THE DAVIS CUP

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11294, 21 August 1922, Page 5

THE DAVIS CUP

FINAL PSELIMINARY AUSTRALIAN'S TOO GOOD FOR SPANIARDS. THE DOUBLES PLAY. By Telegraph—Press Asen.—UoPyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Aseociat NEW YORK, August 18. The Australians, Gerald Patterson and O’Hara Wood, defeated the Spaniards, Count de Gomar and Manuel Alonzo, in the doubles m the final round of the Dana Gup—6-d, o-d, o-‘t. Australia now leads by two matches te one with two more singles to be played. Patterson’s service proved a great tactor in to-day’s match. ... 'Hie Australians won the first game with the loss of a stroke, and the seoond to love. The Spaniards won the third game aFter dropping a point. Then the Australians took the fourth after six deuces, the fifth after four deuces, andi the sixth to love. Patterson’s service was fast and unplayable. Hie Spaniards won the seventh with the loss 6f two strokes, and the eighth with the loss of one stroke. The Australians won the ninth, after dropping two points, and the set, 6-3. The Australians won the first game in the second set with the loss of a point, and the Spaniards took the seoond after deuce. The third was won by the Australians with the loss of stroke, and the fourth after a double deuoe. The Australians are better double players than the Spaniards, although. Alonzo is unrivalled for covering court. D© Gomar is distinctly the weakest of the four players. Australia won the fifth game after deuce, and Spain the sixth after dropping two points. The Australians won the seventh game after deuce, and the Spaniards the eighth with the loss of a Btroke. Hie ninth game was won hy Australia on Patterson’s service, which still continued to baffle the Spaniard*. Hie game, however, went to deuce. The third set opened with the Span lands winning the first game to love. The Australians took the second with the loss of one point on 1 Patterson’s service. His aim seems to be to hit hard at everything, and in this he was successful. The Australians won the third game after a double deuce, and the Spaniards the fourth, after a double deuce, and the fifth with the loss of a couple of points. The Australians took the sixth, in like manner, and Spain the seventh, after another double deuoe. Hie Australians bad' the eighth to love, and the ninth after a deuce. The Spaniards did not seem a match for Patterson, who was now serving in the tenth game. One could not see the hall for its speed. He made two double faults, permitting the Spaniards ta work np to deuce, hut then he served two aces and took the match. COMMENTS ON PLAY PATTERSON ON THE CONTESTANTS. (Received August 19, 6.5 p.m) NEW YORK, August 18. Interviewed by the Australian, Press Association Patterson said:— “The doubles match, Spain ▼. Australia, was decided by three quickly played l sets, in which the Australians gained a decisive victory. _ The Spaniards were weaker in service and did not have the pace to play an attacking game. Wood was below his beet form, probably on account of his gruelling singles match yesterday, and it was only in his interceptions at the net of some of the Spaniards’ best volleys off my return of serve that he apgroaohed his usual form. The wind lowing across the court, though making the sun less oppressive, made anything hut severe strikes flout ouit of , the court. This affected Wood’s volleying occasionally, for he had not the power of the right arm to handle theee shots decisively. Alonzo was easily the better in the Spanish team, but even so he was not at home at the net, and his volleys often went astray.’’ THE DECIDING GAME WOOD DEFEATS GOMAR. (Received August 20, 6.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 19. O’Hara Wood defeated Gomar, 6 —B, 3—6, 6 —o, 6—4, 6—l. The Australians thus defeated the Spaniards. (Received August 20, 11.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 19. In thie first Set both Woodl and Gomar played carefully, but not over speedily, and went fourteen, games before the set was decided. In the next set Gomar played perfect tennis, hut Wood was strangely wild and appeared troubled by his arm, , while his face was strained by weariness. He steadied: remarkably In the third set, winning the first three games on volley placements. Gomar tired, his service was stinglees, and was frankly anxious for a rest, but in the fourth he covered the court splendidly, recovering some hard shots, Wood playing steadily. In the fifth set, Gomar wan the first and third games but tired, while Wood seemed refreshed, covering the court freely and hitting returns hard took the other games easily. Patterson defeated Alonzo 8-6, 6-2, 6-2.