DAVIS CUP FINAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 September 1927, Page 7

DAVIS CUP FINAL

FIRST SINGLES PLAYED TILDEN & LACOSTE WIN (Australian and N.Z. Cable AesoclationJ (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) NEW YORK, September 8. The first game in the Davis Cup match at Philadelphia was played today between Lacoste (France) and Johnston (U.S.) The Frenchman served first, and quickly ran out the first two games, principally on Johnston’s errors, but he hit out continuously in the third and lost it, then took the fourth. Both continued to break through each other’s services, Johnston winning the fifth and Lacoste the sixth and seventh. Johnston, double-faulting, frequently neither earning very many points. Johnston won the Bth, but Lacoste took the final game by love, and the set 6/3. Lacoste had only two earned points and 15 errors. Johnston had three earned points and 24 errors. In the second set both played indifferent tennis, and a continuation of the same sort of play. The Frenchman was content to let the American beat himself. Johnston won the first and fifth games, and Lacoste the three intervening in quick time. Few games went to deuce. Johnston grew extremely erratic in netting and outing, and Lacoste ran out the set 6/2. Stroke analysis of the second set showed Johnston made 29 errors and 7 earned points, Lacoste 16 errors and 4 earned points. Johnston fought harder in the third set, rallying brilliantly after losing the first game to win the second by love thirty, 10/8, but grew erratic again, losing the next five games in short order. It was a spectacle that seemed to mark the passing from international tennis of one of its important figures. Lacoste won the match, 6/3, 6/2, 6/2. Stroke analysis.—Third set, Johnston 29 errors, 7 earned points; Lacoste 14 errors and 3 earned points. Tilden then played Cochet. The latter served first, and the games alternated with the service until four all, when Tilden broke through to win the ninth by love. They were playing spectacular tennis, Tilden’s cannonball service rolling up points, the Frenchman’s brilliant overhead game receiving the spectators’ applause. The American then literally overwhelmed his opponent, placing three service aces to win the tenth game and the set 6/4. Stroke analysis: First set. —Tilden 22 errors, 14 earned points; Cochet 20 errors, four .earned points.

Second set also went with the service until Cochet broke through Tilden and led 3/1 to win the set, 6/2. Tilden made errors twenty, and earned points .eight. Cochet nine and seven. In the third set Tilden, who had been wild, now recovered, taking the first five games and despite his opponent’s brilliant rallies ran out winner six to two. Tilden made seventeen errors and fifteen earned points; Cochet twelve and two. Good and bad tennis featured the fourth set. Tilden was often brilliant with accurate cross court placements and then erratic, the Frenchman’s play showing the same features. It was a hard fought game each momentarily giving advantage until at six all, Tilden broke through Cochet’s service to win the seventh by love and take the set eight to six and match 6/4, 2/6, 6/2, 8/6. Tilden, errors 28, earned points 23; Cochet fifteen and seven.

It was announced that Tilden and Johnston will meet Borotra and Brugnon in the doubles to-morrow.