DAVIS CUP ZONE FINAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1933, Page 5

DAVIS CUP ZONE FINAL

BRITAIN DEFEATS AUSTRALIA CRAWFORD WINS HIS MATCH [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, July 15. Britain won lhe European Davis Cup zone final. In the second series of singles, Austin beat McGrath 6/4, 7/5, 6/3; Crawford beat Lee 8/6, 7/5, 6/4. Rain delayed the commencement of play, the court being covered. Perry, who strained his shoulder in the doubles on Friday, was replaced by Lee. The British captain decided that it Avould be wise that Perry should not play after McGrath had been defeated, as the game against Crawford then Avould not- affect the result of the match. The Australians were naturally disappointed after McGrath had made a promising opening in the first, and second sets, in which he seemed to have Austin’s measure. McGrath surrendered much in consequence of faulty stroking. Nevertheless the Australians heartily congratulated England,. Crawford saying that the better team Avon.

Austin opened the match in cloudy Aveather. He found McGrath hitting cleanly and confidently. The Australian was attacking in the corners alternately, thus causing the Englishman to err. McGrath' led 3/0. Then he had bad lapses, double faulting and overdriving, and netting an easy smash. This allowed Austin to win the set.

McGrath started the second set in a sparkling manner. He was the Englishman’s equal until Avhen he Avas leading 3/1, he presented Austiil with the game by a series of nettings." The Australian reached 4/2 with an admirable stroke, but could not sustain his accuracy or brilliance, Avhereas Austin Avas making feAv errors. Austin began the third set with a lead, Avinning his own and McGrath’s serves, after much strenuoqs fighting. McGrath continued to find the net an impediment, but he gave his supporters rare hope by winning this service to love. Then his errors of judgment and stroking returned, compelling him to fight a rearguard action. From 1/4, Austin took the seventh game with admirable passing shots. England' was just about to cheer its victory on McGrath’s service Avhen the lad saved Avith an angled drive. Austin made no mistake Avith his oavii service, Australia disappearing from the Davis Cup Avith a ballooned drive over the baseline. The crowd, which increased .to ten thousand, murmured disapproval of Britain’s substitution of Lee against Crawford whom a majority came in the hope of seeing play against Perry. Lee began splendidly, his strong service, Avhich Avas varied Avith an occasional amusing, freakish break delivery and a fast-Avhipped forehand, giving him a lead of 4/1. Then CraAvford came properly into action and Avon an excellent hard-hitting set by superior driving, exposing the weakness of Lee’s backhand.

Though it was questionable whether Crawford was all out, he. produced strokes sufficiently near his bpst to delight the crowd. Lee played really well, with occasional bursts of brilliant driving, catching Crawford on the wrong foot, but the latter peppered the lines with delightful accuracy, and again came from behind to win the set. Except when he appeared deliberately to drop points, Crawford strode majestically through the third set against a tiring opponent. The match merely served to emphasise the great gulf between CraAvford and his team mates as a singles player.

Roper Barrett, England’s non-play-ing captain, says that the team will be unchanged to meet the American Davis Cup team.

STEDMAN IN FINAL. LONDON, July 15. At the Felixstowe tennis championships in the East England final H. S. Burrows beat Stedman (New Zealar V 6/4, 1/6, 6/4. TOURNEY AT PARIS. PARIS, July 14. In the first matches of a three-day triangular tennis tournament between France, Japan and South Africa, results were: Cochet defeated Nunoi 12/10, 3/6, 7/5; Robbins defeated Bernard 6/4, 10/8; Satoh defeated Kirby 6/1,- 6/2. Farquharson beat Boussus 6/2, 6/3; Merlin beat Kirby 11/9, 6/3, Robbins beat Ito 2/6, 6/2, 6/3. Nunoi and Satoh defeated Farquharson and Kirby 6/3, 6/2, 6/2. PARIS, July IG. Satoh defeated Boussus, 6/4, 2/6, 6/4. Nunoi defeated Merlin, 4/6. 8/6, 6/1. Satoh and Nunoi defeated Merlin and Bernard' 4/6, 9/7, 6/4. Kirby and Farquharson defeated Journu and Legeay 6/4, 6/2. LATER. Farquharson defeated Ito 7/5, 8/6, Japan and South Africa, thus tieing with five wins each.