THE DAVIS CUP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1615, 5 December 1912, Page 5

THE DAVIS CUP.

DETAILS OF THE PLAY. HOW BROOKES WAS BEATEN. CONTEST BETWEEN METHODS. (From the "Argus.") I Melbourne, November 29. The Diivis Cup contest for the lawn tennis championship of the world, between the- holders, Australasia, and the British Isles, who are the challengers, opened disastrously for tire home team on Thursday, at the Albert Ground, St. Kilda Road. _ Tho sensation of the day 'was the downfall of N. E. Brookes, the champion of Australasia, who has been regarded as the leading player of tho world for the lasl two or three years. The weather was warm, but not distressingly hot, and the court appeared to be as near perfection as possible. It was .well covered with grass, but was so close cut and well rolled as to give as fust and true a. surface' us could bo desired. A stiff northerly wind blew across the ground during tho afternoon, but the court itself was well protected by the high surrounding stands. There was nothing in the conditions, therefore, to afford an excuse for tho failure/ of Brookes, and all credit is due to J. C. Parke, the Irish, champion, for his great performance. He was certainly the better man on the day. The captain of the British Isles team (C. P. Dixon) announced on Wednesday that ho proposed to stand down for the "natch, because he was.not satisfied with the form lie had been able to strike since his arrival in Melbourne, but tho other members of tho visiting team did not agree with him, and they succeeded in talking him round on Wednesday evening. Dixon, consequently, intimated yesterday morning that he would exercise Ins riglit to substitute himself for A. E. Beamish in the singles. He met Heath at the conclusion of the match, between Brookes ' and Parke, and won by three sets to one, after a stirring, bard-hitting encounter. The Englishman fully justified his inclusion, as Heath was in excellent 'form. Tho greatest enthusiasm was displayed iby the spectators during the two matches, applause being bestowed 'freely upon the success of the visitors in a most sportsmanlike manner. The crowd wns, indeed, finite unable to contain itself during some of the best rallies of the day, and at times every .stroke was accompanied with - cheers, which rose and fell as tho rallies progressed. The umpire pleaded more than once that the applause should be restrained until the completion of eacb rally, biit it was in vain. The keenness with which the matches were followed also took the form of loud and frank criticisms .of some of the umpire's decisions on the part of many spectators. Play Begins. The two British representatives, Parke and Beamish, came on to the court a quarter of an hour before time, and had ft few hits at practice. Brookes arrived on the court a few minutes later,, and was received with enthusiastic ' cheers. Parke then went in for a rub down, and tho Victorian had a knock-up with Beamish, while he w-aited. ' Parke was also Riven an- ovation when he reappeared.Brookes had worn a.long and heavy dress-ing-coat on to the court, which, he placed at the umpire's box. Parke was dressed Unostentatiously. His only decoration was a tiny sprig of shamrock, pinned to his shirt front. The match was umpired by Mr. C. G. Hammond, the lines bein» takn by Messrs. H. Wimpole, E. Werfcheim, H. Malcolm, S. F. Diddams, J. C. Blair, P.. E. Whitehead, H. Martin, W. Sproule/ G. Olivier, and' T. E. Grigson. Sir. P. B. Colquhoun .acted as referee. Brookes spun his racket, which is the tennis player's substitute for tossing a coin, and Parke called "rough." It was Bmootb, and the Victorian took the service. . Parke elected to start at the south end, against the wind. Brookes started serving at 10 minutes to 2 o'clock, and won the first frame with the loss of only ono .stroke—<a. fine back-hand drive across the court, which the Victorian could not reach at the net. They changed, and .Parke lost his first service game'to'love. In the third, Brookes received the benefit nf what looked like a false. decision on* the side lines, and purposely hit the next ball out. But this was the only stroke the Irishman won in the game. Brookes therefore led at 3—o, having lost only two points in the three games. Even at this early stage of the game it was apparent that the. match was to resolve itself into a contest between the modern volleying methods of Brookes and the base-line driving of Parke. The latter had started nervously, while Brookes was ploying" with quiet confidence. In the fourth game, however, Parke began to find liis length,, and from this stage to the end he gave'an exhibition of driving, both forehand and backhand, such as has probably never, been seen before in Melbourne. It was. perhaps, not quite as spectacular as the performance of P. B. Alexander, the American, against Brookes, in the 1908 Davic Cup match, in Melbourne, but it was certainly' sounder. Alexander, moreover, went to the net moro frequently. Parke relied almost entirely upon, his ability to pass Brookes on the net with his ground strokes. As toon as he got into tho paco of the court he simply revelled in it. Brookes, on the other hand, seemed to find thte lawn rather fast for him, and ,he repeatedly misstimed his drive. . A'Succession of Fine Drives. In the fourth sjarae Brookes seemed inclined to stay away from the net for a rest, but it became at once apparent that Parke could beat him easily at this pame. Tho visitor scored his first game with a succession of fine drives; which Brookes was quite unable to cope with on the base line. Brookes, following his servo to the net, took the next gamo on his service, and with 4—l called against him Parke looked'quite out of it. However, the Irishman was improving rapidly, and he won the next three games in dashing etyle, his driving down the side lines and across the court being almost perfect in its accuracy. He passed his opponent so frequently on the net that Brookes again tried standing back on the Irishman's service, but he was even worse off there than on the net. H.is own ground strokes lacked pace, and left Parke always in the b?st position.' At 4 all *ach man had scored exactly the same number of points. Brookes then won his service, after a deuce game; but Parke did the same on his.service, and 5 all was called. Each man again won his service game; then at 6 all and 15—30 the Victorian broke down on his service, and sent down two double faults. 'With 7—6 in his favour. Parks threw off his hat, as if for a. special effort, but merely opened with a. double fault. The next few sfrokes produced several due rallies, in which Brcokes's masterful volleying was more than once pierced by his opponent's brilliant driving. At de.nce the Victorian drove the service weakly into the net, and the next serve from Parke, which came unexpectedly fast, beat him altogether. Parke thus pulled off the set at B—6. winning 46 strokes to 42. The fet lasted half an hour. Tho majority of the spectators probably did not regard this loss as of tmy. great significance, but the keenest followere of the game among them were already experiencing some anxiety. Brookes, ' ther know, had not lost the firrt spt of a match for years. Even Beals Wright irad A. "P. Wilding, the onlv men to bent him in big matches since 190f>. had triumphed only during a prolonged match, when his stamina had fa'led him. .And on c<\ch of these occasions Brookes had won the first two sets with ease. The Victorian's play, moreover, was by no means reassuring , in tho second set. whioh Parke won with the loss of only three eames. The third set opened with the Victorian looking very much like n beaten men. , Parko rah awny with the first three games, playing right over tho Victorian a'nd hardly making a. mistake. Brookes rarely <:ncce«ded in winning n outright. The floetfnoted Irishman wo<* iretting to everything. <\nd either <irivin.tr so haul and low at his qnnonpnt.th.nt ho could not do JMivHiin" with the,ball, or passing him brilliantly down the side lines. Brookes, for his part, seemed to lve matins: the mistake of hitti"? his volfevs too- softly, thus neriirittins Pa''';e to make manv wonderful twoverics. It wns remarkable, too, that PorVe ?eomod to find Brookos's once fpiTOi'-striking service quito easy to take. Excited Onlookers, ■ Tho owd had, Brown ,a Uttle nliun at Lkbja.tt&asKb&'dßS. <uugusKl4r decided that

tlie defeat of the ohampion was inevitable. Jrookes was looking tired and pain and his feet dragged ominously. Ho walked slowly about the court between the strokes, too, as if ho felt the need of conserving every ounce of energy he possessed. Parka was red-taced nnd hot, but as quick-footed and dashing as when he started. Then suddenly Brookes began to sparkle. Somehiug of the old dush which had earned him the reputation of the greatest server in the world seemed to conio back to' his services, and he won the fourth gamo with two magnificent deliveries, winch Parke cuuld make nothing off. The crowd, eager to catch at any straw, wakened up and cheered encouragingly. But Parke drew the cheers to himself by taking the. next game, securing the lead at 4—l. Love—lo was. called against Brookes on his next service, but, amid recurring cheers, ho made the score deuce. The Irishman, however, was irrepressible, and he took the next two. strokes and tho game. Then Brookes cuine with a great ,run, which roused the crowd to a remarkable pitch of excitement. Getting in closer the not, hitting his volleys harder, and taking much greater'risks than before, he pulled up game after Same. Tho spectators simply yelled with joy. They began to call out advice to Brookes, whispering hoarsely to lei balls go, or yelling commands to go for. others which he seemed inclined to leave alone. Parke struggled bravely, but he could not keep Brookes off, and tho Victorian won the set at 7—5. '■' • The effort left Brookes exhausted for the fourth set, howbver, and Parke, still playing finely, again went to the lead after 2—all had been called. Hβ won the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth game in rapid succession, principally with brilliant driving, which his tired opponent made desperate but unsuccessful efforts to smother on tho net, and took tho set at G—2. - The crowd, recognising the full merit of his great performance, cheered for several minute's. Dixon rushed on to the court the moment the last stroke—a magnificent backhand drive across the court, which beat Brookes all the way—was made, and patted the Irishman enthusiastically on the back. As he left the arena a section of the spectators followed him with enthusiastic.cheering to the dressing-room. Results:J. C. Parke (British Isles) defeated N. E. Brookes (Australasia), B—6, G—3, 5—7, 6-2. C. P. Dixon (British Isles) defeated R.' W. Heatb (Australasia), 5-7, 6-i, 6-4, G-4. ANALYSIS OP STROKES. PARKE (B.I.) v. BROOKES (Aust.). •' First Set. Parke 1,0,2,G,3,4,4,4{3,5,1,4,4,5-46 (8) Brookes .... 4,4,4,1,5,1,2,0,5,3,4,2,1,3-42 (6) Second Set. Parke 2,5,4,0,3,7,7,5,4-43 (6) Brookes 4,3,2,4,5,5,9,3,2-37.(3) Third Set. Parke 4,4,4,4,4,5,2,2,2,3,2,4-40 (5) Brookes 2,1,2,0,1,3,4,4,4,5,4,6-42 (7) Fourth Set. Parke 5,12,5,2,4,6,4,6-44 (6) Brookes 3,14,3,4,0,4,0,4—32 (2) DIXON (B.I.) v. HEATH (Aust.). First Set. Dixon. 8,4,4,3,1,4,4,4,2,6,1,2-43 (5) Heath 0,6,2,5,4,1,1,2,4,8,4,4—47 (7) Second Set. Dixon ' 6,4,1,4,4,4,6,1,4,4-38 (G) Heath .' 4,1,4,2,0,0,8,4,1,0-30 (4) Third Set. Dixon. ;....'. 4,4,3,6,2,0,4,4,6,4—37'(6) Heath 1,1,5,4,4,4,1,0,4,2-32 (4) ! Fourth Set. Dixon 0,4,3,0,4,4,4,0,5,5-35 (6) Heath 1 ...........; : 4,1,5,4,0,2,2,4,7,3-32 (4) Totals. , British Isles—2 matches, 6 sets, 48 games, 320 aces, Australasia—o matches, 2 sets, 37 games, 294 aces. \ .Brookes won 14 service games- and , lost 8; Parke-won 17 service games and lost 4; Heath won 9 service' games and lost 12 j Dixon won 11 service games and lost 12, THE DOUBLES. A GREAT GAME BY DUNLOP. i ■ MASTERFUL PLAY. Melbourne, November 29. There was a great crowd at the Albert Ground to-day, when the. doubles game etarted at 3 o'clock. . ■ ; '.; Though the match lasted barely; -anhour, it was so full of stirring rallies that the crowd could hardly grumble at its shortness. The match was turely the double' of Dunlop'6 life, for he excelled himself. To say that he stood out, even above Brookes, who himself was in great form, is p> pay the popular "Alf" as high a compliment as one . very well could. But there will be few who saw to-day's match who will not say that on this occasion he very thoroughly deserved it. His play was masterful from beginning to ead. He was first to get into bis 6tnde, and he never dropped it-through the three brilliant sets. At the net he was nearly always the dominating factor in the many exchanges which took place, and his driving of- both the Englishmen's services was remarkably consistent. Dunlop's tossing was also accurate almost to the point of perfection, while from the first game to' the last he never missed ,pn« emash overhead, and,' what is more, • he killed them outright, too. ' " . ' The play was of a high standard, all round, being characterised by clean, hard hitting, and remarkably Jittle lobbing. Brookes started the match badly with a number of weak strokes, but lie warmed to the game later on, and was seen with nearly all, if hot quite all, his old 6kill. That he did not outshine his partner was due to'the brillianco of Dunlop, and not to any failing on tho part of Brookes. The four players, Brookes, Dunlop, Parke, and Beamish, came on to the court punctually at 3 o'clock, and were given a most hearty reception, and Parke; as on tho previous day, wore a sprig of shamrock on his breast. . Just Over. Brookes nearly lost his service through some bad .volleying, but pulled it out of tho fire after having 15-— lO called against him. This game was marked by one magnificent rally at the net, the ball darting from side to side with lightning speed, while the crowd cheered all the time. Beamish also took his service thi3 time, but Dunlop did. the same, and so the Victorians led at 5—3. . The Irishman did his part by scoring on his service. Once more Brookes served at 5—4, and he was playing with, great keenness. . '"Bad luck; only just over,'' he said to his partner as Beamish drove the last ball back-hand across the court an. inch beyond the line at deuce. Parke missed the next, and then Beamish drove Brookes's serve high back from the left-hand corner. "Out," yelled Dualop as his partner seemed to shape to hit tho ball. Brookes dropped his racket, and the Victorians took the first set. This set had lasted twenty minutes, but the next took only ten. Beamish opened with the service against the wind, and won the game, but it was the end of tho Englishmen. Their opponents, playing with confidence, ran right over them for the next six games, the visitors never even reaching the deuce in one of them. Brookes was now driving like himself, with tho old lift, which made the ball dive so suddenly that neither Parke nor Beamish could volley it with any degree of certainty. The champion also broughi off several fine halfvolley lobs in the way that he alone can Brookes had the service for the third set, and won it with the assistance of-a couple of brilliant strokes from his partner, one being a particularly fine smash from well back on the court, .which neither of the Englishmen could reach. There were several quick exchanges during tho next game, which the Englishmen, straining every nerve, carried off-after. deuce had been reached. Englishmen Nonplussed. The visitors, quite naturally, appeared to bo somewhat worried by the strength and consistency of their opponents' game, ami they changed ends on the servico to see if it* would give them any better luck. Beamish, who liad been lagging behind his partner a little, came with quito a sensational run of strokes at this stage,, his back-hand driving being particularly severe, and it was chiefly through his agency that tho Englishmen weroableto catcli i)UHlop's service game which followed, This gave them a lead of 2—l, but they could not hold the advantage BJHiuist tho superiority of the Viotorians. The latter wore always too good on the jsoHay, f orm^

ing an almost impenetrable stonewall on. .j tho net from which oven the most bril- ' liant of tho visitor's drives came back the .. ] faster. ' j Beamish, who was improving every . ; gamH, now again won his service, and ;• equalised tho score at 3 all. The seventh : i game of tho set roused the spectators to ! a wild pitch of enthusiasm. It opened '■.•: with a prolonged rally, which started with ' a quiet exchange of volleys, and soon be- ; came a succession of dazzling shots. ■.; It was Dunlop's serve, and as he follow- '■'} ed his first delivery to the net Parko .-. : ; drove hard at his toe 3. The Victorian : . ; volleyed it back rather high, and Parke, ~; running in after his drive in his charac- : i tt'i'istic way, smashed tho ball back hard; \ and Dunlop, with a delightful low back- '•'■, hajid volley, again picked up the ball, j and Parke smashed it back again hard at f. , ] the Victorian's tees. Dunlop, to the ac- .j companiment of cheer after, cheer from j the excited crowd, returned them with': i 'perfectly-executed low volleys; but the j Englishman followed with a perfect storm. .;i of smashing shots. But, though driven '■'■' almost to his knees, the Victorian each ] time flicked the ball back-magnificently ' ■[ amidst renewed cheering from the on- ■ ; lookers. • . ■ : Then Brookes was dragged into-it, and M for several strokes the four'were all at it '■: hammer and tongs.' At last Parke was . i driven back out of position, but,with a ; wonderful recovery shot he banged the j ball down the skto lines, and -won tne '■•; stroke. . It was some moments before the . > applause abated sufficiently .for the nni- , ■■'.■!'■ pire to announce tho.score and allow the j game to continue. . ■ ' .': Parke and Beamish took this game, ana 1 so led' at 4—3; but, though * they tried • i hard to hold their advantage, the Victor- i ians again went to the front with the next i two gnnios. Parke, with his faco burning ' J red, and his lips sot tight, was fighting ' i for all he know,,and twice made wonder- '.-' ful recoveries with back-hand volleys. ' 1 Both Brookes and Dunlop were taking no -.1 undue risks at this stage, and whenever !i they found themselves in a bad position. ' ", they lobbed. . .'■ i| The Englishmen once more equalised ."> the score at 4 all. Dunlop, grunting hard, J as he always doss in the third set—and ' sometimes even in the first —still managed J to pull off his service game. Parke and i Beamish made a great effort to catch up .'. ' ', again after having love—3o called against ■ ..' them. At deuce, Parke and Brookes en- j gaged in a delightful little duel with' j cross-court shots from Parke's back-hand -A to Brookes'e tore-hand, the ball.skimming- : .j almost parallel to the net from side lfau . \ to side. line. ...... ■. ■' I Brookes Ends the' Battle. ■ Brookes ended it by suddenly turnina -i and driving one straight at Beamish, '• which the latter very pardonably hit into j the'stand with a wild wave of his racket ! in self-defence. ••■...■; With "advantage" in their favour, - : Brookes and Dunlop lobbed.- Beamish ..-.-': negotiated the first two, and then driven . .'■' ; to desperation he let go at; the third, and | hit it well out of the back-line. Dunlop ■'■ threw his racket impulsively in the air, \ and the crowd gave cheers for the winners ' and cheers for the losers. : ..- It was a brilliant match,. won'. by the j superior volleying'and combined "play of. ' the two Victorians,-notwithstanding the ■ many fine shots their opponents made.' ' ~ ) Subsequently Lowe, the emergency man : of the British team, and A. B. Jones, of Sydney, the Australasian fourth 'string, i played, an exhibition game, and Jones i won easily. . Results:— ■ .' Brookes and Dunlop (Australasia). beat '■ Parke and Beamish (British Isles), o—4, 6—l, 7—5. ~-..-. .'...,.;. .■'■■'.• Analysis of strokes:—. ..:. .. \ ■':'■'-. First Set. .' ■' .' ! Australasia-3, 4, 4, 4, 0, 5, I, i, 0, S—SO ; . (6). : - . ■; British Isles—s, 2, 1, 2, i, 3, i, 0, i, 3-2S ■ (•!)• ' ,■:."'■ ■ \ Second' Set.' ' ; ' Australasia-3, 4, i, i, 4,4,1-27 (G). ; British Isles-5, 2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 2-13 (1), : Third Set. : ■ 3, 2, 6, 5, 3, 2, 4, 4, 2, i, S ..'.■ -44 (7). ■ j British Isles-1, 5, i, 4, 3, 5, i, 2, 2, i, 2, 3-39 (5). ■'.•- v, .!; ; . Totals. » Australasia—l rubber, 3 sets, 19 games, 101 aces. ■ British Islesr-10 games, 80 aces. : ■Brookes won seven service games and ' lost none; Dunlop won five service games and lost two; Parke won. three service games, and lost five; Beamish won five service games and lost two. ' Brookes served one double fault, Dun- ; lop none, Parke three, and Beamish ■ i three. - ___■ '- ' ; :: DIXON THINKS BRITAIN WILL . ; HOLD THE COT. ■ '' ) By. Telegraph.—Press Association— Copyright '. ■-■■■ ■■} ■'- ■ ';• ■ •'-■;' ;'■ Sydney, December 4. : Mr. Dixon, captain of the British Davis ; Cup team, thinks that. Brookes's form was equal to his best days. He considers that England has distinctlv a good chance i of retaining the Cup against all-comers , ; , next June at the contests at Wimbledon. .', !