DAVIS CUP TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 28 May 1932, Page 9

DAVIS CUP TENNIS

LATE EDITION

MATCHES WITH AMERICANS AUSTRALIAN LOSES THE PIRST SHIELDS. OUTPLAYS HOPMAN VINES LEADING CRAWFORD (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright. 1 Received 12.30 p.m. to-day. PHILADELPHIA, May 2, In the opening; games of the Davis Cnp tennis elimination play between the United States and Australia Shields (U.S.A.) defeated Hopman (Australia) 6 —4., 6—-1, 6 —2, and when ram and wind lialted play for the day Vines (U.S.A.) was leading Crawford (Australia) 6—2, 6—4, 2—6. The fourth set in the latter match stood at three . all when play stopped. Before the matches commenced the Australian Press Association asked Mr Sam Hardy, of the American Davis Cap committee* and Mr Clemenger, manager • of the Australian team, for expressions on the condition of their respective teams. Mr Hardy, interestingly enough, was full of praise for the Australians and said that on the basis of both teams’ showing during the practice there was nothing to choose, between them. “While it is not'likely I should not be surprised if either team won five straight matches they are so on i the top of their form,” said Mr Hardy. Mr Clemenger reiterated that the Australians were fit. “We have one of the world’s greatest players,’’ he continued. “I expect the matches will be hard fought.”

OPENING GAME TO HOPMAN Shields began the service in the match with Hopman and lost the game. A brisk wind blowing across the court was making play difficult. They were both cautious, playing to the back of the court. The game score as 2 —2 after the Australian had lost on the service in the fourth. Shields then again lost on the service and Hopman went into a 4—2 lead. In the next game the American was netting and outing, but Hopman lapsed into inaccuracies and losing, on his service in the eighth, the score became 4—4. The Australian now attempted fatal mixing of the pace, alternating deep court drives with short volleys, but Shields was steady on the returns and ran out the set., Hopman losing the service in the tenth game in which he was unsteady. Despite the wind the he.at on the court was terrific. AUSTRALIAN■ TIRING. Hopman seemed to be badly tired and the American ran up a s—o5 —0 lead with the greatest ease m the. second set. Hopman was having obvious difficulties with his game. He. bravely stood his ground throughout ip the forecourt, smashing the American’s lobs, hut again and again he was passed by sharply-angled shots. He now changed his racquet and with it his luck, winning the sixth game. He played in the back court in tie seventh game but netted and outed, while his. opponent was steady. Hopman opened the third set with the service. He was not jdaying vigorously. Shields, who is note.d for his cannonball service and tremendous forehand drives, was also not extending himself in the heat. He, however, quickly ran up a 3—o lead. His play was spotty in the fourth game, which he served and lost.

Hopmau steadied remarkably in the next game, which he Avon by carefully timing his returns. He dropped the next two games by netting and outing or being passed at the net. The American gained the final game by a smashing forecourt attack. The match took an hour. The stroke analysis of the service ■ showing aces, placements, nets, outs, and double faults was: Shields 2, 21, 22, 2-5, 1; Hopmau, Q, 5, 24, 40, 4.

VINES-CRAWFORD CONTEST In the first set of the Crawford-Vines match Crawford served and lost the first game. The wind, if anything, had smartened and gave the balls very uncertain direction. The Australian stood o—20 —2 on his service in the fifth game, but deuced aud Avon it. They were playing slowly, matching strokes in a deep-court duel. Vines’ vigorous service in the sixth game caught Crawford unprepared as that he was hardly able to put his racquet on it. The American thus took the commanding lead of 4—2, which he increased to 5—2 when Crawford had trouble with his service in the wind in a long drawn-out and deuced seventh game. Vines then ran out the winner of the set on the Australian’s repeated nets in the eighth game. Tlie Australian opened the second set with the service, but although the game was thrice deuced he was unable to pull it out, losing the final point on a double fault. Crawford, although he AA'on the spectators’ applause from time to time Avith brilliantly-angled passing shots, was far from the top of his form and was having difficulty in reaching his stride.

DETJOED FIVE TIMES

He lost the second gain© B—6 and then Avon the third on hi.s service at love with a remarkable show of aa ellplaced forehand drives. The Australian AA'as now fighting. He struggled bit-tei-]y for the next game which was five times deuced, but the American, on superior accuracy, won it to take - a 3—'l lead. . Crawford again reached the heights to win the fifth game in a hard-fought and repeatedly deuced contest to pull out his service after standing 0 2. Hp evened the score at 3 3 uy breaking through Vine’s service anti then went into a load of 4 —3 by avinning the seventh, at love and compelling the American to run dizzily from side to side of the court with ungettable returns. Vines, however, was not to be denied. Pie took the following three games, principally on earned points. He made seemingly impossible recoveries, returning Crawford's smashes to his feet and placing his shots out of the Australian’s reach. Crawford opened the third set with a love service game and broke through the American’s service. In the second lie increased the lead to 3 —o before lapsing into errors. AUSTRALIAN TAKES A SET Vines pulled his service out in the fourth, but lost the fifth by repeatedly finding the net Avith badly timed returns. The Australian now led 4 —l. Crawford, at 5—2, Avas clearly in con-

trol. His back hand Avas beautifully timed, compelling the American to run wildly back and forward. The Australian allowed the American only a single point on the latter’s service in the last game. The Australian lost the service on opening the fourth set and Vines increased his lead to 2—o with a sizzling service and striking passing shots. Crawford Avas having hard luck. He lost the third on a net cord shot and a slip of the racquet on the ball. The American wa.s formidable overhead. Vines lapsed into errors in the fourth. He was out of position to take the Australian’s Avell placed returns from service and was unable to handle Ora.AVford’s service in the fifth. The score was evened at 3 —3 when the American lost the service. In the. sixth, a rapid thunder shower developed and the match was halted. MATCHES STOPPED 1 BY RAIN Received 1.45 p.m. to-day. PHILADELPHIA, May 27. A thunder shower developed into a steady storm, and the match was postponed until 2.45 p.m. to-morrow. Avdien the additional doubles match will finish and an exhibition, Clemenger and Sproule against Richards and Williams, will be played. Vines and CraAvford resume on Saturday where thev left off. The doubles will be played late to give Crawford an interval of rest.