Australians Lead

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 142, 1 June 1936, Page 7

Australians Lead

DAVIS CUP TENNIS Victory in Five-Set Doubles Match RULINGS UPSET QUIST (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (lleecived J, JO.30 a.m.j GliBMANTOWN, May 31. Australia v.'on the doubles lu the Davis Cup American zone final against the United States, and thus has a useful lead. In the first singles matches (reported fully on page 8) each side gained a victory. Australia now requires to win one of the two rem-dn'iig singles, to be played to-morrow, to clinch the match and to qualify for the final against the winner in the European zone. Crawford and Quist defeated Make nod Budge, 4/0, 2/6, 6/4, 7/5, 6/4. First set. —Make served, but the Americans lost the game to the Australians’ superior lobbing. The Americans then brake through Quist’s service, Quist appaiently being seriously disturbed by footfault rulings against him. Budge made his service good in the third game and the Americans led 2—1. Craw fold scri ed severely and the American inability to handle it enabled tfie visitors to even the score, the Australians then taking the lead by winning the next two games. Then Quist allowed two line drives to pass him. which cost the Australians the seventh game. Crawford slipped in the eighth and the Americans drew even and then ahead, <5—4, on Mako’s service, when the Australians’ drives had too much length. This persisted and the Americans won the set, 6—4. Second set.—The Americans went into a 2—1 lead through Crawford playing badly, but in the fourth game Quist, with a magnificent recovery, evened the scores, 2—2. The Americans drew out 3—2 and Crawford continued to fail, the opponents going into a 5—2 lead and finally winning the set 6-2. Third set.—Taking twelve out of thirteen consecutive points, the Australians showed convincing powers of recuperation and assumed a 3—2 lead, which they improved to 4—2 on Crawford’s service in a very satisfactorily played game. Crawford, however, lapsed again and netted to lose the seventh and Quist again footfaulted in the eighth, but he pulled out a badly endangered game to give his team so necessary a lead, 5—3. The Australians Were set point only to have a bad line decision on a ball which was in. which cost them the ninth game, but the Australians were too keen. Crawford served a love game with two aces and thc v won the set, 6—4. I'ourth set. —The service was held in eight games, Crawford winning the eighth with a beautiful service ace and Budge the ninth on the Australians’ errors. The Americans were within two points of set at the tenth on Quist’s service, but although the usual footfault was called against him hq won the game, the Australians also winning the next and going into a lead. The visitors now calmly finished the set on Crawford s service, winning it 7 —6. Fifth set. —The Americans went into a 2—0 lead when Quist lost his service through still another footfault. He Was plainly annoyed and this disturbing incident might have cost the Australians the match. Budge won his service, the Americans improving the lead to 3—0. Then Crawford won his service, but the Americans won the fifth game, the scores standing at 4—1 ,,in their favour. The Australians then crept up until they evened the scores at 4—4 and finally went into a 6 —4 lead in a lore game, in which the Americans plainly were bewildered by their opponents’ uncanny placing. The Australians plainly were on top and went out to win the final game, G—4, allowing their opponents only one point. In a demonstration match between McGrath and Grant, played after the doubles, the American showed superior accuracy. He made only about half the errors of the Australian and placed the ball out of reach of his opponent continuously. He won handily, allowing few games to go to deuce, and demonstrated his noted ability to make apparently impossible recoveries. In the second set Grant and McGrath accounted for each other’s services in the first six games, leaving the score, 3—3, but a break in Hie Australian’s service in the eighth game gave the American a lead. Me. Grath won the ninth, but Grant easily accounted for the last game, winning the set and match, 6—3, 6 —4.