FRANCE TAKES THE LEAD

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1932, Page 9

FRANCE TAKES THE LEAD

CONTEST FOR THE DAVIS CUP

FIRST TWO SINGLES GAMES WON. DOUBLES WON BY AMERICANS. REMARKABLE SCENE AT AUTENIL. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 6 p.m. Paris, July 30. France leads the United States by two matches to one in the contest for possession of the Davis Cup. Borotra, defeated Vines and . Cochet beat Allison in the first of the singles matches, and the Americans won the doubles. The decision will be reached on the two singles matches remaining to be played. France won the first two singles, Borotra defeating Vines and Cochet defeating Allison. The scores were: Borotra defeated Vines, 6—2, 6—4, G — Cochet defeated Allison, 5—7, v 7- 5, 7—5, 6-2. Vines opened against Borotra, who made lightning replies and broke through, winning the first game amidst enthusiasm. Serving brilliantly, Borotra won the second game. Vines evened at two all, but Borotra, playing the game of his career, then took and kept the lead, mastering Vines’ service and returning the fastest shots. The matches were witnessed by a record crowd at Autenil stadium, including the President and Mr. Dwight Davis. The two sensational matches were played amid an almost ungovernable uproar. Borotra, the veteran, meeting the youngster Vines, noted for his virility and lightning speed, found-form greater than ever his compatriots hoped for. He took services and - drives which defeated every opponent at Wimbledon, exhibited’ wonderful court craft and showed enough vim, dash and fireworks to disturb the American’s equanimity and spoil his winning touch. Vines yvas obviously nervous. Twice he double-faulted in critical games. The second and third sets were played with terrific speed. Borotra, refreshed after a rest, revealed more wonderful strategy, and with victory in sight appeared inspired in spectacular returns. He had to bo ‘assisted from the court, exhausted after the final rally. Cochet was below form for the first set, but outmanoeuvred the American in the second set and, improving in the third and fourth, apparently won as he wanted. Both were spasmodically brilliant.

In the doubles Allison and Van Ryn beat Cochet and Brugnon 6—3, 11—13, 7-—5, 4—6, 6—4. -Twelve thousand were present at the stadium. The Americans, spurred by their previous defeats, started like tornadoes, sprinting to the net, volleying overwhelmingly, and retaining the initiative and compelling their opponents to lob frequently. The play .was faultless up to 2 —o in the second’ game, after which France penetrated Alison’s service. Though Cochet was erratic he held his own in spectacular volleying. At 2—4 he achieved a brilliant succession of interceptions at the net, putting the ball out of reach with unanswerable flicks of the wrist.

Brugnon won his service and led B—7, but Van Ryn, saving splendidly, evened at 10—10. Brugnon’s smashes and Cochet’s sledge-hammer drives won the set. The Americans were somewhat subdued, but they captured the third owing to the apparent temporary casualness ol Cochet. The Frenchmen maintained their initial lead in the fourth. Brugnon, best of the four, made the winning set point with a glorious lob to the base-line. America with a supreme effort in the final led 5 —3. France retorted with 4—5, America winning after brilliant duelling at point (blank range.