DAVIS CUP CONTEST.

West Coast Times, 2 December 1912, Page 2

DAVIS CUP CONTEST.

WON BY ENGLAND. PARKE AND BROOKES IN GREAT FORM. SCENE OF GREAT ENTHUSIASM. I [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] MELBOURNE, Nov. 30. There were ten thousand present to witness the final rounds of the Davis Cup contests, including Sir John Fuller (Governor of Victoria). The courts were in splendid condition. The British Isles won one. of the Singles matches and thus wrested the Davis Cup from the holders, by three matches to two. Results: Norman E. Brookes (Australasia) beat C. P. Dixon (British Isles), 6—2, G—4, G—4. J. C. Parko (British Isles) beat Rod D. Heath (Australasia) G —3, G—4, G—4.

BROOKES v. DIXON, First Set.

Dixon won the toss from' Brookes and commenced with two double faults. The next three balls, Brookes hit out over the base line, but the Australian won the next three acts and the game. Brookes served and won the first shot but was beaten by Dixon with a beautiful cross-court return. Fifteen all. Dixon brought the score to 30—15 with a lucky net corner. Dixon took the next three strokes and the game. Ho won his service to fifteen. Brookes did the same and the scores road two —all. Dixon lost his service game to love, although the first ace was contested in long rally, bat eventually he lost the game by a double fault. Brookes followed with a double fault, but picked up the game and won the game to thirty, with a perfect service right across and on the side line. Tho board read 4—2, Brookes leads. Dixon’s next service provided some good rallies, Brookes eventually winning. The Australian i next won his service, taking tho set 6—2 and finishing with a shot—a perfect low volley into the far uorner of tna court. The Second Set. Brookes won Dixon’s service to fifteen, then his own, finishing the game with the same perfect serve down tho middle line, leaving Dixon standing. Brookes won the next three games and Dixon won his first game, i two fine serves into the corners not being returned. Brookes took the next ] semco (after advantage to server had been called) with some lovely drives. Dixon followed with a good effort and won tho service to love after some exceptionally fine volleying at the net. Brookes lost tho service, Dixon pulling up from 40—30 against Dixon by a splendid passing shot from a difficult angle. Dixon won the next two strokes and tho game. The score:—4—2, Brookes leads. Dixon’s service was fiercely contested. He won from 30—40, at which stage Brookes tried to win tho set outright by a fierce drive to tho base line, which went out. Brookes won his service to fifteen' and the game. Then the set without incident by 6—4. The Third Round. Beginning tho third set, Brookes took Dixon’s serve after deuce had been called. Then he lost his own, Dixon winning two clever lobs. Dixon took his own service, after douce had been called three times. Dixon appeared stronger at this stage and the eighth game was tho best contested of the match. Brookes serving, quickly reached- 30—love, when Dixon with two drives brought tho scores to 30—all. Brookes left a ball which looked to be going out, hut it fell on the line. Score: 30—40, Dixon leads. Brookes made a splendid recovery and brought tho score to deuce. Dixon got tho vantage of the deuce and vantage to server was next called. Dixon made it douce again with a fine slow passing shot. He next had vantage. After several more vantages to each, Dixon got tho vantage and tho game and the score stood 4—all. Twenty-six aces were contested in that game. Dixon lobbed persistently and well and critics opined that if he had adopted similar tactics earlier in the match he might have troubled Brookes in the first two sets. In the next game, Dixon serving, Brookes put more pace into his shots. Dixon played some fine overhead work. At the sixth game, Brookes got 30—all, in his own service, his magnificent serves on the middle lino breaking away from Dixon s forehand. Some lino work was shown in the next two strokes, both going to Brookes, who won tho set (5—4 and tho match.

Brookes was a different player from Thursday. Ho showed more pace, his length, driving and volleying lining uu to his true form. On the day, Dixon was in no match .form. PARKES v. HEATH. The First Set.

In his match against Parke, Heath was looked upon as defending the Cup but ho proved unworthy of the trust. Ho started hy Ipsing Ins first serve to fifteen. Parke made a beautiful passing shot when Heath came to the net. Parko won his service to fifteen aft*-i- some lino driving on both sides from hack corner to cprnor. Heath won his service to thirty, Parko taking; the next game, winning tluj final shot. Parko won tho next game an.l tho score road 4—l, Parko leads. Heath won two games in succession, hut Parko recovered and took the set, 6—J). The Second Set. Heath won the first game of the second set. 't here was a sensational incident when the score was vantage to scorer. Whijo a good rally was in progicss an excited spectator shrieked as the hall landed a toot inside the hack lino. Parko, thinking that tho umpire had called, did not attempt to take Heath’s return. Heath offered to play tho ball again, but Parke refused and was loudly cheered for his sportsmanship. Parke easily won tho set G—4.

The Third Set. Pnrko won the next set by equally lino play) (J—l, and the Britishers won the Gnp. Heath offered fine resistance to a belter man. There was groat enthusiasm. Dixon (tho British captain) sprang iutp tho court, and embraced and kissed Parke. It is doubtful if any player-has shi wn such consistent excellence as P.-rko has done. In his last four mrU-hes on his present form he is unhea table. Final Scares: Britain, won 3 matches, 9 sets, 80 games. Australasia, won 2 matches, 8 scs, 8o games. THE RIVAL CAPTAINS. THE ENGLISHMAN. Charles P. Dixon, horn 7th February,- 1873. Tiie subject of this sketch, although in tho ranks of the veterans, is said to he a greater player now than at any time during' his career. He first distinguished himself at Wimbledon moro than eleven years ago, for in 1901 he reached the final of the AIIOomers’ Singles to, he beaten by Gore. A decade passed, and again almost qualified for tho challenge round, but Roper.

Barrett stood in the way, although Dixon won the first and second sets. Prior to the championship last June ho decided to take a fortnight’s spell from Singles, with disastrous results, for in the third round llitchie beat him, 6—4, 7—5, 6—o. Some 'recompense came from Dixon, for, with Barrett, he captured the Champion Doubles. The pair defeated Parke-Beamish in the final by three sets to two after the latter pair had accounted for WildingDoust to the same tune. In the challenge round the French holders, De-cugis-Gobert, were defeated, 3—6, 6—3, 6—4, 7—5. Dixon did his full share of the hard work. Has represented England in Davis Cup contests 1909,' 1911, 1912. In 1911 ho attained great fame hy almost beating Lamed, thescore being two sets all and 5—2, and Dixon loading. It was during this match that the American spectators forgot . about-the courtesy due to a visitor, arid jeered and yelled at Dixon when he was making his strokes, with a view to putting him off his game. Dixon and Beamish won the doubles against Littlo-Bundy in straight sets. In this season’s preliminary tie against France Dixon gave a masterly display, for ho heat Dccugis, 6—3, 6—2, 6—4, and. Cohort, 4—6, 6—4, 6—-2, 6—3. Dixon and Barrett beat Gohert-Laurente in the Doubles, 3—6, 6—4, 6—l, 6—l. Dixon, A. H. Lowe, and Mavrogordato | formed tlie famous trio who were selected to visit Australia in 1910, hut were , | turned down hy the Australians as not good enough, and remember that A. H. Lowe is superior to F. G. Lowe, now in Australia, and Marvo is at the top of the English tree. Dixon holds the distinction of having beaten A. F. Wilding in their last two engagements —at Surbiton (Surrey) in 1911, and at Stockholm last May. During the recent season in England Dixon won several county and local championships, including Surrey, Middlesex. Worthing, Folks tone, and East Surrey. His more serious engagements against Brookes and Heath this week are attracted world-wide interest in lawntennis circles. Dixon is an expert golf player, and intends to beat Brookes at that game if ho cannot Jo so in tennis.

NORMAN BROOKES. Norman H. Brookes, born 1877, selector and captain of the Australasian team, is not only known to tennis enthusiasts bnt to devotees of many other brandies of sport. Dr. W. V. Eaves, the once-celebrated Australian player, is credited with teaching Brookes most of what he knows about tennis. It is hardly necessary to go through the remarkable career of Brooks to impress readers with his great abilities as a player. Ho has been champion of Victoria for five times, and he could have retained the title on other occasions if he had competed. Won South Australian Championship in iSOfi, and Australasia in 1911. At Wimbleton in 1'907 won All-oomers, hut was beaten by H. L. Doherty-in the challenge round in straight sets. Won All-com-ers and Championship (by default) in 1907, also Mixed with Mrs Hillyard, and Men’s Doubles Championship with A. F. Wilding. Won many other big events in England. Represented Aus-tralia-New Zealand 1903', 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910,, 1911, and last week. In 1900 was beaten by Beals Wright 12— » 1.0, 5—7, 12—10, 6—4, and by Lamed 14—12, 6—o, 6—3, and lost Doubles with Dunlop. In 1907 heat Wright in straight sets, also Behr, but lost Doubles. Against England beat Goto and Barrett, both in straight sets, but lost Doubles. In 1908 heat Alexander by three sets to 2, but was again beaten by Wright 6-0, 6-5, 6-7, 2-6, 1012. Won Doubles. In 1909 beat both M’Loughlin and Long in straight sets, and won Doubles, In 1911 bent Wright 3 sets to one, and M’Loughlin; 3 sets to 2, and won Doubles. In 1909-10 saw Brookes lose, the Victorian Championship to Wilding, and two years later he was beaten by another New Zealandor. H. A. Parker, in Sydney. Like C. P. Dixon, is a famous golfer, and was runner-up in the Victorian Champion, ship.

PREVIOUS WINNERS 1900 (Cup instituted). —America (IV, D. Whitman, Dwight Davis [donor of the cup] and Halcomb Ward) beat British Isles (A. W. Gore, E. D. Black and 11. Hoper Bomiett) by tliree matches to nil.

1902.—America (W. A. Lamed, M. D. WJiitnian, and H. Ward) beat British Isles (U. F. and H. L. Doherty, and Dr. J. Pint), by three matches to two.

ISJo3,—British Isles (R. F. and H. L. Dohorty) bent America (W. A. Lamed, H. D. W.renn, and G. L. Wrenn), by four matches to one.

1901.—British Isles (Doherty Bros., and F. L. if iseiy) heat Belgium (Lemaine and de Borman) by five matches to nil. France also challenged, but were beaten by Belgium by three mate-lies to two.

1903.—British Isles '(Doherty Brothers and S. H. Smith) heat America (W. A. Lamed, 11. Ward, Beals Wright and W. J. Clothier) hy five matches to nil. Tliat year Australasia (Norman K. Brookes, Anthony Wilding and W, A.-Dunlop), Franco and Austria! also challenged. America beat France five matches to nil; Australasia heat Austria, live matches to nil; and in the second preliminary, America heat Australasia hy five games to nil, and thus qualified to meet the British Isles in the challenge round. 1906.—British Isles (Doherty Brothers and S. H. Smith) heat America (K. D. Little and Halcomhe Ward) hy five matches to nil. Australasia, France and Austria also challenged, hut the two last-named -withdrew, and America lieat Australasia (A.F. Wilding and L. O. S. Poidevin) hy throe matches to two in the preliminary tie.

1907, ; Australasi- (N. E. Brookes and A. P. Wilding) boat British Isles (A.W. Gore and Roper Bonnet) by three matches to two. America also challenged, and were beaten by Australasia in the preliminary tie by three matches to two.

1903,—Australasia (N. E. Brookes, and A. F, Wilding) heat America (F. B. Alexander and Beals Wright) by ■throe matches to two. British Ides (J. C .Parke and M. J. G. Ritchie) also challenged, hut were vanquished in the preliminary tie by America by four matches to one.

. 1909.—Australasia (N. E. Brookesand A. F. Wilding) bent America (Maurice MoLouglilin and M. IT. Long) by five matches to nil. British Isles (C. P. Dixon, J. C. Parke, and W. G. Crawley) also challenged, hut' were defeated hv America by five matches to nil.

1911.—Australasia (N. E. Brookes, W. A. Dunlop and R. D. Heath) beat America (W. A. Lamed. Maurice MeT/iiighlin and Beals C. Wright) by'five matches to nil. British Isles and South Africa also challenged. Tho latter withdrew and British Ides (O. P. Dixon, A. E. Beamish arid A. H. Lowe) were defeated by America by four matches to one.

1912.—British Isles (J. C. Parke, C. P. Dixon and A. El Beamish) heat Australasia (N. E, Brookes, A. W. Dunlop, and R. D, Heath) by throe matches to two. France (Decugis, Cohort and Laurents) also challenged, hut were beaten by British Isles in the preliminary tie hy three matches to nil.