DAVIS CUP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20108, 15 May 1935, Page 5

DAVIS CUP

AUSTRALIA v. NEW ZEALAND United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 13. In the doubles match of the Davis Cup tie series between New Zealand and Australia, which was played at Eastbourne to-day, J. H. Crawford and A. K. Quist (Australia) beat A. C. Stedman and C. E, Malfroy (New Zealand), 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. The weather was cold and dull. The attendance was fair but was below that on Saturday. The Play Described The Australians captured Malfroy's openinlg service. The Australians’ unanswerable smashing from the New Zealanders’ uncertain lobs gave the Australians a lead of 4-0. Then Malfroy, who for the second time aced Crawford, won his service. Malfroy’s neat cross-court backhand drive gave New Zealand the sixth game, but Quist’s excellent volleying and smashing enabled Australia easily to take the set. . While the Australians were more aggressive, the New Zealanders defended stoutly. Stedman’s driving improved and his service became stronger.

The games in the second set followed the service until 3-3. Then Crawford twice double-faulted, giving the New Zealanders the lead which Stedman’s service increased to 5-3. Malfroy held his service and the New Zealanders deservedly won the set. Crawford’s bad patch continued into the third set, but Quist's fierce smashing, plus several impetuous errors by Stedman and volleying lapses by Malfroy, gave the Australians the set. The New Zealanders were unable to hold their net positions. Unable to steer their returns out of Quist’s devastating reach, the New Zealanders were soon 1-3 behind in the fourth set. Then Malfroy captured his own service and Quist missed two successive volleys, equalising the games at 3-3. The score ran to 4-3 in New Zealand’s favour when Stedman's forehand drive down the line left Quist standing. Crawford decisively took his own service and the Australians went ahead to 5-4 as a result of subtle volleys. Quist clinched the set, match and tie for Australia with a smash.

Quist’s Brilliance The Australian Press Association comments that Quist was easily the best of the four players to-day. He rarely had a lapse from his sustained smashing and reliable, firm low volleying. Crawford was decidedly patchy. The New Zealanders’ display in the first set was extremely poor but afterwards they fought hard under the handicap of inability to establish themselves at the net, nor had they the capacity for decisive volleying when they got there. Both frequently broke down on easy drives. They were not sufficiently versatile to threaten the Australians. Comment On Play. Mr Wallis Myers, in ’’The Daily Telegraph,” commenting on the Davis Cup doubles says that although the Australians were never in peril the figures hardly do justice to the New Zealanders’ sturdy resistance. Malfroy was as sparkling as ever. Considering his limited repertoire of doubles strokes, Stedman did nobly. “The Sketch" says that Quist appeared to be the finest smasher, and one of the best volleyers in the world. His terrific attack broke up the formation of the New Zealanders, who made a great mistake in concentrating on him.