PLAY IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23491, 31 October 1939, Page 11

PLAY IN AUCKLAND

EXHIBITION MATCHES

FINE RECEPTION ACCORDED PREVIOUS WIN RECALLED A crowd of between 2000'quel 3000 people witnessed an excellent exhibition of tennis at the Stanley Jjtreet courts yesterday afternoon when the members ot the Australian Davis Clip team played in singles and doubles matches. The court' was in splendid condition, but the strong southerly wind made ball control diflicult. The doubles match was abandoned when light rain set in late in the afternoon. The results of mat clips were as follows: Singles.—J. Bromwich beat A. K. Quist, S—<», <>—-i H. Hopman and J. H'. Crawford, B—G, -I—<j, abandoned. Doubles.—-J. Bromwich and A. K. Quist v. J. H. Crawford and H. Hopman, (>—l, 3 —3, abandoned.

The Australian players were accorded a very fino reception. After tbc playing of the singles inatchcs, and prior to their taking the court for the doubles. .Mr. S. A. Clcal, president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, extended a welcome to the visitors, remarking that the large attendance was a tribute to their popularity. New Zealand shared very largely in their cousins' success, saiil Mr. Clcal.

Mr. A. G. Henderson, president of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis .Association, congratulated the .Australian team upon winning tho Davis Cup and also upon the very fine exhibitions the players had given for the benefit of the Auckland public. He said lie was particularly pleased that the Davis Cup had returned to Australia after its having been lost in Auckland ]!) years ago. Ho expressed the hope that it would remain in Australia for many years to conic.

Applause for Veteran Sir Norman Brookes, president of the Australian Lawn Tennis Association, was greeted with loud applause. He said ho felt that he was only a hanger-on for the present side, which had made a gallant effort in winning the Davis Cup after losing the first, two singles. "It reminds me," said Sir Norman, "of the event. 25 years ago, when the late Anthony Wilding, of (his country, and myself, won the cup for what was then regarded as tho Australasian team." This announcement was greeted with loud cheering. Sir Norman added "that he had seen tho performances of the Australian team throughout its American tour and he was fully appreciative of its efforts in winning through in tho faco of such odds. Mr. H. Hopman, manager of tho Australian team, said tho presence of Sir Norman Brookes had inspired tho players to greater heights and actually proved an incentive to victory. "The honour of winning the Davis Cup actually went to Bromwich and Quist, but I should like to pay p tribute to tho part played by Jack Crawford," said Mr. Hopman; to tho accompaniment of loud applause. ".Tack has chased the Davis Cup for years without success, but he has done a tremendous amount of good work in assisting the younger memhers of this team toward gaining the world's prize." The Davis Cup, a very fine work of silver art and of huge dimensions, was closely inspected by officials anil spectators. Visitors at Play

In tho opening singles match, which wns umpired by Mr. J. T. Harrison, Quist. was the first to find his form, and ho quickly ran up a 3 —l lead. Bromwich then concentrated his attack on Quist's back-hand and succeeded in drawing level at four-games a 11_. Quist had two set points when bo led fi—s nn ,l 15 —.10 on Bromwich's service, but failed to secure cither. Falling into errors, he lost that, gamo and the two following for the set. In the second set, after two games alt was called, Bromwich was definitely superior, being both too accurate and too severe for his opponent and the match ended with a beautiful ace to Quist's back-hand. Both played brilliant shots which were frequently/applauded, especially Bromwich s twohanded drives on the forehand, mostly across court. . ._ , _ „ Crawford and Homnan provided a fine exhibition of two different styles. Crawford delighted the spectators with the flucn.t stroking of his ground shots and his powerful fiat service, while Hopman showed that he is still one of the fastest men about the court now playing the came. Tn the first set of their match. Crawford took the lead. and. with the games at 5 —2 in his favour, he •seemed comfortably assured of the decision. At this stage however. Hopman demonstrated his famous fighting spirit. Chasing apparently irretrievable shots and himself attacking 'at the net at every opportunity, he took the next four games to lead o—s and eventually won the set at 8 *3. Accurnte placements and fine serving gave Crawford a lead of 4—2 in the second set. but again Hopman retrieved the position, drawing level at. I—all with a beaut.ifnl reverse smash. Crawford, however, was not to be denied, and he took the next two games and the set. Crawford's backhand stroking was a feature of the afternoon's play. Mr. V R Johns was umpire. 'During the. interval, a bright exhibition of doubles was criven by the Ancklanders N. F. Bedford, J. T. Mayson. T. Fountney and A. Burns. Bedford and Fountney winning in straight sets, O —l, O —l. •\ fittinsr climax to tbe afternoons play was the doubles match between Bromwich and Quist and Crawford and Hopman. which was umpired by Mr. J. T. Harrison. Ihcse pairs were finalists in tbe American championships and tho spectators consistently cheered the brilliant rallies. Unfortunates rain fell when the score was 3 —all in the second set.