THE DAVIS CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13926, 7 December 1908, Page 6

THE DAVIS CUP.

A GREAT CONTEST.

HONOURS FOR AUSTRALASIA.

As the ' result" of the most brilliant scries of tennis contests yet: seen here (states the Sydney Morning Herald of the Ist inst.), Australasia has won the Davis challenge cUp, and with it the right to retain for another year tho title of "the champion nation." " Tho two singles matches which were to decide supremacy were played to-day on .the championship court of the Lawn Tennis Association, and to Anthony F. Wilding, winner of tho final contest, is due tho honour of having placed Australasia in the position which she holds in. the tennis world to-day. The issue was in doubt' until the last.

Tho first contest was that betwoen Wright and Brookes. Tho quality of Brooke's play may be gauged from the fact that ho won tho first set to love, his opponent idling to ecoro a game until the second of the second set. In the first half of the second set tho games began, to alternate, the score at the end of the sixth game being three all. Then Brookes seemed to become irresistible once more, and won, the score being 6 to 3 in his favour. It was at this juncture that the brilliancy of Wright's overhaul play began to tell, and after a keen and exhausting struggle, extending over 12 games, the third set fell to tho American by 7 games to .5. Tho fourth set was a triumph to Wright by 6 games to 2. but the score does not indicate how gallantly Brookes fought every stroke of every excliange. Brookes and Wright having each won two sots, the deciding set was bcsun. Wright won three games before his opponent scored, bub Brookes drew level with him at 4 all. Excited by the display, Tome o£ his admirers began to barrack "for him. Then each player won gam© about, until Wright's score was 11 and Brokes' 10. Here Wright simply smashed his way to victory. Ihe scores were 2 all, and the fourth match had fallen to America, leaving Alexander and Wilding to tight out the deciding contest. The cheers which greeted Wright s success having died away, the lawn, which was playing fast and true, was rolled, and Alexander and Wilding- joined issue. As compared with the play of the previous pair, much of which was cut and thrust at close quarters, the long range tennis of these two furnished an interesting contrast. Faultlessly accurate drives skimmed from service line to service line, and many of the strokes were of a character which rendered it possible to return them several times in succession. In the first two sets Wilding more than held his own by virtue of his masterly service and his terrific hitting from the back line. The score, which was fairly accurate, reflects the merit of his play, and showed that in his first set he won six games to three, and that the second terminated in his favour by six games to four. Amid intense excitement the third set began. -Alexander's keenness led him to try for everything it was possible to reach ; but Wilding refused to be disconcerted by the fleetness and skill which were opposed fo"him. Playing fast and well, and maintaining an even standard of excellence, he won four games in succession. Then there was a check to his progros-s in the shape of a game to Alexander. Confident will, the New Zealander went on, and, without another reverse, won the set, the rubber, and the championship for Australasia.