DAVIS CUP CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18168, 14 August 1922, Page 7

DAVIS CUP CONTEST.

EXCITING DOUBLES MATCH. WIN FOR AUSTRALASIA. FINAL SINGLES TO-DAY. By Tolecratjh—Press Association—Copyrieht(Received 4.4 p.m.) A. and N.Z. NEW YORK, Aug. 12. Australasia won the doubles match in the senai-final of the Davis Cup contest against France, and now leads by two matches to one. The remaining two singles matches have been postponed till Monday, rain preventing play to-day. The scores in the doubles match, which was played yesterday, were : —6—o, 6—B, 4—6, 6—3, 10—8. Patterson and Wood represented Australasia, and Gobert and Cochet played for France. The Australians won the first game with the loss of a single stroke on Patterson's service, the second to 30 and the third to love. Wood's arm appeared to be in good condition, and Patterson plaved a powerful and confident game. The Australians took the fourth game after two deuces', the fifth at game —15, and the sixth to love, thus taking a love set. In the second set the Australians started off well, a.nd won the first game after deuce. Then the Frenchmen took a hand, and won the secona and third Barnes, each to 30. The Australians won the fourth to 15, and the fifth to 30, and the Frenchmen won the sixth after deuce had been called four times. The Australians won the seventh to 30 and the eighth after deuce, and then the turn of the Frenchmen came again. They won the ninth to 15, the tenth to 30, and the eleventh to 30. Both teams were playing fast games, and Gobert's service was rocking in at a great pace. Cochet appeared tired after his strenuous efforts of the previous day, and his play became wild. The Australians won the twelfth game after five deuces, but then lost the set, the Frenchmen taking the thirteenth game after deuce, and the fourteenth after deuce had been called twice. A Hard-hitting Contest. In the third set France won the first game after deuce, the second to 30, and then lost the third to love. They won the fourth to love, and Australasia the fifth to .'SO. Gobert fell twice, as he did. yesterday, and was badly shaken up. A sharp breeze was blowing over the court, playing tricks with the ball. The teams at thi3 stage appeared to be very evenly ma.tched. France won the sixth game after four deuces, Australasia won the seventh after deuce, France won the eighth to 15, Australasia won, the ninth to a similar score, and then France took the tenth and the set. The fourth set quickly 'materialised into a hard-hitting contest. Australasia won the first game with the loss of two strokes, and France the second at a simi lar total. Australasia took the third after douce, and France the fourth to love. Australasia won the fifth to 30, and France the sixth to love. The Frenchmen had freshened considerably during the rest allowed after the third set, and were playing with more vigour. The Australians only lost one stroke in the seventh game and none in the eighth. Cochet suddenly weakened, and netted four balls in uuccession. Australasia won the ninth game to love, and with it the set. Desperate Struggle for Victory. In the fifth and deciding set the Frenchmen c showed their stamiha, returning to the struggle strongly. They won the first game to 15, the second to 30, and the third after deuce. The Australians then took a hand in the game, taking the fourth to 30, the fifth after deuce, and the sixth after deuce had been called twice, though the game had stood at 40—love against them.* The Australians were now playing with great speed, the Frenchmen being unable to handle their returns. They won the seventh game to 15 but lost the eighth aftur deuce. " *

Clochet was now visibly tired, and Gobe.it was covering much of the court for him. France won the ninth game to love, and the Australians won the tenth after deuce. Then France won the eleventh to love. Both teams were now playing with the grimmest determination, and the excitement among the spectators . was intense. The Australians took the twelfth game with the loss of one stroke, and Francs the thirteenth to 30. Australasia won the fourteenth to 30 and France the fifteenth after deuce. The sixteenth went to Australasia with the loss of one point. The teams were now very weary, but were playing a desperately hard game. Australasia took the lead again at the seventeenth game, which they won after deuce, and took the eighteenth afte t - four deuces, and with it the set and the match. IN THE DOCTOR'S HANDS. PATTERSON AND WOOD. Auetralian and N-Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 6.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 12. Patterson, who wrenched hi s ankle yesterday, consulted a physician last night. To-dav he is qmte lame and will be comne'xled to m?et Cochet with his ankle tightly bandaged. Wood's arm is giving him trouble. He has received special baking treatment and hop<3u to restore it to normal strength. J. O. Anderson's physician states that he is much better and hia temperature is now normal. He may be able to leave his bed on Sunday, though he cannot play for at least a week. G. L. PATTERSON'S REVIEW. WELL OUT OF TIGHT CORNER. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Reed. 5.5 inn.) NEW YORK. Aug. 12. G L. Patterson contributes to the' Australian and New Zealand Press Association the following account of the match : " Australasia placed herself in a possible winning position by defeating the French in one of the most exciting doubles matches staged. Nearly every game was evenly contested. After a good start we ran away early to the lead and soon gathered a love set, mainly by steady tennis and holding the fort at the net. As is often the case after a love set a temporary relapse set in. It was soon evident that Gobert was keen on playing a poaching game on his partner's serve, to try to cover up his weakness in this branch. With his tremendous reach he was able to make it pa t \, though he deprived' Cochet of a good deal of his confidence. We were soon on the way to losing the second set, short lobbing bringing the usual penalty. r " O'Hara Wood's arm was beginning to give trouble, and I called ori him to take as much overhead play as possible. We were not missing a great deal in the rallies. The Frenchmen were weak at the net, but they were consistently better through the match on returning our best

& • . serves, though ia the end our defensive lobbing enabled us often to take the offensive. We lost the third set by dropping my serve early, mainly due to our combined errors, and we were unable to make up the leeway.

" A seven-minute rest enabled us to change and freshen up for a uphill fight. I immediately cams on to my best game and served in the fourth set more aci>s than previously at these matches. We scon ran our set to 6 —3.

" At two sets each the excitement was intense. I strained a tendon of my left ankle so I had to go for aces on both the first and second serves, as I could not follow up as quickly as I should have liked. The gamo see-sawed all through the set. Throwing caution to the winds on many occasions, I went for kills on almost everything. The end' came after the seventeenth game, when we broke Gobert's serve and after trailing to 15—40 on my serve f was able to get three aces out of my last four serves, the last being the best of the day. " So ended a most glorious match, both as a spectacle and as regards good play bv all four We considered ourselves well out of a very tight corner." ARRIVAL OF SPANIARDS. AFRAID OF AUSTRALIANS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 4.51 t.to.) NEW YORK, Aug. 12. The Span sh Davis Cup team, which will play either Australasia or France for the right to challenge the United States, has arrived at New York by the Mauretania. Jose Alonso declared that thdy were not afraid of the French, but ttiey were doubtful of their ability to conquer the Australians.