THE DAVIS CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22475, 20 July 1936, Page 10

THE DAVIS CUP

FIRST HONOURS EVEN INTER-ZONE FINAL AUSTRALIA AND GERMANY QUIST'S GREAT BATTLE By Telcgrnph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July IU, f>.s p.m.) LONDON, July 18 Two singles matches were played to-day in the inter-zone final of the Davis Cup contest between Australia and Germany. Von Cramm defeated Quist 4 —6, 6—4, 4—6, 6—4, 11—9. Crawford defeated lienkel 6 —2, 6—2. Hcnkel then retired owing to indisposition. Quist went clown fighting a strenuous match against the German champion. Ho fell heavily in the first game of the second set and injured an ankle, in spito of which he disputed the lead right to the end. A fierce wind made conditions unpleasant and tested the skill of both players, and it is not surprising that had errors were sandwiched between good strokes. Quist's Two and a-hal! Hours' Fight The Australian player took an attractive first set after 20 minutes' play. He lost the second set after finding von Cramm's service harder to handle, the German taking fivo games in a row. Quist won the third set, lost the fourth and then gave von Cramm a great battle in the fifth, the German finally prevailing at 11—9. 11l the ninth and tenth games Quist held, off five match points and later another four. Quist at B—78 —7 had three match points, but lost them all. The match lasted 2} hours. Quist's heroic effort astonished everyone and both players received an ovation.

Excitement in Closing Stages Critics state that Quist had not previously produced anything in England remotely comparable to his form in the singles, tlie memory of the closing stages of which will live long. Von Cramm plunged for winners, often raisins chalk clouds and more often missing * the lines by n fraction, and Quist saved match point after match point with an iron will and extraordinary sureness and activity in spite of an ankle so badly strained. He found afterwards when the lust for battle had vanished that he could scarcely walk. Each player had the mortification of seeing match points vanish but neither lost heart. An analysis showing the difference of 15 points was the best indication of what might have been. Von Cramm had the advantage of extra severity. He plays with a smaller margin of error than Quist and consequently suffered more from the gale. The fact that he always increased his pace when in danger instead of altering his tactics testified to his stoutness of heart. Australian's Ankle Injury Serious

Von Cramm's service and the way Quist took it in the fifth set were memorable. Quist's relief was apparent on his face when many of the cannonballs, which were impossible to reach, were providentially called out by microscopic margins. Quist's strained ankle may destroy Australia's chance of challenging Britain. The foot was so swollen after the match that he could not put on bis shoe. The ankle- will bo X-rayed to-night. Quist's participation in the doubles on Monday is questionable but the decision need not be made until an hour before the match. However, the real need for Quist is against Henkel on Tuesday. If Honkel is not fit for Monday's doubles he will he replaced by Lund. Henkel Kealises His Weakness Henkel was weak after his chill and his decision to play was deferred until as late as possible. Crawford in the circumstances was always master of his opponent, who played an apathetic game lacking his usual determination. His service was less fiery than ordinarily. Herr Heinrich Kleinschroth, the manager of the German Davis Cup team, confirmed the fact that Henkel did not intend to finish his match with Crawford as he realised that he could not last the full distance. Herr Kleinschroth told the Associated Press yesterday that although Henkel practised for half an hour lie had not completely recovered from his illness.