TENNIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18190, 11 September 1933, Page 8

TENNIS

U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS A Lb-E BIT! I ill FINAL

CRAWFORD AND PERRY (Elec. Tel. Copyrighl —-United Pit;.;- Ashn.) FOREST I3IRLS. Srpt. 9. In (lie souii (inalm of (lie. United Stales tennis championship today, Horry defeated Stouten, 6—5, 6—2, 6—2; Crawford defeat oil Shields, 7—5, 6 4, 6- -3. The Now York Herald-Tribune, in a loader headed, "An All l.’rilish Filial, hinds Ihe victories of Ferry and Crawford. It says the British Empire has regained its old pre-war supremacy through the, brilliant play of Horry and Crawford. Outside a few snperpalriots and those extraordinary directors of American tennis policy who seem to view the amateur game as a very grim business, there will he only general applause at the. results. For the coiinoisour, no player, in recent years, has risen to equal Crawford in interest, for the subtlety and finesse ol liis shots and the ease with which they are produced gives an impression of effortlessness that conceals his extraordinary craftsmanship. History is repealing. itself, for Crawford is a worthy successor to the great Norman Brookes who made tennis history in these parts years ago.

Ellsworth Vines, despite his failure to reach the quarter finals in defence of the. national championship, a*nd his reluctance thus far to commit himself to a professional contract, is expected to follow the lead of Co diet and turn professional before the end of the, year. It is authoritatively understood, despite denials, that Vines has agreed to talk over definite terms soon to join Tilden in a tour.

CRAW FUR ITS SUCCESS Crawford stood -3—o to win his service in the first game against Shields to-day, only to have the game, deuced He, however., pulled it out 5—3. Shields won the second game on. an almost linreturnable service. It appeared that Crawford would have been contented to i trade ground strokes with his opponent, whereas Shields was always a. not stunner and made every hid to entice the Australian into tin* forecourt :u order to volley past him. The Australian used a Job when possible, but not with much success, due to the American's height. The Australian chiefly depended upon the great length which he gave to his drives and his accuracy. They both lost their service, Crawford taking the sixth to love and Shields the seventh. 4—2. They were both netting and outing. The Australian had a had fall in the eighth in trying.to get back to one of Shields’ overhead smashes. After that, he limped noticeably. The Forest Hills courts this year are notoriously rough. The. end came in the twelfth game, when Crawford returned each of Shields’ four services with a fine chop, and his opponent netted the returns. Crawford won four games to love in this set. In the second set, with the games 3—3, the Australian lapsed into errors and netted .Shields’ returns from his service continuously, lie dropped behind to 3—4. but the Australian accounted for Shields’ delivery in the next and the score became 4 A. The American came, within a. point of breaking the Australian’s services in the next game, but Crawford then displayed bis full versatility. His flat cut drives worked perfectly and compelled Shields to run lip to the net. He smashed with strength and ‘precision, and ho even got after Shields’ deep lobs with astonishing niinhleness.' He won the. game and the lead 5 —3. Shields served two double, faults and netted twice in the next game (o give the Australian victory. SRECTA TOR S THR ILLE R .In file, third set Shields was within a. point of losing his service in the sixth game but. as in his first display, showed really bravura, tennis that left the Australian flat-footed. Ho retrieved bis position, but was unable to maintain Hie pace. Crawford’s stroking was like clockwork and bis precision and extraordinary timing sense made bis playing w'ollnigli perfect. Since the days of; Tilden, Cachet, La Ooste and Shimidsif, Aniericans bad not seen swell tennis as the Australian produced. He achieved the necessary break in Shield’s service in the eighth and won the final game, to love. He walked off the courts placidly sucking half a lemon, while the largest crowd that had over seen a tennis mulch in America, probably 20,000—extra, grandstands having been erected on the stadium couri—cheered and hurled tlicir sent cushions in the air. Perry, hammering! Sleiefen's backhand, the hitter’s weakest spot, broke through Stoofen’s service in the eighth game to give, him (he first set on Iris, own service. In (lie second set the American proved no match for the Englishman. With the score 5 -1 Perry had allowed Sloefen only nine points. Although tho Englishman lapsed into error A in his service game, namely the eighth. Stoofen’s backhand was -so continuously had that he was unable to win when victory was almost handed h> him. His debacle in (lie final set was even more complete. Perry for the past, two days has been playing at the top of Lis form with a. smoothness and ease that will make him,! if if be maintained to-morrow, one of the, most formidable finalists in the history , of Hie national singles. With Craw- J ford's and Perry's victories it will be an all British final and it will be the first time an Australian lias been competing for the honor. WOMEN’S CONTESTS MISS RIDLEY'S SUCCESS I’ll I I.ADERRII lA. Kept. p. Miss .loan Ridley (England) and Miss Alice Francis (of Orange, New York), won the Middle (Stales women’s doubles championship, defeating Miss Aline Huge (of Marion) and Miss Cecilia Beige] (Philadelphia'), !>- 7, (i— 1. Miss Ridley won ihe singles championship. defeating .Miss Francis (New .tersev), (i—2, <>—2.