DAVIS CUP FINAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11933, 13 September 1924, Page 7

DAVIS CUP FINAL

AUSTRALIA TWO DOWil IN OPENING OA^ES PATTERSON OVERWHELMED BY TILDEN RICHARDS MASTERS WOODS IN FAST MATCH Australia lost both singles matches on the opening day of the final Davis Cup contest. Tilden beat Patterson, and Richards Wood. The Americans won in three sets, and neither was extended. Patterson’s well-known weakness, his backhand, left him at Tilden’s mercy once the American struck form. Wood, as usual, fought for every point against Richards, who was both brilliant and accurate.

TILDEN THE MASTER PATTERSON OUTCLASSED ATI. OYER IN THREE SETS. Br Telegraph.—Press Assn.—CopyrisVc Australian and N.'Z. Cable Association PHILADELPHIA, September 11. The final challenge games for the Davis Cup between the United. States team and the Australians commenced to-day. The Australians were defeated m both singles games. W. T. Tilden (U.S.A.) defeated G. L. Patterson (Australia), 6—l, 6—2, 6—2. Vincent Richards (U.S'.A.) defeated P. O’Hara Wood (Australia), 6—3, , 6—2, 6—4. I The weather was a contrast from the overpowering heat in which recent Davis Cup matches had been played, and when Patterson and. Tilden began to play there was bright sunshine temi pered with a cool breeze, so much so ! that spectators wore top-coats and : theaters. I TILDEN WARMS UP. I Tilden came from behind to win the | first set after Patterson had won three games with a brilliant service. Then die American broke through, and, by brilliant placements, took the lead. In the next set Tilden was thoroughly warmed up to his work, and began a long-range bombardment of his rivalfe backhand, winning without extending himself. Tilden. while not scoring service aces, was getting his first hall over with such severity, and getting such length to his opponent’s backhand, that Patterson was unable to reach the net and volley. When he attempted a halfvolley Tilden’s pace and cut were so effective that' the Australian’s returns were flat, and he constantly netted. Tn the third set, Tilden played from the back of the court, and made a series of dazzling placements on the side-lines, past Patterson’s backhand. TREMENDOUS DRIVES. Patterson, in the opening set, did not attempt to “belt,” but cut his service. This proved effective, and he amassed 1 a 2-—love lead, breaking through Tilden’s service, I— i. Tilden, like most American tennis players who know Patterson’s style, drove every shot to the Australian’s backI hand, but Patterson won the third game after standing o—3. Tilden won the fourth game after some difficulty, his strokes not working too well. Tilden evened the score to 3—all, breaking through Patterson’s service in the fifth game to love, and winning the sixth game to love on his- own service. His forehand 'drives were tremendous, and in consequence the American again cracked the Australian’s service. CLEARLY SUPERIOR. Patterson’s ground strokes were imperfect, and he found the hall rolling softly off his racquet, while Tilden was getting length and pace into all his Patterson won the ninth “v 0 - 5 service aces. Tilden had little difficulty in clinching the tenth game, which was the most .crucial game and winch went to deuce several times. Patterson, however, made several errore, thus permitting the champion to pull out the game and the set, 6—4 Jlilden was slow in getting started, but his superiority was then clearly evident. THE WEAK POINT. In the second set Tilden continued hammering at the Australian’s backhand unmercifully, and ho was also handling Patterson’s service with the greatest ease, playing a back-court fime, thus making it impossible lor atterson to approach the net. He was beating his opponent at will, although the Australian was working hard and playing good tennis. lilden broke through Patterson’s service twice and led, 4—l. Patterson, rising to great heights, tore through Tilden’s service in the sixth game, to win 4—2, but it was only a temporary spurt, and he succumbed in the next game, losing his service to deuce, and giving the American a preponderant lead. Tilden wo*, the set 6—2, taking the eighth game off his own service. _Roth men played a back-court game in the third Bet, Tilden never coming more than to mid-court, and from there, by driving deeply, compelled the Australian to volley defensively. Patterson made numerous errors, driving wildly or rolling his shots into the net. He missed even those opportunities when he could approach close to the net by outing. Tilden lobbed a few times, but these were earned points for Patterson, who killed them overhead. TILDEN’S COURT-CRAFT. Patterson lost his service in the third game, and this lead Tilden continued to hold. Pattepson was being badly outplayed, not because he was not playing strongly, because as a matter of fact he was getting his best effort in, but because of Tilden’s shrewdly calculated management which forced the Australian into errors, and by hitting to Patterson’s backhand, or by keeping him racing backwards and forwards along the back lino. When Patterson lost bis service in the seventh game the end was in sight, though Patterson fought desperately. Tilden, playing faultlessly, showed the-mastery of his backhand. With but little trajectory his low forehand required nothing less than genius in order to successfully handle it. At the same time Patterson fouqrht right to the very, finish, but Tilden ran out in the eighth game on his own service, winning the set, 6 —2. Following are details of the scoring:— W. T.- Tilden (U.S.A.). —R 9 points, 29 nets, 20 outs, 17 placements, 2 aces, 3 double faults. G. L. Patterson (Australia). 7C points, 32 nets, 33 outs, 13 placements, 6 aoes, 5 double faults.

LIGHTNING SHOTS RICHARDS AT HIS BEST WOOD FIGHTS TO THE END. When the second match began between Vincent Richards (U.S.A.) and P. O’Hara Wood (Australia) the stand, which holds 10,000 spectators, was nearly filled. Richards opened the game wearing a heavy sweater, and served first In the opening eet Wood’s fast pace and splendid placements were at first too much for the youthful New York player, who, however, later found himself, and by brisk volleying and snarp serving won the set. Richards made but few errors, playing a careful, driving game. Richards won the second set mainly by the persistence with which he came to the net, rattling off volley shots which passed the Australian. Wood then made a splendid rally, pushing the American to the utmost, but Richards finally captured the set by terrific drivee past Wood. In the third set Richards froun the front of the court flashed smashing Wileys and cross shots, keeping Wood on his baseline and making frequent •‘kills.” Wood made another splendid rally that all but turned the tide of baittle, winning three straight games before the American could put over a winning game. ACCURATE AND FORCEFUL. Richards, serving. lost the first game. The New Yorker, who is the most outstanding net player in America, compelled Wood to give shots of the greatest length, to prevent the American from approaching the net. Wood amassed a 3—l lead winning ' the earned points by beautifully-calcu-lated line drives that caught the New Yorker decidedly off his pace. Richards’s and forceful playing soon began to count, however, and', cracking Wood’s service in the sixth game, and winning bis own in the seventh game, he fed 4—3. Riohaids demonstrated himself an able backcourt player, and he earned many points with hard forehand drives, shoulder high, that sailed like a bullet back over the net, and were practically unreturnable Wood was still playing accurately, but was nevertheless constantly in difficulties. He lost his service in the eighth game, and Richards led 5—3. Richards was now winning easily. He lobbed every time Wood attempted to run to the net, and kept the Australian running back. Richards worked hard to approach the not every time. His service was hard, and Wood was compelled to return defensively. Richards ran out, winning the set 6—3. WOOD LOSING GROUND. Richards again took the lead in the second sot, breaking through Wood’s service in ,tho third game, has finelybalanced play proving always effective. Wood; like Patterson, was playing well end fighting hard, repeatedly working in handsome placement shots. He was most accurate, but Richards was still more accurate, while the American’s service was also effective, his first serve often being unanswerable. Wood continued to have great difficulty in holding his ser. vice, pulling it out wherever successful only after deuce had been called. Both men engaged in a volleying duel, during whioh each tried to get the other running backwards and forwards to the back of the court. Richards usually ended such issues with a falst forehand drive that whistled through the air and cut into the corner of the court for the winning point. Wood lost his service in the seventh game, and Richards led 5—2. The American now overwhelmed the Australian with brilliant speed from the ground and succeeded in coining to the net more often. He was impassable there, and Wood, fighting to pass him, found himself chocked continuously. Richards won the eighth game and the eet 6—2. A FINE RECOVERY. The third eet developed into an instance whore a defeated man shows that he can fight against defeat to the last pomt, and one oau never tell that he ia beaten until all is over. Wood lost bis service in the first, third, and fifth games, and he appeared as clay in Riohaids's ban do, when the seventh game stood at 2—3, he lost his service, and looked t» lose tbe match, hut he brought the game to deuce, but although losing a point when he had the advantage he. nevertheless won the game. Richards, ■ however, led 5—2. Wood hung on to the match through sheer will.. No shot was too impose sible for him to get, and he was beating Richards point for point. Richards lost his service, and Wood, by winning three games consecutively, appeared to have a chanoo of winning the set if he could break through Richards’s service in the tenth game. Wood had fought bitterly to win his own service in the ninth game. NO WEAK SPOTS. The tenth game found Wood seeking weak spots in Richards’s play, but, this was difficult to do. Nevertheless, til© Australian won alternate points, taking the crucial gam© into deuce, where it gravitated, sometimes Richards, with winning shots by inches, snatching a possible redemption from the Australian. Richards could not be denied, and won the set 6—4. Following are details of the ficor mg;— Vincent Hicbards {U.S.A.): 107 points, 25 nets, 25 outs, 22 placements, 3 aces, 0 double faults. P. O’Hara Wood (Australia): HI points, 39 nets, 40 outs, 26 placements, 2 aces, 2 double faults. AMERICANS NOT PUSHED. The American Press gives both Tilden and Richards credit for not being forced to the limit, and predict that the Davis Cup will probably stay in the United States f or another year.