AMERICA—TWO UP

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12549, 11 September 1926, Page 8

AMERICA —TWO UP

DAVIS CUP CHALLENGE MATCH FRENCHMEN BEATEN IN SINGLES TILDEN MAGNIFICENT By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PHILADELPHIA, September 9. The following is tb© result of the two opening singles matohes of the Davis Cu/p challenge round between the United States and France: W. M. Johnston (U.S.A.) beat Rene Laobst© (France), 6—o, 6 —4, o—6,0 —6, 6—o. W. T. Tilden (U.-9.A.) defeated Jean Borotra, (France), 6—2, 6—3, 6—3. Johnston, whom James Anderson (Australia) l\as alone beaten in sis years in the challenge round play ot the Davis Cup, conquered Rene Laooste (France) in a spectacular match before a gallery of 9000 people. With powerful forehand drives he frequently threw the Frenchman Alt of position, and later at the net he returned the ball with sharply-angled volleys. In the first set, Johnston’s powerful forehand drives made him aji easy victor. Lacoste played indolently, and made the mistake of attempting to meet the Californian at the base-line game, and Johnston re. ' peatedly caught Lacoste out of position with cross-court shots. The second set saw the Frenchman’s game still dull an,d erratic, while his .service was seldom effective, whereas Johnston’s had been exceedingly accurate. Johnston* began to find the net towards the end of the set, upon which Lacoste began to play with more confidence. JOHNSTON DROPS A SET

In the third aet Lacoiste played a vastly different game, being both daring and accurate. Johnston appeared to bo tired, and was completely outplayed. "With the hot sun baking the courts Johnston threw his racquet away dis gustedly as the Frenchman ran out the winner of a love set. Jjacoste found a weakness in Johnston’s backhand, and hammered it, while the American’s forehand became inaccurate, and he was guilty of many errors. Lacoete then. repeatedly defeated Johnston with a mixture of deep drives, and short cross-court drops. It was apparent in the fourth set that all Johnston had needed was a rest, and ho reversed his procedure entirely. Ho went, to mid-court an*\ took Lacosto’s drives to the backhand with half-volleys, which completely routed tlie Frenchman. Lacoste in turn grew inaccurate and disconsolate, while Johnston stroked beautifully and placed his shots with great precision repeatedly catching L&costo out of position.

TILDEN MAKES THE PACE Starting off at a dazzling pace, Tilden rakea the corners with deadly drives, and very early ran up a substantial lead. Borotra vainly attempted to tide© up & position at the net, and battled at every point sensationally. In the first set Tilden was too accurate for Borotra, but the Frenchman brought the crowd to its feet with amazing “gets.** Tilden had his can-non-ball service working well. Borotra was hard pressed to handle it, and he became inaccurate, while his forehand game from deep court was ineffective. Tilden mixed his chops with hard drives down the side lines, and let Borotra beat himself. During many desperate rallies, Borotra played some of the greatest tennis ever seen in Davis Cup contests. In the second set Borotra went into the lead, but Tilden’s chops soon turned the tide, and his smashing service aces and placements defeated the Frenchman.

It took Tilden only 15 more minutes in the third set to finish the match. He won the first game on Borotra’s errors, and then tossed away three in a row*, as Borotra put everything he had into a series of brilliant shots, but it was but a brief rally. Both players dripped with perspiration, and Borotra wrung the water from * his Basque cap. Once the Frenchman put such an effort into tiding for an impossible return that ho slid on his stomach for several feet. Tilden’s steadiness got Borotra into trouble after this, and the Frenchman’s net errors finally gave Tilden the game and the match. Tilden played better tennis than he had in several previous Davis Chip matches. THE DOUBLES TEAM In the doubles on Friday, R. N. Williams and Vincent Richards (U.S.A.) will meet Henri Cochet and Jacques Brugnon (France).