DAVIS CUP ZONE DOUBLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1936, Page 7

DAVIS CUP ZONE DOUBLES

WIN FOR AUSTRALIANS

McGRATH PLAYS WELL

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, July 20

The Davis Cup doubles resulted: Crawford and McGrath defeated Cramm and Henkel, 6/4, 4/6. 6/4, 6/4. McGrath will play Henkel to-morrow. Quist will take no further part in the Davis Cup against Germany. Light rain commenced during the knock-up. Only two thousand were present. Quist was on crutches, his ankle being severely swollen. Henkel did not look quite fit. McGrath was also out of touch in the first set, but breaking through Gramm’s service, the Australians took the set. The second set was a mixture of speclacular play and bad ’errors, of which Henkel committed most. McGrath dropped his service at 4/5, giv ing the Germans the set. The Australians led 1/0 in the third sol, when heavy rain caused a short stoppage. Upon resuming, McGrath settled down, and worried his opponents with backhand passes, and also made many fine volleys from openings provided by Crawford. The Australians were leading 5/4, and Crawford was about, to serve when the umpire discovered that new balls were overdue, and should have been given for the seventh game. Play was held up for a few minutes, while the umpire consulted the players and managers, and then the referee. The latter decided that new balls should be used. This was to the advantage of Crawford. who won his service to fifteen, for tiro set.

Splendid smashing by McGrath gave Australia a 5/3 lead in the fourth set. McGrath then served, and clinched the match with an ace.

The match only occasionally touched the heights of skill. McGrath’s splendid performance, after a nervous start, always had the Germans guessing. Crawford was steady th rough out, and won every service. Cramm was below form, and Henkel seemed shaken by several impetuous errors.