AUSTRALIA REACHES CHALLENGE ROUND OF THE DAVIS CUP

Evening Star, Issue 26182, 18 August 1947, Page 8

AUSTRALIA REACHES CHALLENGE ROUND OF THE DAVIS CUP

(ißec. 8 a.m.) MONTREAL, Aug. 16. ■With a great comeback by Bromwich, who subdued the usually fiery Drobney by his science, Australia to-day reached the challenge round of the Davis Cup. Few expected him to be able to crush the hard-hitting, fast-mov-ing Czech in straight sets, and he came back from partial eclipse to make Australia’s Davis Cup chances a little better. Pails, however, was given a fright by Cernik, who pushed him to five sets, l’ails played go' erratically that, although the match had only a limited significance, it was not a cheering portent for Forest Hills a fortnight hence. Bromwich beat Drobny 6-2, 7-5, 6-4, and Pails beat Cernik 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. • Bromwich was Drobny’s master in tactics and placing, but not in overhead strokes. Drobny’s service, his chief weapon, never intimidated Bromwich, whom he need only four times. Bromwich never lost his service throughout, and although serving only one ace, his plaeings always prevented Drobny taking liberties. Drobny’s drop shot, so successful* against' Pails, rarely troubled Bromwich, who often used it effectively on Drobny. f IMPROVED DISPLAY. Cernik, who performed so feebly on .Thursday and Friday when the pressure was on, had shed his stage fright and inferiority complex by the time he met Pails in the final rubber, which did not affect the outcome of the match. Cernik stroked stylishly, and with growing confidence, which comfortably gave him the second set. He repeatedly passed Pails down the side lines and profited from Pails’s volleying weakness and frequent inability to put smashes away. There was general surprise when Cernik sustained the attack and won the third set, in which Pails played erratically. Cernik was driving the fine length he showed in practice, and often deceived Pails by fleet-footed recoveries. Even after these reverses, and being by no means willing to concede anything-to the Czech second string, Pails worked hard in the fourth set' and established a 3-1 lead. Pails made the pace still hotter in the fifth set, and Ceimik did not again seriously threaten Pails, whose potent service put him on the defensive.