LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6315, 16 September 1907, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS

THE DAVIS CUF. AUSTRALASIA’S VICTORY. (By A. F. Wilding.) LONDON, July 27. At last my ambition has been fulfilled. Ever since the Davis Cup lias been on the market," my . greatest wish has been to see it lifted to Australasia. Almost tho entire credit is due to Norman Brookes, who has been maintaining his brilliant form throughout the entire struggle at Wimbledon. 1 .will, however, take this much credit: it was through my persuasions that Brookes left Australia at all. He is more pleased than, anyone now. , Our first and hardest match was against America. Both Behr and Wright hod come on surprisingly, and made a team that, in the opinion of experts, was second to none that America had sent to England. Brookes beat Wright by three straight sets —a surprise to most. Brookes was certainly expected to win, but hardly in three straight sots. 1 think this was one of his very finest games. Following on came my match with Karl Behr, and, as usual of late with me, it was a real gruelling match. However, eventually 1 won after the full five sets had been played. As things panned out, it was just as well W-. Australasia struggled home in this match. On Monday we, played the Double. At first things went all our way, and we bad two sets to one and a commanding position when Behr got a brilliant fit. He was backed up by Wright’s fceadwork and steadiness, and in a very short time the tables were turned against, us, and America won by three: sets to two. On the last day I had to play Wright, and Brookes played Behr. We only required one of these matches to secure the rubber: Wright was a little boo good for me, and won bv three sets to one. I beat him by three sets to love in the championship, but he was better and 1 was worse in the Cup game. Brookes lost the’ first set to ♦Behr, bfit when once he got going he never looked back. We hsul now two days’ spoil. Brookes stayed at Hillyard's, in Leicestershire, and I with some friends near-by- 1 motored over on both days, and Brookes and I played George Hillyard and R. i’. Doherty, winning both games. Hillyard has the most perfect grass court in existence, and his delightful home also. possesses the finest private smt course- in England. Mr and Mrs Hillyard are the kindest of hosts, and keep an absolutely free house to visiting lawn tennis players. Well, all good things must end, anh Brookes and 1 had to set out once more for Wimbledon for the challenge round of the Davis Cup. We were both (to use a vulgarism) “fed up with serious tenuis at Wimbledon. No one who has not been through it can imagine the strain serious and prolonged match play at Wimbledon entails. Brookesteli it verv much,, but, of course, he had won all his matches fairly easily, while I had had about two hours of it, win or lose, every -time I had . stepped on _ to that centre, court. It is not physical, but mental, tiredness one ‘suffers iron). It may sound rather unlikely. ± r<) ; vided yon are fit, a good night s rest easily remedies any little physical tatigue. I hate the atmosphere of life and death in which these matches are played. The first match against England was Brobkes against. Gore. 'Brookes'was on top all the way, -but Gore made an excellent fight, the game ending i-5, 7-5 6-4. 1 afterwards played -Boper Barrett, and won by three sets to one, but 1 cannot say 1 was playing very well. The Double, which took .place on the Monday, gave the English spectators a lot of excitement. Although the gate was moderately small, 1 have never known such enthusiasm displayed over a tennis match bofore. Brookes and I won the first two sets as wo liked, and really as we expected. We were leading by five games to throe with 40-15' on Brooke’s service in the third set. ■ There is a true old maximtha* “a game is never lost until n is won." Well, I think it was to *l- - this maxim that the "power* that be" willed our downfall in this particular double. Gore and Barrett; when once going, combined splendidly, ani played good tennis. The final went lilie a see-saw, victory ultimately resting with the English pair at Altogether it was a memorable match, and a brilliant win for the Englishmen, and on© which they may well be proud Of. . y On the Monday we found ourselvesiri precisely th© same position *as wc were on the same day in the previom week against’ America. Brookes polished off Roper Barrett in great style, a i.l Gore beat me by three sets to one. Thus Aiiftrnlasia captured the . Davis Cup. Both Brookes and 1 .were overjoyed, firstly av winning it, and secondly that it was all over. Playing hard matches on the same court, in the same place, with the same responsibility attaching to every stroke, is what makes ouo stale, n Travelling about to delightful places in Germany and Austria, and playing as much as. one likes 'do not 'make one at ail stale in the true sense of die word. . , _ On the night of the last Davis Cup matches the Lawn Tennis Association gave a large dinner to the teams. Th© Americans had already betaken themselves back to the land of bustle. Mr Wilberforce, K.C., was in the chair, and oh his right sat Lord Desborough, one of th© finest all-round sportsmen England has ever produced. The Hon. \V. P. Reeves was also present. After a very excellent dinner, there was the usual speech-making. As it happened, th© speakers were all excellent, bud I am proud to say, by far the finest of very fine Tot was Mr Reeves. 1 I don't think he knew a tremendous lot about the Davis Cup at the commencement of the dinner, except perhaps that wo had won it. Bat when he Had Imishcd his speech everyone present must have thought ho had been studying Davis Cup for years, so intimate, a knowledge did he display of everything connected with it, even down to Brooke's service. He told a story of which 1 had no recollection. He said that some eighteen 1 years ago, 'in company with Mr.-j Reeves, he; was calling at. Opawa on my father and mother. Suddenly, without* any warning, a stone swished thiough the drawing-room window. On investigation, I was discovered outside, racquet in hand, practising th© American service. Of course, I don't believe *t. The dinner broke up about 11.30, and I went on with a few intimates, such as Norman Brookes, Hillyard. and Dr. Eaves, to the Savoy, for more supper. I ' stayed the night r in Loudon with Byookes. I spent the next "day, obtaining various' documerits permittingme to drive my motor . bicycle in Germany, France, etc. In „ the evening Brookes and I dined with Prince end Princess Battityay-Strattmann at the Carlton. On arrival, the. dear old Pryice gave us each a little souvenir for winning the Davis Cup, as he put it He had watched every match wc* had played throughout the ' championship and Davis Cup. My present was a beautiful gold card-case, let into it being a -very valuable and rare gold coin, made hundreds of years ago by one of th© former Prince Battityays. I have ioiown me Prince for three years, and always meet him at Monte Carlo, Homburg, and London during the season. He was once a real tennis champion. The following day I set ont for Marienbad, and here I am. I will give you a short description of the tennis ‘ down here in Bohemia next week.