CRAWFORD'S WIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 492, 29 June 1932, Page 1

CRAWFORD'S WIN.

Beats English Davis Cup Player. i AUSTRALIAN OUSTS PERRY. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received June 29, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 28. At Wimbledon the weather was fine and warm when the Americans, Shields, Vines and Wood, the Englishmen, Perry and Austin, the Spaniard Maier, the Japanese Satoh and the Australian Crawford battled for the right to enter the semi-finals. Crawford drove beautifully and also used an incisive backhand. The Australian was slightly superior in finding the corners. Perry attacked in the third set, which he won in fifteen minutes, but after brilliant driving exchanges in the fourth set Crawford was victorious. Satoh took the initiative and surprisingly eliminated the title-holder, Wood, who repeatedly missed easy strokes. The centre courts were packed and there* was not even standing room. Tremendous Impression. From the consolation singles to the quarter-final of the championship the Australians won all along the line today. Crawford’s victory naturally created a tremendous impression, for the critics say that Perry, w*ho disputes with Austin the title of England's best player, was at the top of his form. Nevertheless, Crawford called the pace almost throughout by his exhibition of superb driving, uncanny placements and remarkable sense of anticipation. At no time was the result a foregone conclusion, for Perry seems to possess all the strokes, and made many remarkable recoveries. Perry was more severe overhead than Crawford, the depth, angle and speed of whose drives kept him from the net, but he fought a great uphill fight, especially saving four match points. Few Lapses. Crawford’s artistic display had relatively few lapses. Mercifully he was a different Crawford from yesterday’s. It may be doubted if he has ever given such a sustained exhibition of strong j and accurate driving. If Perry made ; any tactical error it was his frequent j concentration on the Australian’s back- j hand, which never worked more re- j liablv or aggressively. The decisive [ factor was Crawford’s ability on the | whole to go a little nearer the corners i of the baselines with his drives, for 1 Perry gave as good as he received, with j all but the Australian’s very best strokes. A similar exhibition against Vines on Thursday might place him in the final, but the question is whether his finesse will neutralise the ferocity of the American’s strokes. Brilliant All Round. 1- lushed with his singles victory, Crawford remained at the peak of his form in the mixed doubles, in which he unexpectedly eliminated Allison and Miss Jacobs in straight sets, racing away with the first. Great credit is due to Mrs Crawford for standing up heroically to Allison’s powerful service.

Indeed she played admirably throughout. Allison’s form was patchy, and Miss Jacobs missed many sitters, but the Australians’ tactics played an important part, for when Mrs Crawford was serving' to Allison Crawford adopted the tandem formation and prevented

backhand. Crawford was brilliant all j round, and his wife’s passing shots often , left the Americans standing. Results:— Men’s Singles. fQuarter Finals.) J. C. Crawford defeated Perrv, 7-5, 8-6, • 8-6. 8-6. Satoh beat Wood. 7-5, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. Vines beat Maier, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. Austin beat Shields, 6-1, 9-7, 5-7, 6-1. Mixed Doubles. (Third Round.) Cochet and Mrs Whittingstall beat Malfroy and Mrs Heelev, 7-5, 6-4. Crawford and Mrs Crawford beat Allison and Miss Jacobs, 6-0. 6-4. Clemenger and Mrs Coveil beat Hughes and Mrs Shepherd-Barron, 3-6, 6-3, 6r4. Fourth Round. Andrews and Miss Stammers beat Mangin and Miss Palfrey, 6-4, 6-4. Austin, in eliminating Shields, consistently produced flowing drives, and did not allow the American to take the initiative. He thus gained his revenge for his last year’s defeat. Consolation Singles. Kehrling beat Malfroy, 6-2, 6-3.