AUSTRALIA STARTS WELL

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1934, Page 5

AUSTRALIA STARTS WELL

DAVIS CUP TENNIS MATCH

U.S.A. LOSES BOTH SINGLES

CRAWFORD’S STRAIGHT WIN McGrath surprises wood By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 3.30 p.m. London, July 22. Australia has made a good start in the inter-zone final of the Davis Cup tennis competition against the United States, winning the first two singles yesterday. -The matches resulted:— Crawford beat Shields, 6—l, 6—2, 12—10; McGrath beat Wood, 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 9-7. Probably alphabetical priority accounted for the otherwise ominous fact that the American flag was flown above the Australian on the Wimbledon Club’s flagstaff. It was an oppressive and thundery day. The centre court was pathetically piebald with the baselines and the greater part ox the forecourts bare. The attendance was wretched. Crawford took the first three games with delightful placements, deadly driving and plucky volleying. Shields, with a burst of cannonball services, won the fourth game but Crawford took the set in eleven minutes.

In the second set Crawford returned Shield’s fiercest drives with unfailing accuracy and completely dominated the American. >

Th the third and last set there was more sting in the American’s game, and he led 7—6. He fell (his fourth fall in the match) when running for a lob, and this helped Crawford to break through after the American had led 40—love. The service pendulum was restored until two brilliant cross-court strokes on the return of service let Crawford break through in the 21st game. He won the next game and the match on his own service.

McGrath and Wood began in an atmosphere of cathedral quietness, because each was testing the other’s strength.. It was noticeable that McGrath s service had become much stronger. He broke through Wood’s service to establish a 6—5, lead, and then held his own excel-, lently for the set. McGrath’s aggression non-plussed Wood, and the Australian went to s—l. He then lapsed to 5—4, but took the set on his service without the loss of a point. In the third set Wood repeatedly aced the Australian, who seemed to have lost all his earlier dash. McGrath also began badly in the fourth set, giving Wood a handy 5—2 lead. He suddenly recovered, and drew level. McGrath’s weakness overhead frittered away a chance of winning the match when he led 7—6, but after losing two match points in the 16th game he finally broke through and obtained a surprising win.