TENNIS CONTEST

Southland Times, Issue 25341, 20 July 1935, Page 5

TENNIS CONTEST

ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA. CRAWFORD BEATS PERRY. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, July 18. A three-day tennis match has begun at Eastbourne between England and Australia on Davis Cup lines. Results: J. H. Crawford (Australia) defeated F. J. Perry (England) 6-0, 6-4, 8-10, 6-2. H. W. Austin (England) defeated V. B. McGrath (Australia), 7-5, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2. Crawford's form was sound enough, but Perry’s was so unbelievably bad that the Australian had merely to allow the champion to continue the process of beating himself. Crawford won the first set in eight minutes and led 3-0 in the second before Perry played a stroke worthy of a Wimbledon champion. Perry then made a strong effort to recover command, but he was too late to save the set. By a great uphill fight Perry took the third set, but after that he was in no condition to stand against Crawford, who took the final set for the match. It was an astonishingly easy win. Austin and McGrath provided a close struggle. McGrath’s serving and volleying were superior, but Austin’s great consistency and excellent ground strokes gave him the victory. COMMENT ON PERRY’S FORM. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 12.15 a.m.) London, July 19. Mr Wallis Myers, writing in the Daily Telegraph, says: “His Eastbourne form does not mean that Perry will play the same at Wimbledon where he has previously produced centre court regenerations. The best Perry emerges on the right day. Nevertheless Crawford staged a game which even the best Perry would have difficulty in subduing. It was the Crawford of our dreams.”