Davis Cup Retained

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 727, 29 July 1929, Page 9

Davis Cup Retained

FRANCE DEFEATS AMERICA Three Matches to Two FINE PLAY IN FINAL SINGLES (United P.A.—Jiy Telegraph — Copy-rig ft •' > (Australian and A.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received 12.55 p.m. PARIS, Sunday. PRANCE successfully resisted America's challenge for the * Davis Cup, winning by three matches to two. The Frenchmen's victories were all in the singles. America won one singles and the doubles match.

Even though everyone realised that Cochet would again clinch the Davis Cup for France, it was a tense day, the more so when the dashing, resourceful Tilden conquered the tired Borotra.

TILDEN BEATS BOROTRA Tilden beat Borotra, 4 —6, 6—l. 6—4, 7—5.

After the first set Tilden began his head-work. His mighty slams spoiled Borotra’s acrobatic volleying, and made him run from side to side in pursuit of lightning drives. He gradually wore down the Frenchman. COCHET OUTCLASSES LOTT Cochet beat Lott, 6—l, 3—6, 6—o, 6—3. Cochet’s win against Lott was child’s play. The champion had a sluggish spell in the second set. Yet, cool as Lott kept, excellent as his drives and services were and his sureness on back hand, Cochet played him like an angler, and took eight successive games. Cochet returned seemingly unplayable shots and lobbed with great accuracy. His cross-court drives were disconcerting. BOROTRA BEATS LOTT Borotra (France) beat Lott (United States), 6—l, 3 —6, 6 —4, 7—5. Borotra’s agility was the deciding factor against Lott. The Frenchman took the first set in next to no time, but when Lott lost his initial nervousness he gave as good as he got. The American had the advantage in service, and also made much use of a cunning slice, which frequently made his shots certain winners. Borotra, however, was never driven from the net, where he was most effective. Lott displayed extraordinary tenacity in the second set, but the third was the crux of the match. Borotra began badly and lost his service. The

vast crowd was exceedinly excited. At four games all the Frenchman speeded up, and completely outmanoeuvred Lott, whose backhand drives failed at critical moments. In the final set Borotra concentrated on an early break through, and led 2—o. But he was beginning to tire. Lott seized his chance and aimed his service and return shots cunningly at Borotra’s feet, and thus gained the lead at 4 —3. But a final assault on the American's back-hand and superlative volleying by Borotra won him lour games in succession, ending in a love game, to win the match. COCHET DEFEATS TILDEN Cochet (France) beat Tilden (United States), 6—3, 6 —l, 6—2. In the contest between Cochet and Tilden the American began with can-non-ball strokes and incredible retrieves, but Cochet returned everything with the utmost nonchalance. The Frenchman increased the pace in the second set. when Tilden seemed to be outclassed, whereas Cochet was faultless. Tilden was erratic, and the result was never in doubt. It was all over in 50 minutes. It is not complimentary to Cochet to say that Tilden was playing badly. He was playing well enough to show form worthy of a champion, unlike his display at Wimbledon. Tilden did not miss easy balls, but when he essayed a promising stroke he found that his opponent, with effortless ease, reduced it to futility. Tilden’s mind appeared to be an opeu book to Cochet. The American tried every variation of strategy and stroke, but failed to shake the Frenchman’s confidence and heart-breaking accuracy. AMERICANS WIN DOUBLES Allison and Van Ryn (United States) heat Cochet and Borotra, 6 —l, S —6, 6 —4.