TITANTIC STRUGGLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 243, 11 September 1933, Page 7

TITANTIC STRUGGLE

AMERICAN SINGLES TITLE. PERRY’S SPLENDID VICTORY. CRAWFORD EXHAUSTED AT FINISH. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received September 11, 10 a.m. FOREST HILLS, Sept. 10. The English Davis Cup representative, F. J. Perry, won the United States national singlestitle, to-day, by defeating the Australian J. B. Crawford in a stirring final contest, 6—3, 11—13. 4—6, 6—o, 6—l. Perry took the first set 6—3, but the one of 24 games, was won by Crawford after a stern and at times brilliant display. The third set went to Crawford rather easily, but in the fourth the anti-climax was reached when Perry broke through Crawford’s service to take the set without opposition. It was obvious the Australian was not himself and in the. final set which Perry accounted for he was very tired.

A BRISK WIND

A brisk west wind blew at right angles across the court, making the ball uncertain, when Crawford and Perry commenced the final. Both opened with effortless and polished tennis, their ground strokes, their forecourt play, and general court coverage being among the best sights of tennis. Crawford was the first to lapse from the standard of perfection and, in a long drawn deuced third game, dropped his service for the Englishman to win. This lead of a game Perry improved to 3—l, only to have the Australian take tho next two games with the allowance of only a single point to his opponent. Perry was troubled by the wind when serving and he made two double faults in the sixth game and four in tlie match thus far. Perry went into a decisive 3—5 lead, breaking Crawford’s service in the seventh game and winning the eighth on his own service. Crawford’s shots now had too much or too iittle distance. The same trouble in the final game made him lose the service and tho set rather weakly.—3—6. The stroke analysis showing service aces, placements, outs, net and double faults is as follows:

Crawford had 26 and Perry 29 points. LITTLE BETWEEN PLAYERS.

Just a fine shade of accuracy, the Englishman having more than the Australian, separated the two players in the second set. As in the first set the Australian was within a point of accounting for the Englishman’s service when, upon the booing and insistence of the crowd, tho umpire changed his decision, permitting the deucing of the second game, but the Englishman was unable to carry the day. The players exchanged breaks in their service in the fourth and fifth games and then the score was 3—3, after Crawford had been within a point of accounting for the Englishman’s delivery. In the seventh game, and in mock exasperation, Crawford kicked the ball across the net after making the last of three nets that cost him tlie_ game. Tlie crowd laughed and lie smiled. With such fine shading strokcs.it was inevitable that the strong wind would be responsible for the great, part of both players’ errors. Thus far the Australian at no point had been really threatening. Perry had a slight advantage from the tactical viewpoint in that he was better at the net and gained valuable tallies by forcing the pace in the forecourt. It was a dangerous advantage which, if the Australian did not overcome it, seemed certain to prolong the match, even if not his defeat. He broke Perry’s service in tho thirteenth game to take a commanding lead, only to drop his own service in the fourteenth when the Englishman continued his forcing game. Incidentally, Crawford lost the final point by a double fault, his first in the match. The same thing happened in the next two games, the score now being B—B.

DRAMATIC TENNIS.

It was dramatic tennis with just a touch of grimness. The Australian improved his chances slightly by advancing a little more resolutely to the net, but still the games alternated with the service until Perry, leading 11 —10, was within two points of accounting for the Australian's delivery. But the Australian rose to great heights to, go to 40—30; then, when the Englishman deuced it, to win by taking the two advantage points. Crawford deuced the next game and finally broke the Englishman's service on the latter's double fault and out, leading 12—11. Thereafter, he ended the set handily in the next game. The points were: Crawford 82, Perry 76. The stroke analysis was:—

PERRY AGGRESSIVE.

In the third set the me,n alternated with a break in their service and then held their service consistently. Perry's aggressiveness persisted and it was due wholly to the continuous readiness with which he took the net that Crawford's opportunity to finish off the third set came; but, unfortunately, it was not conductive to full satisfaction to him though he was faultless in the incident that happened. Perry was standing 30—40. He started to stroke the next shot but brought his racquet down, apparently in the belief that Crawford's return was out. Actually, the ball hit the line and the linesman motioned it as good. Obviously disappointed over the decision the Englishman was sufficiently disconcerted to fall an easy prey in the next game. The points were:—Crawford 29, Perry 24. The strokes were :

THE ANTI-CLIMAX. The fourth set was plainly anti-cli-matic. Once Perry broke through Crawford's service in the second game the Australian seemed to lose all interest and plainly did not try. The points were:—Crawford 10; Perry 26. The stroke analysis was:

CRAWFORD A TIRED MAN. Perry's preponderance through his r.et storming tactics came clearly in sight in the fifth set. He took a 2—l lead, allowing his opponent only four points and gaining decisions with angled unreturnable volleys. The Australian then accounted for Perry's service, principally on the Englishman's errors, but dropped his own simply because lie was insufficiently aggressive. Perry was now leading 3 —l. This he increased to 4—l on his own service.

Crawford ' seemed extremely tired. He was netting and outing the easiest of shots and gripping his breast, apparently being in pain. Several times he stumbled going after shots. He dropped the sixth game on his service after deucing it .and lost the final game to love, outing and netting the ball. PERRY BESIEGED. Perry enjoyed the fruits of his victory surrounded by photographers while he held the cup. He was stormed by autograph hunters with tennis balls and fountain pens in hands. Crawford sat wearily in the chair protected from being disturbed by club officials.

CRAWFORD’S DIZZINESS

FELT PAINT AT END OF GAME.

Received September 11, 11.40 a.m.

FOREST HILLS, Sept. 10.

Crawford informed tlie Australian Press Association that following the ten minutes’ rest after the third set he returned to the courts in a daze and thereafter was plainly dizzy during the two concluding sets. Doctor Davenport, president of the West Side Tennis Club, told the correspondent that Crawford informed him that he felt sick and though he continued in the hope the spell’would pass off the dizziness increased until he was quite faint at the end.

HISTORIC SERIES

MANY FAMOUS PLAYERS

The title lias only on four previous occasions been won .by overseas players, H. L. Doherty . (England) succeeding in 1903, Rene Lacoste (Ercnce) in 1926 and 1927, and H. Cochet (France) in 1928. Many famous players have won the title. R. D. Sears, who won the initial event in 1881, established a record for this event. Ho won the title seven years running, namely, from 1881 to 1887 inclusive. W. T. Tilden, the greatest player the world has seen, conies next. He has six successive victories to his credit, namely from 1920 to 1925 inclusive, and he won seven times in all. W. M. Johnston, the Californian, was runner-up to Tiklen five times. Maurice E. McLougliliii, the “Californian Comet,” who disappeared from the game as suddenly as he burst into it, was the shining light in 1912 and 1913. IV. A. Larned is another outstanding player with seven victories to his credit. \V. M. Johnston won the title twice, as did R. N. Williams. H. E. Vines is the only American player who has won the title twice since \V. T. Tilden. His victories were registered in 1931 and 1932.

Crawford had accomplished a unique feat this year. He has won three national titles, Australia, France and England, and there were hopes that he would cap this brilliant success by obtaining the remaining title of importance.

THE SEMI-FINALS

PERRY’S BRILLIANT WIN

PLAY WELL-NIGH PERFECT.

NEW YORK, Sept. 9. Wins for F. J. Perry (Britain) and J. B. Crawford (Australia) marked the semi-finals of tlie American tennis championships at Forest Hills to-day. The results were:

F. J. Perry (Britain) defeated L. Stoeffen, 6 —3, 6 —2, 6 —2. J C. Crawford (Australia) defeated F. 'X. Shields (U.S.A.) 7—5, 6—4, 6—3.

In the semi-finals Crawford stood 3—o to win his service in the first game against Shields, only to have the game deuced. He, however, pulled it out 5 —3. Shields won the second on an almost unreturnable service. It appeared that ■ Crawford would have been contented to trade ground strokes with his opponent, whereas Shields was always a netstormer, and made every bid to entice the Australian into the forecourt in order to volley past him. The Australian used his lob when possible, but not with great success, due to the American’s height. The Australian chiefly depended upon the great length which he gave his drives, and his accuracy. They both lost service.

The Australian had a had fall in the eighth when trying to get back to one of Shields’s overhead smashes. After that he limped noticeably. The Forest Hills courts this year are notoriously rough. Tire end came in the twelfth game, when Crawford returned one of Shields’s four services with a fine chop, and his opponent netted the returns. Crawford won four games to love in this set.

In the second set, with the games 3—3, the Australian lapsed into errors, and, netting Shields’s returns from service continuously, dropped behind to 3 —4, but the Australian accounted for Shields’s delivery in the next, and the score was 4 —4. The American was within a point of breaking the Australian’s service in the next game, but Crawford then displayed his full versatility, and his flat cut drives worked perfectly. Compelled to run up to the net, he smashed with strength and precision. He even got after Shields’s deep lobs with astonishing nimbleness. He won the game and led 5 —3. Shields served two double faults and netted twice in the next game, to give the Australian the victory. In the third set Shields was within a point of losing service in the sixth game, but, in liis first display. of really bravura tennis that left the Australian flat-footed, he retrieved his position, but he was unable to maintain the pace. Crawford’s strokeing was like clockwork. His precision and extraordinary timing sense made his playing well-nigh perfect. Since the days of Tilden, Cochet, Lacoste, and Shimidzu the Americans had not seen such tennis as the Australian produced. He achieved the necessary break in Shields’s service at the eighth, and won the final game love. He walked off the courts placidly sucking a half-lemon, while the largest crowd that has ever seen a tennis match in America (probably 20,000, extra grandstands having been erected on the stadium court) cheered and hurled their seat cushions in the air. STOEFFEN’S DEBACLE.

Perry, hammering Stoeffen’s backhand, the latter’s weakest shot, broke through Stoeffen’s service at the eighth game to give him the first set on the next game, and on his own service. In the second set the American proved no match for the Englishman. With the score s—l, Perry had allowed StoefFen only nine points. Although the Englishman lapsed into service errors in his service game, Stoeffen’s backhand was so continuously bad that lie was unable to win when victory was almost handed him. liis debacle in the final set was even more complete. Perry in the last two days has been playing at the top of his form, with a smoothness and ease that will make him, if it is maintained to-morrow, one of the most formidable finalists in the history of the national singles. With Crawford’s and Perry’s victories, it will be an all-British final, and

will be the first time an Australian has competed for the honour.

CRAWFORD PRAISED

The New York-Herald-Tribune, in a leader headed “An All-British Final,” lauds the victories of Perry and Crawford. It says: “The British Empire has regained its old pre-war supremacy through the brilliant play of Perry and Crawford. Outside a few super-patriots and those extraordinary directors of American tennis policy who seem to view tire amateur game as a very grim business, there will be only general applause at the results. “For the connoisseur, no player in recent years has risen to equal Crawford in interest. The subtlety and finesse of his shots and the ease with which they are produced gives an impression of effortlessness that conceals his extraordinary craftsmanship. History, is repeating itself, for Crawford is a worthy successor to the great Norman Brookes, who made tennis history in these parts years ago.”

McGrath defeated. IN EXHIBITION MATCH. Received September 11 9 a.m. FOREST _ HILLS, Sept. 10. In an exhibition match before the final of the national singles championship Frank Parker, the 17-year-old clay court champion of America, and one of the sensational young American players developed this year, defeated Vivian McGrath (Australia), 6—o, 3—6, 7—5. The American consistently played to the Australian’s forehand and was less steady in his ground strokes.

S.A. Pla, Outs. Nets. D.F.'s Crawford ... 0 4 12 14 0 Perry 0 3 7 10 5

S.A. Pla. Outs Nets D.F.'s Crawford .3 IS 32 26 6 Porry 2 11 26 36 4

S.A. Pla. Outs. Nets. D.F.'s Crawford ... 1 9 10 8 3 Perry 0 3 6 12 1.

S.'A. Pla, Outs. Nets. D.F.'s Crawford ... 0 3 8 11 2 Perry 14 2 4 1