EQUAL

Northern Advocate, 14 July 1933, Page 5

EQUAL

DAVIS CUP STRUGGLE EUROPEAN ZbNE PINAL. CRAWFORD BEATS AUSTIN. McGRATH FALLS TO PERRY. (United Press Association —By Electrlo Telegraph —Copyright.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 13. In the European Zone final of the Davis Cup,’ between Australia and Britain, each side won one of the opening singles played today. .1. B, Crawford (Australia) beat H. W, Austin, the English champion, 4—o, C —2, 6—2, 6—3. P. J. Perry (Britain) beat Vivian McGrath in straight sets, 6 —2, 6 —4, 6-2,-Crawford and Adrian Quist are to play for Australia in the doubles against G. P. Hughes and Perry. Heavy rain delayed the start. Three thousand people were present when play commenced at 4.15 p.m. in a fine drizzle. The Match Described. Crawford took the flrSt game against Austin, and finished it,with three service aces. Prom 15-40, Austin, with winning corner drives, captured Crawford's service, to lead 3—2, and clinched the set—lasting half an hour —with a service of deep, penetrating drives.

■Crawford won the second set in 35 minutes by superb driving, which Austin badly timed. The Australian’s passing shots were gems of strategy and accuracy, Crawford was behind o—2 in the third sot, but levelled without the loss of a point. There was no holding of ■Crawford, who raked the Englishman’s sidelines with stinging drives. Crawford only lost seven points in taking six successive games for the set. Austin again led 2 —o in the fourth set, fighting very gallantly against Crawford’s remarkable accuracy, Crawford was in the lead at 4—3, and quickly clinched'the match, lasting an liour and a half, in which his superiority was always clear. Austin played well, but never properly mastered the speed, of the . Australian’s calculating attack. A <■

McGrath’s match with Perry opened one-sidedly, the Englishman taking the first five games, ,in which McGrath was constantly on the defensive. McGrath made a momentary recovery, but lost the set in twelve minutes. Perry led 4—l in the second set. Then McGrath astonished Perry witjh an unorthodox backhand andastrongforehanjl, enabling the Australian.-to. draw level at 4—4. Perry, however, was* in one of his best moods, and, with confident, aggressive ground strokes and a powerful service, he took-the set in fifteen minutes. Throwing caution to-, the :.winds, Perry, in the third set, launched a, bewildering attack, repeatedly, winningpoints with volleys after a driving .onslaught. Perry again led s—o. The Australian saved two.games, but the match, of which the scores are an adequate picture, was over in 45 minutes.