LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13996, 31 August 1907, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. THE "DAVIS" CUP.

(Feoh Oue Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 19. Australasia, represented by Messrs N. E. Brookes and A. 'P. Wilding, defeated America, represented by Messrs Beals Wright and Karl .Borh, at Wimbledon 011 Tuosdav in tho preliminary round of tho Davis Cup competition, and will opposo tho British Isles (tho holders) in the challenge round 1 on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday next. Last Sitiirdny, tho opening day of tho competition, ilic Australasian players won the two Single matches set for decision, but 011 Monday they were defeated by America in tho Doubles. This made tho succcm of Australasia necessary in one of the two remaining Singles on' Tuesday in this week, and although Brookes assorted his superiority towards tho end of his match with Behr and eventually won with the greatest ease, they wcro not without their anxious moments; Beals Wright had beaten Wilding, so that tho rubber depended upon tlio match between Brookes and Behr. So much for tho brief summary up to date, now for some detail of tfie respective notches.

On the- owning day, the preliminary round—Australasia versus America—was played, Brookes beating Beals AVriglit, and A P. Wilding defeating Enlir, in the respective Singles. Brookes and Beals Wright arc loft,-handed plaj'ers, and the Australian won by 3 sets to lovo, 6—4, 6—4, . 6—2; America's representative did not appear to bo in very good staying condition, while the open champion played in his usual calm, collected way; tile match lasted 50 minutes in all, and there wero only two douce and vantage games in tho three sols, but some of til-? rallies wero very fine. Tlio contest between Messrs A. F. Wilding and Karl Bohr .followed, and a very close game was seen, Wilding being severely nut to it to conquer Behr in an exciting five-set match, it being " touch and go" all the timo. In tlio end Wilding was victorious, though each niayer won 23 games. The play was 6o hard and closo that it seemed bettor than the match between Brookes and Ecals Wright. > Both men were all over the court, and, writing of Mr Wilding, tJic Daily Telegraph remarks: "Ho is steadier, rather more deadly in driving oft' tho ground, and has the advantage in service. Tho American is at ouco more variable and moro brilliant. He is far bettor overhead, and quicker and surer in volleying, At the start of tho match it, looked as if brilliance were to rule. Mr Bohr began to play a wonderful game." This special account of the contest procoetls: "He made two love —then lost, his ran to 6—l in 12 minutes, and before'Mr Wildin# scorned to Imvo got over his initial i astonishment at the extraordinary pacc of tho play. In this set and all through the match Mr Behr continually used some lovely net, shots. His erces-court volley from the right, _mado almost invariably with precision, is as good a stroke as any in the game. The second sot was nioro even, and tho rain, which had delayed the start of tho match, worried both players for a game or two. Mr Bohr lost, tho first game, his service, but after a long fight equalised by winning the next. At 3-2 Mr Wilding took his opponent's. servico and tho set at. 6—3. The play was not nearly as good hero; thoro were a good many double faults, and each missed a lot of easy shots. Mr Mv's worst, fault, indeed, is a tendency to try and make tho . end ■ of what ought to ho the bes-Lnmng of a rest. But paticnco comos with years, and with it knowledge. Tactics of any high order wero absent from this match. Mr. Behr had begun tho play at a pace no one in tho world—unless it were Mr ■ Wilding-could keep up. Now it began to tell on him, and it was rather through his opponent's mistakes than through his excellence that ho won the third set at 6—3, tho eighth game going to liim aflor Mr Wilding had mado 40—15, and after three advantage points each way, including one from a double fault. In the fourth set it was plain that the American was a good deal 1 done,' while Mr Wilding remained perfectly fit, and ram to 4—l. Then he beeamo less steady; undoubtedly tho extreme slowness of Mr Behr in getting ready for each point had an effect on the New Zcalander's nerves, and Mr Behr made a wonderfully fine effort. Tiie score wont to 4 all, after Mr Wilding lmd licen within a point of 5—3, Five all was called, and then Mr Wilding won a love servico and tho set. at 7—5. The long and. stately circular perambulations in which Mr Behr indulged between the points on his way to position spun out this sot to 30 minutes. Tho fifth set was chiefly notable for tho fact, that Mr Behr won to love two of Mr Wilding's services, and Mr Wilding throo of Mr 'Behr's with the sot at 6—£ At tho last Mr Behr grew very "wild. In tho eighth game ho threw away the easiest of shots, after leading 40—Iovo and lost tlio game. Mr Wilding, on tho other band, had kept plenty in reserve, and did best of all in tlio last few games, when bo bit with greater strength and confidenco thaii at any time, before, The match was a fino one, and in Sipite of Mr Bohr's brijlianco its most notable feature was Mr Wilding's wonderful coolncss and wonderful condition.' After playing 'theso 46 games in an hopr and a-lialf, winning and losing 23, he both looked and was in perfect form for starting at once and doing tho same again. Ho had not 'turned a hair.' Until tho latter part of the match ho hardly found his best game, but this was largely duo to tlio rushing tactics of Mr Behr, who, as long as he oould stay the paco ho himself set. was invinciblo. Neither of tho two used his head very much—and even at 19 a man ought to how far his particular bead is useful to him,' so criticism ia silenced. They may have been right. Criticism, however, cannot pass over Mr Behr's tactics in tlio third and fourth sets. Ho has imitated the precedent sot bore by Mr Clothier, and it is not a good precedent. It is true that in the Stales delay between tho points is common. It is also true that no one wants to bustle a player. But Mr Karl Behr is not naturally slow. He was constantly during play giving himself a lot of extra work and doing it quickly, and most sportsmen will agree that it is one thing to get your breath after a particularly trying rally, and another deliberately to make tho game alow by loafing between the points. There arc many undesirable practices untouched by the rules, and it would be a pity if it becamo necessary to propose a timo-limit .for starting tho next point." Tho Sportsman critic writes: "Bohr and Wilding bad never beforo met. and tho former's groat fight against Brookes in the championships had led to expectations. Behr is essentially a.player of 'possibilities,' and lie ca-mo near doing a very big thing. It was 'fireworks' in tho first'set when this fino young athlete bad Wilding at bay. Ilis energy was tremendous, and the alacrity with which he followed up hie service, and scored from tho return with lightning-like cross-volleys was little short of astonishing. Wilding could make little or nothing of it, but. wisely refrained from tearing himself to pieces to stop the hurricane. Tho sot. went to Behr by 6—l, and Behr paid tho penalty, for the hurricane blow itself out. and it "was a case of 'bellows to mend' in the second set, when Bohr hoeame a. subdued force, and seemed glad _ of an occasional ' breather' ' afforded bv his slow.' deliberate walk preparatory to serving. Wilding won this sot by 6—3. . . . The filth set was big with fate, and ran a curious course. Wilding won the first game, and then followed four love games, Wilding twice winning against Behr's service. It. was _ ' 3 all,' and the strenuous play was having its effect, condition now being of groat account, anil Wilding boing tho fitter man, Tho seventh game was of vital importance, and, unfortunately for Amorica, Bohr faltered and lost it after leading by 40—love. Five times he was within a stroke of game, and once he misled the easiest of snwshes with tho court all to himself. Wilding made .some fine strokes down the side Lines, and kopt his head at a critical'time. This game took him to 4—3. Ho won tho eighth against Behr's service., and then went out at 6—3, the winner of a griat match by three sets to two, the full scores being I—6, 6—3, 3—6, 7—5, 6—3 It will bo seen that each man won 23 games. But on Monday tho American pair, Wright and Bohr, reversed tho result in the lwal roinjcj of the pbwpisnsb.ip, when they

wore -fasten by Brookes and Wilding by Y?" 3 ® 6e ta to love, for they carried off the JJoubles Match in the preliminary competition for tho Davis Cup. Their success is said, to liavo been greatly due to tho inability of Brookes to find his customary Same; throughout he was very weak in his overhead strokes, and he seldom had' an accurate length, Wright and Behr were at times uncertain, but in tho last two sets they played with great, brilliancy, Wright volleying admirably, while Bohr, who "hit I the hardest of the four, was irresistiblo at. the net. Tho Notv Zealander played a good $<une and shoved tlm greatest steadiness; rri? rGsn 't, in favour of America -was: ■Three sets to two, 31 games to 27 (3-6, 10—10, 4—6, 6—2, 6—3). Keen interest was taken in this event. Piny, began at 3.45 p.m.,. and not until two hours later did America succeed in wiunine tho fifth set j* n d tho match. Of this exciting event the Telegraph contains Hie following spccial account: "It started about as disappointingly as a match well could, Messrs Normaji Brookes and Wilding winning the first three games and taking the set easily at 6—3. lliey won it less by their excellence—they were only steady-than by the hopelesg uwbloncss of their opponents. If Mr Beats " right won little that ho could comfortably lose, Mr Karl Bohr seemed never to win anything at. all. Ho was at sea, and did little, while he lost I—3 and 2—4 in the second set. But about this time Mr Wright awoke. All tho timo he had been playing with great energy. Now his phots were not only well meant but effective. Mr Bohr won his service, anct made tho score 4—3. Then c-amo the winning point of the match. Mr .Brookes lost his service, and thereby inspired the other pair with confidencc as well as hope. ]*'quat at 4 all, tlie.y van to 6 all, and then nearly lost by dropping Mr Behr's 6ervii"!. But, playing with positive conviction, they won Mr Wilding's, and, leading always, took the second set at 12— 10, bottling; Mr Wilding's crnieo aeain in the last game. Tho first, set took 13 minutes, but in spite of the great pace of the play the second ran to 42. Here and throughout tho game Mr Wright's ecrvice was magnificent ; very fast, and with plenty of .work on, it was placed with extraordinary accuracy on tho lines and in every unexpected spot of the service court. But ho and Mr Behr lost many points through want of combination. They -were always both taking or both leaving the same shot. Halfway through the second sot Mr Karl Behr stopped throwing games away by wild, weak hits into tho net, and afterwards he continually improved. Yet the pair lost the tlird set at 6—l, Messrs Wright, Wilding, and Behr each dropping a servico game. It was in the fourth set that the American pair settled down to win,'while the chafnpions scented worried and off. their best shots. . Mossm Wright and Behr made splendid use of lobs,, tossing up high ones again and again against the comparatively weak overhead strokes of - Messrs Brookes

and Wilding, and picking up tho returns with -wonderful quickness. But they won on their own overhead and net. play; Mr Behr mado tho most brilliant shots, beating the opposite pair by sheer cleverness; while Mr Wright killed every loose ball, and rushed across for many good ones with complete success. 1 They won the fourth set at 6—2, again ta-king a eervi'eft from each of the champions, and began the last with wonderful energy. • Their first two games were both won to love; again at. I—3 they took a love game .off Mr Wilding's service, and ran out splendid winners at 6—3 in an hour and 50 minutes from tho start. Tho brilliance of Mr Behr in' the last three sets was what turned the balance, but the credit of the match gos3 to Mr Wright. After the first set he was not only good himself, but. was able to inspire his partner. He served' admirably, worked hard, killed brilliantly, and covered a lot of court. Besides hi« cross-net shots, one of tho most excellent parts of Mr, Behr's play is his cleverness in anticipating the direction of Mr Brookee'6 volleys. Yesterday lie tried tho experiment of using his head, and found it answer. Messrs Brookes and Wilding' were steady, and never notably off their game, but they seemed never happy, with neither inspiration nor 'devil'—two potential attributes definitely separable, presumably. Mr Wilding's returns to the service were neither as fast; nor as accurate as usual, and Mr Brookes, though at times 110 bit very hard, was not at his most deadly. There was great cheering at the plucky win. Young America in Jjondori turned up in great strength both of numbers and Toice."

Next day in tho Singles (" DwiglitDavis" Cup, holders tho British Isles) A. F. Wilding: suffered defeat at tho hands of Beals C. Wright, while Norman E. Brookes disposed of Karl Behr. In the earlier event America, beat New Zealand by 3 sets to 1, 25 gamc3 to 19 (6—8,. 6—3, 7—3, 7—5), and Brookes (Australia) won against. Karl Bohr (America.) by 3 sets to 1. 22 games to 13 (4—6, 6—4, 6—l, 6-2). So Australasia won, by 3 matches to 2. and the Challengo Round, will bo played in three clays if tar the closing of this week's mail. Of tho two important games on that day the Sportsman contains tho following account"Karl Behr faced a big ordeal at Wimbledon on Tuesday, anawas beaten by the occasion—and Brookes! The youthful American, who • is only 22, had everybody's sympathy. - It was his first year in tho Dwight-Davis Cup Competition, and he had tho misfortune to play in tho last match of tho preliminary round, upon which everything depended. That was an ordeal in itself, but tho fact of his opponetit being Norman Brookes mado tho situation intense. In tho battlo of temperaments Brookes was an easy first, Ilis stem and resolute features, his absolute imperturbability, tho easo and almost callous coolness with which 110 outpointed I his man, would probably liavo unnerved I any opponent, and with Behr-of the restless disposition and curious mannerismsit was a caso of being overwhelmed. Under tho oircumstanoes, it seemed almost cruel that Bohr's hopee should have been raised by a 6-4 suoooss in tho first set, in which many of his daring tilings camo off. For the mero loss of a set left Brookes quite unruffled. Tho champion began , tho second sot at a walking pace. "All.in good -timo" lie seemed to imply by his placid. calm. At length the good time came, and Brookes's supreme skill, allied as it waa to that wonderful temperament, commanded the situation, Behr •tried hard, and did any amount of work and occasional line things, but Brookes was as stolid as over, and never distressed himself in tho scoring of a single stroke. After 4—l against him in the second set, Behr did well to pull up to 4—5, but when Brookes won at 6—4, 110 gave vent to his disappointment: by slashing a ball amidst tho spectators in tho committee stand. Tho American had no chance after this set, and in the next two won only three games out of 15, Brookes being altogether too clever, and winning the match with scores of 4—6, 6—4, 6—l, 6—2. The reason Brookes had to play, Behr to decide the rubber was tho earlier victory of Beals Wright over Wilding, This was a great match indeed. Prior to the start of play tho Australasian team hold .a lead of two matches to one. Wright's succcss made it "2 all," and incidentally prepared the way for Behr's ordeal. It must hivo been very satisfying to Wright to avongo the defeat Wilding inflicted upon him in tho championship. Then tho American was short of practice, and "tho match waa played in tho rain. Yesterday the conditions—exoept for a worrying sun—wcro ideal, and Wright did a big thing to wear down such a persistent and well-trained player as Wilding, and to win three sets to ono after losing tho first set. Wright's earnestness and strenuous endeavour providsd a fine object-lesson for tho "slack" youth who lias recently been in newspaper nillory. Ho seemed intensely alixious to vindicate himself and shpw that ho is still tho Beals Wright they know in America, and the result of it. all was that he won by lawh tennis' of tho highest order and the best ho has shown in England this year. His intense anxiety to win led him into occasional indiscretions, in the way of ■double faailts—some of which were committed at dramatic momonte—but after the first set lie -was always the cleverer player. Ho was much superior overhead, and was seldom in trouble With Wilding's scrvico, which was a long way below its usual standard, and generally oamo off tho ground at a fairly easy paoe. Wilding seemed to restrain himself too much, whereas tho knowledge that he is ever so mucli better ds an aggressive player should have induced him to " go" for his man, more especially with his" first service. It must- not be assumed that Wilding played badly. As a matter of fact, lie put up a splendid fight against an opponent who was the superior tactician. When Wilding: did lot himself go with that famous halfarm drive of his, ho generally mado a winning stroke, but nothing he did excelled tho brilliant, manner in whioh Wright covered tho net and cross-volleyed. The American's " picking-up" from "apparently impossible positions was at times amazing. It ought to be said that both men accomplished some fine lobbing. After Wright had led by two sots to ono, Wilding made a groat effort to save the match in tho fourth set. Meanwhile tho largo crowd of American visitors gavo Wright every encouragement, and woro roused considerably by the ckciting nature of tho play. Wright led by 3—l, and Subsequently Wilding pulled up to 3-4) after

being five times within a stroko of tlio .goventh game. Wright went, to 5-3. In tlio next game he was within a stroke of match at 40—30, but Wilding- won it after 'vantage twice .in his favour! This ma<lo Wright 5—4, and in the tenth game ho showed traces of nervousnoss, and thrco times served a double fault, once at '' deuce," and twice wlien within a stroke of' match. Four times it was "deuco." and Wilding was loudly cheered on taking the garr.o and making it "5 all." Curiously enough. Wilding followed this great effort by losing a love, game against his service, but. lio fought the last gamp. well. Wright, being twice within a stroke of match before going: out at 7—5. Wright, therefore, won by three sets to one (6—B, 6—3. 6—3, 7—5), and Australasia won tlio preliminary round by thrco matches to two.