VINES AND AUSTIN TO FIGHT OUT TENNIS FINAL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 494, 1 July 1932, Page 1

VINES AND AUSTIN TO FIGHT OUT TENNIS FINAL .

Crawford Gives Poor Showing Against American’s Strong Attack. tUnfted Press Association.—By Electric* Telegraph Copyright.) (Received July 1,12 noon.) LONDON, June 30. The British lawn tennis championships were continued at Wimbledon to-day. The outstanding event of the day was the hollow defeat of Crawford by Vines in the semi-finals of the men's singles. This was the first unseasonable day of the tournament. The courts were slippery after rain, and Crawford played in his socks. Perhaps it was overmuch to expect Crawford to defeat such a fire-eating hitter as Vines, who was in top form, but nobody was prepared for such a debacle. The Australian never once appeared to have a chance, his strokes looking feeble in comparison with Vines’s. Crawford was below form, but it is question able whether, even at his best, he could have withstood such a penetrating attack. An all-American women's final is now assured by Mrs Wills-Moody’s easy defeat of the plucky Birmingham girl, Mary Heeley, who soon became helpless against he relentless champion.

Dpman and Madame Sigart had a .i-over against Vines and Mrs Helen • ills-Moody, who scratched. Mrs ' ody was indisposed, and desired to >id a strain, in view of the women’s al to-morrow, results : Men's Singles. (Semi-final.) «nes (U.S.A.) beat Crawford (Aus- } -lia). 6-2. 6-1. 6-3. H. W. Austin (England) beat T -oh (Japan), 7-5, 6-2, 6-1. Women's Singles. (Semi-final.) Miss Helen Jacobs beat Mme ! Mathieu. 7-5, 6-1. Mrs Helen Wills-Moody (U.S.A.) beat ! !iss Heeley (England). 6-2, 6-0. Mixed Doubles. (Fifth round.) Maier and Miss Ryan beat Spence and Miss Betty Xuthall, 6-4, 7-5. Cochet and Mrs Whittingstall beat Andrews and Miss Stammers, 6-2, 6-S, 5-4. Brugnon and Mme. Mathieu beat and Mrs Crawford, 7-5, 3-6, 3-3. Women's Doubles. (Fourth Round.) Mile. Payot and Miss Thomas beat frs Shepherd-Barron and Mrs King holders), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Four different nations were represented in the semi-finals of the men’s < hampionship singles by Vines (U.S.A.). Austin (England). Satoh (Japan) and Crawford (Australia', and now Vines

and Austin will fight it out for the title. H. Ellsworth Vines, the brilliant young Californian, will undoubtedly be favourite. Vines is a great hitter, who does his best to sweep his opponent off the court by the sheer power of his j strokes. Ilis service is a particularly tine attacking weapon; he seems to be able to score aces with it whenever they are most needed. His greatest 1 asset is his coolness and self-control in . a crisis, together with a power of con- : eentration reminiscent of Tilden. ! Crawford, who is a temperamental ! and uncertain player, evidently could [do nothing against him. The Aus- ' tralian’s defeat was expected, as he had been l>eaten by the American ! earlier in a Davis Cup match. Austin may fare better and restore the championship title to England; it has not been held by that country ; since 1909, when A. W. Gore was triumphant. Austin, however, has not the stamina or the dash of Vines, j though his defeats on successive days • j of Shields and Satoh must give his i friends confidence and hope. j A remarkable feature of the cham- ’ ■ pionship this year is that for the first i time in almost a decade no. Frenchman reached even the quarter-finals. France i held the championship continuously ; ; from 1924 to 1929. r j With the defeat of Crawford and ’ ; Airs Crawford, and of Andrews and Miss Stammers in the doubles championship Hopman is the only repre- • sentative of Australia and New Zea- ; land left with a chance of top honours. He and Mme. Sigart were fortunate • 1 enough to have a walk-over against 5 Vines and Mrs Moody.