SHOCK TACTICS

Southland Times, Issue 22075, 24 July 1933, Page 7

SHOCK TACTICS

SENSATIONAL TENNIS ENGLISHMEN OUTPLAY AMERICANS INTERZONE FINAL (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Paris, July 21. The interzone final of the Davis Cup was commenced to-day, when in the singles Austin (England) defeated Vines (United States) and Perry (England) defeated Allison (United States). England’s sensational straight _ set wins were the result of both Englishmen playing the games of their careers, driving and smashing their way to victory without giving their opponents a chance to recover from their shock tactics. The results were: Austin defeated Vines, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4. Perry defeated Allison, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. Austin v. Vines. The matches were played in stifling weather before a small attendance. Vines, playing with a strapped ankle, won his service in the first set. Austin then sensationally took six games in succession, achieving brilliant strokes and forcing Vines by angles to come halfway up the court, and then skilfully passing him. Vines failed to overwhelm the Englishman with fierce forehand drives and became rattled. He did not attempt to save a hopeless position in the last game, double faulting twice in succession. Vines crashed over a terrific service of aces in the second game in the second set to level, 1-1, but the Englishman again won his own service and broke through Vines’s for 3-1 and the lead. The Americans, who were expecting a comeback, were dumbfounded when Austin took the fifth.

Vines, again double faulting in the sixth, enabled Austin to _ lead, 5-1. Vines tried a change of tactics of slowing his pace, but was still inaccurate and lost the set, 1-6. Austin opened confidently in the third set, capturing Vines’s service. The American then settled down to a dour game. Lobbing admirably he began to find his volleying touch and strengthened his service to lead, 2-1. Austin won a sternly-contested fourth game after nine deuces and continued to lead, 5-3. He was within two points of the match when Vines, by a tremendous effort, serving cannonballs, reduced the lead, 5-4. Austin then won his service amid tremendous cheering. The match lasted only 67 minutes. Perry v. Allison. Perry also opened sensationally, breaking Allison’s service to love, and went to 4-1 amid inexplicable protestations from the spectators, which the umpire sharply suppressed. Allison, like Vines, was over-driving. Perry was easily superior, and won the set in ten minutes.

Allison led 3-1 in the second set as the result of good volleying. Perry recovered with shrewd placements and crisp volleys. A grim duel developed at 4-4. Perry’s fine volleying enabled him to forge ahead, 6-5. He then broke Allison’s service to love, executing remarkable kills and forcing the pace tremendously.

Perry led, 3-1, in the third set, and then became erratic. Allison levelled at 4-4 with two aces, but Perry recovered and won the set and the match after two match points. The Manchester Guardian says that the British success was not due to staggering tennis, so much as to the American failure to appreciate the conditions of the remarkably slow court. Vines played so shockingly that only nerves were accountable. Allison was not much better. The French are elated as they prefer to meet Britain in the final. DOUBLES TO - AMERICA - DEFINITE SUPERIORITY. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) Paris, July 22. In the doubles in the Davis Cup interzone final Lott and Van Ryn (America) defeated Perry and Hughes B—6, 6—4, 6—l. In sweltering heat Hughes began the service. There were many spectacular volleys and duels in the early games. Britain were generally superior and despite Van Ryn’s fine driving and recoveries led 5—3. Hughes dropped his service, losing the set point and the Americans came with a run. Smashing powerfully and combining perfectly they levelled the score at 5—5, then winning eight points in succession they captured Perry’s service. Britain then levelled the score, the

Americans missing two sitters. Thereafter Van Ryn, who was the best man on the court, was chiefly responsible for the Americans taking the set. Britain started the second set hesitatingly, being overwhelmed by the Americans’ superiority, overhead. Perry had five deuces before winning his service, evening the games at 2—2. The Americans led 5—4, 40 —30 on Perry’s service. Hughes with a terrific smash reached deuce, then the linesman miscalled a ball out, giving the Americans the advantage. The Britishers took the decision laughingly, but the crowd demonstrated. Lott threw away the next point and Britain took the game, but Lott with magnificent services, which were a feature of the match, clinched the set. In the third set the Americans consistently found holes in the British defence and assisted by Van Ryn’s volleys and Lott’s devastating services and greater strength in all departments, won comparatively easily, although the Britons fought gamely. VINES BELOW FORM FRENCH CRITICS’ VIEWS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Paris, July 21. The critics agree that Vines played below his form, and that he was obviously stale. Austin proved a better stroke player, and a clever strategist generally. He handled Vines’s service well. Perry and Allison were better matched, but the American could not compare with the Englishman’s agility and decisiveness at the net or with his overhead work. GREECE ELIMINATED NEXT YEAR’S (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Copenhagen, July 21. Denmark eliminated Greece by four matches to one from the 1934 Davis Cup.