DAVIS CUP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19861, 26 July 1934, Page 9

DAVIS CUP

PLAY IN INTER-ZONE FINAL AMERICA LEADS AUSTRALIA United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright LONDON, July 24. The second series of singles of the inter-zone final of the Davis Cup contest between Australia and the United States were started at Wimbledon today.

S. B. Wood (U.S.A.) was leading J. B. Crawford (Australia) 6-3, 9-7, when rain • caused a postponement of play until to-morrow.

Though heavy rain fell early in the afternoon, the tarpaulins were removed from the centre court and play was commenced at 3.30. The officials refused to allow Wood to wear spikes. The games were 2-2 when further rain caused over an hour’s delay. Upon the resumption of play, Crawford was not as accurate as formerly, allowing Wood to take the set at 6-3. Wood gave an excellent all-round display in the second set, producing his fastest services. Crawford’s shortish returns gave Wood the opportunity to make winning drives. Crawford fought to a 5-4 lead, but after another interruption owing to rain, the American won the set. A heavy downpour at 6.20 p.m. caused postponement of play until to-morrow. H. C. Hopman says that rain dealt Australian tennis almost as unfortunate a blow as it did to cricket, the repeated stoppages upsetting Crawford’s consistency, allowing Wood, who was a quicker starter, to overhaul several vital advantages that Crawford held at the cessations of play.