TENNIS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1936, Page 6

TENNIS

AUSTRALIA V GERMANY . THE FIRST DAY’S SINGLES' . i United Press Association—By Electric Telegrn p h-- Copy r i gk t j. LONDON, July 19. The first day’s, play in the Davis Cup inter-zone final between Australia and Germany fit Wimbledon end'd with honours even after' G, vjm Cramm (Germany), second rankUtl player iii tlie world had fought oft a great challenge by the young-Aus-tralian, Adrian Quist, at 11-9 in the fifth set. -Quist saved five match points when toe 1 German was leading 545 and 5-4, and later another ferny and he himself reached match point, three times in the sixteenth gam^.,J. H. Crawford (Australia) easily won the first two sets from Heiner Henkel, who retired owing to iM.dis.-i position, but Australian hopes have received a set-back owing to Quist straining an ankle in his match, tie may not be fit to play in the doubles. Henkel also may be replaced in the German doubles’ team by K. Lund. Quist went down fighting in a marathon match against the German champion. Quist fell heavily in th e first game of the second set and damaged In ankle. In spite of this he disputed the lead right to the end. A fierce wind made conditions un--1 pleasant and tested the skill oi both players, and it is hot surprising that bad errors were sandwiched between glorious strokes. Quist took an attractive first set alter 20 m>nutes’ play. He dropped the second set finding von Cramm’s service harder to handle, the German taking Eve games in succession. He. won ,tue third, lost the four, and then gave von Cramm a great battle in the fifth, the German finally prevaiing 11-9. The match lasted two and a half hours. Quist’s heroic efforts astonished everyone • and both players received an ovation. Henkel was weak after his chill, and the German manager’s decision to play him was deferred as late as possible. Crawford was always the master of his opponent, who played an apathetic game, lacking. it s usual determination. His service, too; was less fiery than ordinarily. Herr H. C. Klelinscroth, the manager of the German team, confirmed that Henkel did not intend to finish his match with Crawford because he realised be could not last the full disdistance. , • 4 Critics declare .that Quist ha s not previously ‘produced anything in England remotely comparable to his play in the singles, the closing stages of which Kill live long in the memory or those who saw the game—von Cramm plunging for winners and often raising the chalk in clouds, but more often fractionally missing the lines, arid Quist saving match puint after match point with an iron will ana extraordinary sureiiess and activity despite an ankle which was so strained that he found afterwards, when the lust for battle had vanished, that he could scarcely walk. Each had the mortification of seeing match points vanish in,, creeping net-edrds, but neither lost heart. Yon Cramm had the advantage of extra severity, but lie plays with a smaller margin of error than Quist. consequently lie suffered more friom the gale. That he always increased his pace when in danger instead of altering his tactics testified to his stoutness of heart. His service, and the manner in which Quist took it in the fifth set, were memorable. Quist’s relief was apparent when many unreachable cannonhall services providentially, were called out by microscopic margins. Quist’s strained ankle may be fatal to the Australians’ chance of challenging Great Britain. His foot was so swollen after the match that he could not get his shoe on. An X-ray examination will be made tn-night, and bis participation in the doubles on Monday is doubtful. The decision need not be made until an hour before the match. However, the real need of Quist is against Henkel on Tuesday.