“The Plain Truth”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 144, 3 June 1936, Page 8

“The Plain Truth”

PERRY’S DEFEAT Cannot Concentrate on Game “NOT A CATASTROPHE” By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, June 2. Australia’s victory over the United States in the Davis Cup round has heightened interest in Baron Gottfried von Cramm’s defeat of Fred Perry, in the French singles final, as it is generally expected that Australia will overcome Germany, whom she is most likely to meet in the inter-zone final for the Cup.

Mr Wallace Myers, writing in the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “Von Cramm thoroughly deserved his victory. He was Perry’s superior in concentration and will power, and his game showed development in stroke variety and strategy, proving him a deep student of those psychological Clements entering into every big contest. “Perry was all out to establish a double record as the only player to win the French' championship twice since it has been open to the world. He was also anxious to gain the unique distinction of winning in two successive years at Wimbledon, New York and Paris. But his quest, which looked possible of achievement at twp stages of the match, was frustrated by his permitting a questionable line decision to upset his concentration on the key game in the third set; also by his fatal disposition to allow von Cramm to control the attack at .the opening of the third set.”

“Tennis used to be my whole life, but now I am married I have other interests, and tennis is only part of it, I have lost my interest and enthusiasm and cannot concentrate. That’s the plain truth, ’ ’ said Perry in an interview with the “Daily Mail’s” Paris eorrc' spondent.

Mrs Perry (Helen Vinson, the film actress) who watched the match, broke in, saying: “I do not think Fred is playing badly. I suppose it is good for him to lose sometimes, I am not worry' ing about losing tennis championships, It isn’t a catastrophe to me.”

“Of> course it isn’t a catastrophe,’* added Perry. “I expect I shall be playing better at Wimbledon, but, if I don’t, what of it ? You can’t stay out of a game for seven months and then expect to win championships as before. I even astonished myself by my lack of concentration and kick. Whether I shall recover them or not remains to be seen.”

The “News-Chronicle” comments: “Perry’s defeat was not a big surprise as von Cramm is one of the three best in the world, the others being Perry and Crawford. ’ ’ •

Austin’s pulled muscle is regarded as further reducing Britain’s chances of retaining the Davis Cup, although the injury is yielding to treatment,