THE DAVIS CUP

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19010, 29 July 1933, Page 5

THE DAVIS CUP

THE SINGLES MATCHES FIRST BLOOD TO BRITAIN. - \ ... .. • MERLIN AND COCHET DEFEATED). AUSTIN WINS IN STRAIGHT SETS. ' United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright, (Received July 29, 8.45 a.m.) PARIS, July 28. In the Davis Cup challenge round, England won the first two singles. Austin defeated Merlin, 6—3, 6—4, 6 O. Perpy defeated Cochet, B—lo, 64, B—6, 3—‘6,. 6—l. PLAY DESCRIBED. • AUSTIN IRRESISTIBLE. EASY VICTIORY OVER MERLIN. PERRY’S. SPLENDID FORM. United Press Assn. —Elec. .Tel. Copyright, (Received July 29, 10.55 a.m.) PARIS, July 28. The weather was exceedingly, hot, and Austin and Merlin, both attired in white shorts, appeared on the court in the presence of an enormous crowd. The Frenchman delighted the orow'd. 'by winning the first game to love, but Austin, who was serving oleanly and driving accurately down both, sidelines and deep into the corners, compelled Merlin to run vigorously, and reached a 4—l lead. Showing generally superior tennis Austin took the first set, with 28 winners to Merlin’s 19. ' .

Austin gave Merlin few chances in ~ the seoond set. ' Th’e Frenchman tried coming to the net, but when oircum-. vented by means of passing shots he returned to the base line. Austin led 4 — o, and then had a bad patch, vol- ; leying weakly, serving doubles, netting and over-driving, scoring only four points in four games and thus enabling Merlin to draw level. Austin, unperturbed by the French enthusiasm, regained control, frequently catohing. Merlin yards out of position and passing him. He won the set brilliantly* Ausfln was Irresistible in the third v set, producing strokes with fine precision and scoring by means of drives across the court and keeping rallies going by allowing Merlin, who was erratio, to .present him with points^ The fourth game went to seven deuces but thereafter. Merlin went to pieces and Austin ran out an easy winner. \ Perry’s Splendid .Form. j.’ (Received July 29, 12.10 p.m.)' PARIS, July 28. Cochet, also playing in white shorts# began aggressively against Perry, establishing a 4—l lead. The Englishman then volleying finely and passing his opponent, equalled the score, after which there was a fine game-for-game struggle. Perry had set point against him at 5—6, but saved with, a net cord eventually, losing the set after a grand fight. Perry went to a 2—o lead in the second set, but Cochet, whose game was more fiery than at any other time , • during the season, took four successive games reaching 4—2. The crowd was in ecstasy.. Then Perry - rallied with equal magnificence. Hitting with great vigour and volleying . dashingly he won four games in a row to take the set in masterly style. Cochet led 2—o in the third set. Perry, fighting tigerlshly, evened at 2 —2, and the Englishman made another great effort. When down 3—5, and 15—40, he saved the game and went ahead at 6—5, to 7 —6 and set. The set was full of. exciting incidents. The crowd was . thrilled though it sobered when Perry won the set from a seemingly impossible position. Cochet was showing signs of strain after two hours’ play, but the ten minutes rest after the third set enabled his revival. He returned again to show himself one of’the subtlest players in the world, winning five games in succession in the fourth set after Perry led 3—l. Tile Frenchman, however, was obviously tiring in the fifth set. Perry was playing harder tennis and Cochet was run to a standstill and unable to' reach the Englishman’s . swift,.'wide drives to the corners. Cochet lost live games 'and then won his own service. He saved the match point in the seventh game before Perry, with a terrific smash, ended the match.