A CLOSE STRUGGLE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 295, 8 September 1924, Page 7

A CLOSE STRUGGLE

AUSTRALIANS IN DAVIS CUP REACH FINAL ROUND FRENCH PLAYERS PUSH THEM HARD Patterson and Wood (Australia) succeeded in winning three out of the five matches against Lacoste and Borotra (France) in the final of the preliminary rounds for the avis Cup, and thus qualify to meet America, the holders, in the challenge round. (By Telegraph.—Press Copyright. New York, September 5. The doubles match, Australia v. France, in the final round of the Davis Cup preliminary contests, resulted in Patterson and Wood (Australia) defeating Lacoste and Brugnon (France, 6—4, 6 —4, 6 —2. Lacoste was serving when Patterson pulled his service out in the fourth game, 9 —7, and the Australians smashed Lacoste’s service. In the fifth game the match was definitely shaping itself. Patterson was still having trouble. The Frenchmen aimed their service with a peculiar cut, which compelled him to receive it on the backhand, or turn awkwardly to receive it on the fore hand. Patterson’s service, moreover, offered few puzzles for the Frenchmen. AVood’s evenlj-balanc-cd playing offered a protection against the Frenchmen’s shrewdly calculated placements and forcing shots. The Australians ran out the set, six games against four. In tho second set, a speedily driven hall from Brugnon’s racquet in the first game caught AVood in the solar plexus, and deprived him of his wind for nearly five minutes. The Australian resumed play, however, after a rest, and the Australians broke Brugnon’s service. All the. games in which Patterson was serving had gone to deuce. He was, moreover, having trouble with all Tiis. shots, save when overhead opportunities offered at the net. His kills were sensational. He was playing keenly, and trying his hardest, showing an improvement over his form cf yesterday. Brugnon was the backbone of the French team, making many.placemonts by driving the ball twice to the same spot, and catching his opponent off his pace. Lacoste was not so keen as yesterday, but still showed ability to compel errors by finding his Opponents? weak spots. Patterson lost the service in the sixth game, 12 —10. and the score was 3— all. Lacoste lost the service in tho seventh, and the Australians won the set, six games against four. In the third and last set, Lacoste lost, tho service in the first game, and AVood lost it in tho second Neither team at this period was playing brilliantly; errors predominated, and the ball was kept little in play. Brugnon lost the service in the third game, and Patterson won the fourth, 4 — 1, , his service working perfectly. Brugnon again lost the service in the seventh game, and tlie Australians led, 5 —2. Patterson found his service jeopardised in the eighth game, but manfullv pulled it out, 6 4, ana the Ahstrdlians won the set, sax games against two. The French were hardly the Australians’ match in the doubles; nevertheless, the fact that Patterson was off his form made the Australians’ task harder. Reuter.

SECOND ROUND OF SINGLES PATTERSON IN FORM LACOSTE BEATS WOOD (Rec. September 7, 5.5 p.m.) New York, September 6. In the second round of the singles Patterson (Australia) beat Borotra (France), 6 —3, 6 —l, 6 —3, and Wood (Australia) was beaten by Lacoste (France) 10 —8, I—6,1 —6, I—6,1 —6, 5 —7. PATTERSON V. BOROTRA. Patterson serving lost the first game to love, Borotra making four placements. Borotra also lost his service. His unlucky star seemed still to be dogging the Australian’s footsteps. His errors stood out prominently. His nettpd balls barely rose a foot high, and his drives, both backhand and forehand, were wild. The Frenchman, however, was also erratic, and the balance between the errors of both kept the games alternating until, the eighth, when Patterson, resuming control of his shots, again broke through the Frenchman’s game, and established a 5—3 lead, which spelled victory with the following game. Patterson won the set six games against three. Both men were wary and highly strung, being anxious to force an opening, and counter-balance' lost points by calculated placements. This made play forced, and lacking the freedom which tenuis needs as a spectacle.. The' second set saw a mirgclp performed. Patterson returned hot only to form, but played absolutely unbeatable tennis. Every shot was perfection. He missed nothing. His returns could not be returned, no racket could touch his service, his speed was tremendous, his accuracy undeviating. He quickly smashed to a four love lead, permitting no game to go to deuce, and barely allowing the Frenchman four points. It must be said the Frenchman’s play was spotty at this period, but the Australian’s tennis was such that he could not be denied victory. He took to the net and angled bis shots instead of smashing. Thrice he broke through Borotra’s service and permitted the Frenchman only a single game, which the latter only won at deuce. Tho Australian won tho set, six games against one. In the third set Patterson continued his pace and fine playing, but the Frenchman now also resumed his usual form and the games were being hotly contested. Borotra broke through Patterson’s service in the fifth game by five beaut if nlly-placcd returns, but Patterson retaliated, breaking through Borotra’s service in the sixth, and the score stood three all. Tho Australian now was winning at will. He was aided by the Frenchman’s collapse, which appeared complete. Patterson tore through the Frenchman’s service in the eighth game. The latter was frankly fined, while Patterson was fresh. Tho Australian won the set with the greatest ease. An all-night storm had penetrated the courts, although covered, and the going was slow, both players sliding over the turf a great deal, even spiked shoes only holding slightly. WOOD V. LACOSTE. Lacoste (France), serving, lost the first game. and 'Wood (Australia), Barring. Itut second. Gww than.,

! alternated with the service until the I seventh, when the Australian took tho lead, breaking through Laeoste’s serl vice with a series of long court drives which kept his younger opponent racing madly but purposely from side to side. AYood lost his service in the «ighth. Laeoste’s accuracy was bound to check any easy victory. Both men are steady vollevers, and kept the ball in play for minutes; their rallies and recoveries caused tho audience to exclaim until the umpire was compelled to issue a caution, and ask for silence. Wood stood to lose the tenth game at 2-3, and the set, but pulled out, evening the score to five-all. AA’ood showed mastery of the situation in the next game, closing in to the net and driving through Laeoste’s service, and apparently winning the twelfth game 4-2, and set, but Lacoste Questioned the final shot, which he netted. The game was thus reopened. and Lacoste won the game 10-8, and the score was evened, six-all. AA’ood again cracked the Frenchman’s service in the thirteenth, and lost his own in the fourteenth game. The Australian ultimately won the set, 10—8. , „ In the second set the Frenchman amassed a 3-1 lead, when AVood dropped liis service. This match was being hard-fought bv both sides every inch of the way. The contest if anything was a struggle between apparently evenly balanced players, and at this period it seemed the more. accurate one would win. Wood again lost his service in the sixth game, and Lacoste increased his lead to s—l.5 —1. AA’ood was overdriving his shots, and his errors were chiefly outs. The Frenchman s play was excellent, and he was pulling out on ton. . He won the eventh 4-1 on his service, and the set 6 —l. In the third set the Frenchman repeated the performance of the last set. auicklv amassing a 5-1 lead bv outsteadving the Australian. Lacoste s repertoire of shots consisted of an unbeatable backhand, a fine forehand, and a trickv service which curves always into the left corner, demanding return from tht> backhand. Any at* tempt to reach around to return his service from the forehand is costly because it nuts his opponent off pace or results in a defensive return whereof Lacoste takes advantage. The fourth set saw AA’ood pull up from 1-4. and even the score at fiveall. It illustrated what now is considered axiomatic in America, namely, that AA’ood fights hardest when the outlook is blackest, but the Frenchman was plaving too well Bn the situation, and when he won Ins own service in the eleventh name, and took comand 2-0 on AVood’s service in the twelfth, .the end was near Wood drove out an easy overhead smash, and lost another out.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NATIONAL DOUBLES A DRAWN MATCH. (Rec. September 7, 5.5 p.m.) New York, September 6. In the national tournament doubles, Brookes and Schlesinger tied with Tilden and Hardy, 6—l, 6—B, 6—6. Rain stopped the match.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.