Australia Wins Davis Cup: Doubles Victory

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23343, 28 August 1950, Page 7

Australia Wins Davis Cup: Doubles Victory

(N.Z.P. A.--Reuter—Copyrieht.) (10 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 27. Australia on Saturday won the Davis Cup when John Bromwich and Prank Sedgman defeated Ted Schroeder and Gardnar Mulloy, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, in the doubles, which were played at Forest Hills under a hot sun and in a humid atmosphere.

There was never much between the pairs. Both fought desperately without casing up. The Australians had overcome the handicap of losing the first set after winning the first three games. Their combination of Bromwich’s experience and Sedgman's power told in the long run. Bromwich’s Strategy With two wins in the singles, Bromwich and Sedgman fought grimly to clinch the cup issue in three straight matches. They just did it. Bromwich dictated the course of play. He aimed at chaining the Americans to the baseline, and it was rarely they were able to make successful net visits. Schroeder particularly tried desperately to break out of his baseline prison but generally he was caught wrong-footed or over-hurried. Sedgman played grandly all round, using his youthful muscles for highbounding smashes and stinging volleys. He had Bromwich to thank for most of the opportunities he had to make such winners. , , Mulloy, the better and steadier of the Americans, proved what a great doubles player he is, but even he, as the match progressed, lost much of his accuracy and calmness. Both Americans seemed agitated as the match gradually slipped out of their grasp. Bromwich and Sedgman pinched them in all the awkward places towards the end of the match, which was played without the usual intermission after the third set. It lasted exactly two hours.

Crowd Roars Approval The near-capacity crowd of 12,000 rose as one and roared approval when Australia won the doubles. The victory was popular with the Americans, who have come to accept Australia as the United States perennial adversary for the cup. Mr. Alrick Mann, the American non-playing captain, said he was glad to see the cup go to such fine opponents. . The former American Davis Cup player, Donald Budge, said he thought Australia's young players would keep the cup for several years. Including the first 25 years, when Australia played with New Zealand as Australasia, it was Australia s fourth successful challenge for the cup._ The others were in 1907, 1914 and 1939. Australia defended the cup successfully four times in 1908, 1909, 1911 and 1919. Americans On Attack The Australians began confidently and broke through Mulloy’s service in the first game and Schroeder’s in the third game. Then the Americans began a pulverising series of attacks which resulted in both Bromwich and Sedgman losing their services. , , The Americans again broke through Sedgman’s service in the tenth game and took the set 6-4. Sedgman at this stage was the weaker of the Australians and overhit many of his shots. The Australians took an early lead in the second set by breaking through Schroeder’s service in the first game. The Australians handled the Americans much better in this set. The games went with service after the first but the Australians held their services more easily than their opponents and won the set without trouble. Sedgman the Killer

The Australians found their true form in the third set, combining better than earlier and making fewer errors. Bromwich’s skilful placements gave Sedgman many opportunities at and near the net. Sedgman, smashing and volleying powerfully, made the most of them. The Australians broke through Mulloy’s service in the fifth game and Schroeder’s in the seventh to take the set 6-2. , , The fourth set developed into a hard battle and the games went with service until the Americans broke through Sedgman’s service in the tenth game to take the set. Sedgman and Mulloy played brilliantly in this set. Bromwich and Schroeder were not so consistent and made many errors. The fifth set was hard and tensely fought throughout but the Australians always showed a slight superiority. Schroeder wilted under a lambasting, and, tired though they were, Bromwich and Sedgman had enough in reserve to sneak their win Bromwich’s Guile

The New York Herald Tribune’s tennis writer says that the Davis Cup is going on a long journey from which it may not return for many years. Paving high tribute to Bromwich, he said 'but for his steadying hand, immense guile and uncanny knowledge of the doubles game, his young partner very likely would have faltered so badly as to lose the match. The Sunday News said the Australians blended perfectly the soft magic touch and grey matter of the veteran Bromwich with the killer instinct of the youthful Sedgman. The New York Times tennis writer said the prospect was that the United States would have to develop new blood if it was to win back the cup. The Australians, with their exceptionally talented group of extremely youthful players, were going to be difficult to defeat for some years. The end of America’s reign was a rather historic occasion comparable to the day in 1927 when the four musketeers of France finally toppled “Big Bill” Tilden and William Johnson who had kept this country at the top for seven years.