DAVIS CUP SEMI-FINAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 41, 17 August 1923, Page 7

DAVIS CUP SEMI-FINAL

AUSTRALIA WINS FIRST GAMES

AGAINST FRANCE

ANDERSON OUTPLAYS LACOSTE.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN • NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received 17th August, 10.15 a.m.)

BOSTON, 16th August.

The match between Australia, winners in the American zone, and France, European winners, has commenced at Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The first set of singles were played to-day.

J. 0. Anderson (Australia) defeated Rene Lacoste (France), 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

The first set opened with Anderson serving, and he won the first game 4-1, cutvolleying the Frenchman, but he became erratic, and Lacoste won the second game to love, and the third 5-3. The Frenchman aimed all his shots for the Australian's backhand, and Anderson made mistakes continuously, but the latter came back in wonderful style and won the fourth game to love on the Frenchman's service, making four placements. He maintained his winning pace for the fifth game, winning it 5-3. The Frenchman was volleying well and stroking excellently from the backhand, making few errors and showing wonderful steadiness. The Frenchman playing magnificent tennis and Anderson suffering from patchy play, Lacoste won the sixth game 5-3, chiefly on Anderson's netted balls, and the seventh 4-2, and the eighth 4-2. Anderson was very erratic, and it looked as though the Frenchman would win the set, but the Australian steadied remarkably and played errorless tennis, Though twice within a point of losing the set, he won the next four games—the ninth game 4-3,. the tenth to love (on his placements), the eleventh 5-3, and the twelfth 4-1. Anderson was carefully timing his shots and driving for the Frenchman's forehand, which appeared to be his weakest spot. Anderson won the set 7-5.

In the second • set Lacoete was not playing bad tennis, but he was clearly outplayed by the Australian, who now seemed to have the match thoroughly in hand. Lacoste did well by winning the first game to love on Anderson's service, but only being a one-stroke man, namely backhand, he could not withstand the Australian's drives to the forehand, and Anderson won the second and third games 4-2, chiefly on his placements^ and broke through the Frenchman's service, winning the fourth game to love. The Australian, continuing his careful but hard play, won the fifth game 5-2. The Frenchman, however, began to battle har.d for each point, and play became a test of main strength, the Australian finally showing superiority. Although Lacoste won the sixth game 8-5, the Australian took a hold of the situation, and even though the Frenchman played at the top of his game, Anderson won the seventh game 9-7, but then becoming erratic the Frenchman won ■ the eighth game 4-1. Both men were playing good quality tennis, with plenty of dash and spectacular recoveries, the ball being continuously ■ volleyed, but Anderson's great experience was beginning to show that the Frenchman was not his equal. Anderson won the ninth game 4-2, and the set 6-3. ■

At the commencement of the third set, Lacoste began to play a heady game, driving continuously for Anderson's backhand and compelling the Australian's return to the Frenchman's backhand. This succeeded for the first two games, the Frenchman winning them 5-3 and 4-2 respectively. Anderson, however, began to manoeuvre hi shots from the backhand to the extreme right, and the Frenchman's weak forehand caused him to lose the next two games, Anderson winning the third game 5-3 and the fourth 4-1. Anderson was varying his shots, changing the pace, and catching the Frenchman with cross-court shots outside Lacoste's reach. Lacoste nearly lost hie service in the fifth game, but fought hard, and Anderson netting twice the Frenchman won 6-4. Anderson now struck his pace, and it appeared clearly that he was going to win out, the Frenchman's next three games getting only eight points. Anderson won the sixth game 4-1, chiefly on his overhead smashes, and the seventh 5-3. Lacoste struggled hard, trying to take the eighth game, and the points wavered, but Anderson won it 6-4. The Frenchman showed sterling quality and fine tournament tennis, winning the ninth game to love on his service, but Anderson was not to be denied, and, serving three aces, won the tenth game to love and the set 6-4.

Following are detailed scores: Anderson (Australia): 7 service aces 54 placements, 42 outs, 35 nets, 2 double faults.

Lacoste (France): 0 service aces, 15 placements, 30 outs, 20 nets, 2 double faults.