DAVIS CUP FINAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 September 1938, Page 7

DAVIS CUP FINAL

U.S.A. WINS FIRST SINGLES DOUBLES TO AUSTRALIA [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] NEW YORK, September 3. The United States gained what should prove a decisive lead over Australia in the first day’s matches of the Davis Cup challenge round The results were: — J. D. Budge (U.S.A.) 1 beat J. Bromwich (Australia), 6/2, 6/3, 4/6, 7/5. R. L. Riggs (U.S.A.)’ beat A. K. Quist (Australia) 4/6, 6/0, 8/6, 6/1. The matches were played on the courts of the Germantown Cricket Club, Philadelphia, before an atteidance of 8000. The gate receipts were approximately 20,000 dollars. The manager of the Australian team,.H. C. Hopman, told the Australian Associated Press: “Naturally we are disappointed, but not without hope. It should be recalled that Australia won the first two matches against the Americans in the interzone final of 1934, yet the Americans won the contest. It is unnecessary to say we must win the doubles. That is. obvious. But if we do, Bromwich, on the basis of his form in the last set tc-day, should beat Riggs; in view of the enormous number of errors Budge made against Bromwich. Quist, if he could recapture his early Boston form, would have a chance against him. It is a desperate chance, but there it is.” American tennisi writers present today unanimously pick the American team to win every match. Quist’s disappointing showing confirmed them in their decision. The crowd was highly amused at Budge's good-natured imitation of Bromwich’s two-handed stroking while he was warming-up. Bromwich started promisingly, but Budge assumed a commanding lead. His all-round stroking kept the Australian on the defensive, and Budge had no difficulty in winning the last four games of the set. He again overwhelmed Bromwich in the second set, when the Australian was shaking his head, as if puzzled by the American’s dazzling play. Bromwich fought back grimly, but it was a hopeless battle. However, in the third set he struck form, and, breaking 'through Budge’s service, won the last two games, the final one to love. Under darkened skies and with the threats' of thunder-showers, Bromwich displayed brilliant form, to lead 5-4 in the fourth set, but, after having five set points, he was unable to clinch the victory. After leading 4-2 in the first set against Riggs, Quist managed to break through the American’s service, to win 6-4. Quist had to receive attention to a bleeding finger; which he injured when he ran into a fence in trying to recover a drop-shot. Quist made frantic efforts to cope with Riggs’s lobbing in the second set. The court had become a quagmire, and the standard of play suffered. Quist could neither develop pace nor follow to the net. He gave up trying, to plough his way about, and when Riggs made cuts and a little drop-shot that spun softly into the mud, Quist clapped his hands in cynical applause. The third set was a procession. Quist was utterly unnerved. He was cheered lustily when finally he put a stop to the American’s victorious parade. but it was of little use. He evened the score at 5-5. and again at 6-6, but the task of winning was beyond him. Riggs quietly overwhelmed the Australian in the fourth sot. Hopman told the Australian Associated Press that the rumour that he intended to substitute himself for Bromwich in the doubles meant nothing. “The record of Quist and Bromwich in doubles does not justify a change.” he said.

DOUBLES DESCRIBED.

BROMWICH IN FORM.

(Recd. Sept. 5, Noon).

PHILADELPHIA, September 4

In the Davis Cup doubles, Quist and Bromwich defeated Budge and Mako 0/6, 6/3, 6/4, 6/2. The attendance was similar to that on the first day. The wind and bad bouncing from the turf did most curious things to the ball. The players were unable to time shots. Both Quist and Bromwich were constantly late. They netted and outed repeatedly. The Americans were apparently less troubled by the playing conditions, and did not have to press very hard to win the first set. The spectators were amused at the highly contrary ball, but to the players it must have been a nightmare. The Australians called a halt to the Americans’ progress in the second set. They proceeded to win their own service games in highly workmanlike manner, taking an aggressive position in the forecourt, finding open spaces between the Americans, and hammering out points by all-round superiority. They assumed a 5/1 lead, and though temporarily retarded in the eighth game by Budge’s fine service, they ran out the set 6/3. It was difficult to over-praise the heady character of the Australians’ play in the middle of the set. or the perfect tennis it produced. If maintained, it promised to change all the possible estimates of the relative merits of the two teams;

Quist, won his service to love in the second game of the third set and broke through Budge’s service in the third, but. the Americans evened 2/2. Mako dropped his service and gave the Australians a vital 5/4 lead, which they translated into set victory with a love game off Quist’s service. In this set. Quist's play wavered, but was ultimately inspired to quality by Bromwich. Mako remained persistently weak proving an excellent target at which Quist frequently, but Bromwich always, aimed. The Australians in the fourth set continued to hammer Mako. who was unable to win over ten per cent, of the shots, but he recovered form in the third, serving a love game and showing a superb flash. Quist and Bromwich broke Budge’s service in the fifth, with a display of tennis that was a. hundred per cent, genius. Bromwich was showing extraordinary versatility. His forcing shots had ’length and strength and his lobs took impetus from his opponents. His drop shots rolled to the ground, his angled returns were ungettable, and even his usually soft, service seemed touched with ungettable properties. He dominated every second of the play and seemed to be in every corner of the court. It was übiquity combined with accuracy and craft.

Quist won the service to love to give the Australians the victory. When the Australians left the court, the crowd cheered them to the echo. W While it is generally expected that X the Americans will win, it is freely predicted the result is likely to be 3/2. Bromwich’s victory over Riggs is not 75' considered unlikely. . 1 —w I WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT. "NEW YORK, September 3. The Australian women’s lawn ten- -Vf nis team took part in an international tournament at the beautiful Meadow Club courts at Southampton (New X York). The match will be completed at Easthamptou to-morrow. Re- •st' ’suits: — SINGLES. Miss N. Wynne (Australia) beat jg Mrs S. P. Fabyan (United States). -X 7/5, 6/2. ig Miss D. Workman (United States) X beat Mrs 11. C. Hopman (Australia),- jX 4/6, 6/4, 8/6. jg£ Miss T; Coyne (Australia), beat 7? Miss H. Jacobs (United States) 6/2, - 6/2. • . Miss D. Stevenson (Australia) beat g Miss D. Bundy (United States) 6/4,—" 3/6, 6/2. |g DOUBLES. || Misses Coyne and Wynne tralia) beat Miss Jacobs and Mrs Fabyan (United States) 6/3, 6/4. Misses Bundy and Workman (Unit- g ed States)' beat Mrs Hopman and Miss Stevenson (Australia) 6/4, 8/6. . Si Miss Coyne’s win has upset calcula- gtions for the national singles, for Sy which Miss Jacobs was seeded first, It was Miss Coyne’s best performance X. of the tour. s: In the doubles, Mrs Fabyan and S Miss Jacobs did not team well together and were overshadowed as individuals. The matches were watched by an exclusive crowd of 400. The minimum admission charge was two dollars. g AUSTRALIA WINS. ® (Recd. Sept. 5, 1 p.m.). X. ‘ NEW YORK, September 4. Hopman defeated Workman 8/6, -.X? 6/4. Jacobs defeated Wynne 5/7, 6/2, 5U 6/0. £7 Fabyan beat Coyne 7/5, 7/5, Workman beat Stevenson 6/4, 5/7, 6/2. Doubles: Bundy and Workman de- A feated Hopman and Stevenson 6/2, 8/6. Wynne and Coyne defeated Fabyan and Jacobs 9/7, 3/6, 6/3. X'. Australia won by 15 to 14 sets. -Xj. Overnight rahi made' the courts '.-0.; heavy, favouring the Americans, all g' of whom had played here previously. X Coyne was the first to experience the 5/ turf’s vagaries, and to discover that X. the Americans were, playing better -X than yesterday. Fabyan played su- .7? perior tennis, but Coyne trailed close- X ly throughout and played a well-com- U posed game. Workman found Stevenson vulner- -7 able to deep slices to backhand. The .7® Australian was unhappy on the slippery surface. Her forehand was X functioning well, but she could not cope with the American’s sustained backhand attack. . X N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. CHRISTCHURCH, September 5. 4 The New. Zealand lawn’ |ennis chain-: ;; pionships will be held at Wilding .j! Park from December 31 to January 7. It is probable that V. B. McGrath, the leading Australian player, will compete. - - jjj A special meeting of the Management Committee of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association was held today, to consider a letter from _ the ‘4 New Zealand Association, stating Me- >1 Grath had indicated that if the dates « fitted in with the dates of the Austral- 7 ian championships, he would be agreeable to consider competing. It was also pointed out in a letter that if the .3 dates were agreed to. any other Aus- > tralian players who competed, could catch the Awatea on the return trip ' on January 10. * It was agreed to fall in with the t. New Zealand Association’s recommen- 1 dation, and also to apply for Decern- i ber 24 to 28, as dates for the Canter- | bury championships. A previous decision had been made to commence the provincial championships on December 26. ■ s DYMOND’S EXPLANATION. CHRISTCHURCH, September 5. Seven days were allowed by ..the Management Committee of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association, for H. Dymonfi, the third ranked player in the province, to supply an explanation of his conduct in arriving late for the match at the Easter tournament. Dymond’s explanation arrived on the seventh day. . This information was given to the meeting of the committee, to-day, by J: the secretary. (S. W. Jameson). After considering the letter, the committee agreed to accept the ex- 3 planation as satisfactory, but Mr. Jameson was not satisfied. “To my mind, it is a very lame ex- -r, planation,” he said. Mr. Jameson read the letter he sent to Dymond fol- . lowing the last meeting of the committee. In this letter he referred to fact ? that no reply had been received to two previous letters, and added that unless an explanation was received < within seven days, the player would be disqualified or suspended for a period. ■ Dymond’s reply, which Mr. Jameson stated was received on the seventh day, said he was late at the courts because he had been driven home for lunch by a friend. The friend was late in calling back for him. so he had to wait; also he had business to attend to.