,” he said. “That dream has at last come true.” Next Year? He said if Spain again reached the challenge round next year, his team would prove tougher opposition. “But we will have to beat the United States in America first, and that will be very difficult,” he said. The two teams tomorrow will go through the formality of the reverse singles. R. Emerson will meet Santana and F. J. Stolle will play J. Gisbert.

With the tie decided, the teams may be changed, but neither captain is expected to make any.