THE DAVIS CUP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1619, 10 December 1912, Page 6

THE DAVIS CUP.

DIXON V, BROOKES. GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE my. Describing the singles games for the Davis Cuij, played between Dixon (England) anil Brookes (Australia), 011 Saturday, November 30, the Jlelbourno "Argus" says-.— The British captain, won the toss, and opened with two double faults from the northern end, but though ho won the next three stroke? ho lost tho game. Both men were loose at starting. Tho Englishman was without a hat, despite tho fact that there was a summer sun in the sky. Ho sent both his serve!; down at. equal pace, apparently determined to givo Brookes nothing soft to hit. Tho Victorian lost his first service game, too, and as Dixon scored tho next easily, lie had the lead at 2—l. Brookes began to givo a tasto of the fine form 110 was to display throughout the rest of the match in tho following game, which ho won on his service to love. He then carried off tho next nine games by delightful play, which tlie visitor was quite unablo to withstand. Brookes was directing his serve almost invariably to his opponent's back-hand, and Dixon tried continually to run found them, so that ho could utilise his terrific fore-liand drive. But as the Victorian was mostly making his serve break in from left to right, the ball followed Dixon round iu a maimer which repeatedly made it impossible for him to deliver his drive with proper freedom. Often, when serving from the left into the right-hand corner, Brookes was thus able to make Dixon run back fully five or six yards outside the side-line; the ball curling after him the further the Englishman backed away, from it, and when the return came all that Brookes had to do was to volley it quietly info the other corner. Occasionally, too, he caught his opponent with a ripping serve' straight down tho centre line. Towards the end of the set, which tho Victorian won at G—2, Dixon sent for his hat, as ha was evidently finding the. sun too hot for him. Even Brookes had been, forced to abandon his old grey cap for a wider-brimmed white cricket hat. Dixon is not a man who often, looks happy on the court. He seems to wear invariably a worriod, and almost haggard, , expression, as if . forced into a disagreeable task, which he is determined to go through with against any fate. He lost his service game again opening the second set. Brookes continued his victorious run, going to 4—love, despite the desperate efforts which his opponent was now making. Dixon's Unabated Energy. In the fifth game the Englishman earned hearty applause—the crowd was so happy at the tine showing of the Victorian champion that it Was quite prepared to give its cheers to the plucky, but forlorn-looking, efforts of his opjjonent—by at last putting a stop to the Victorian's winning sequence of games. Brookes, however, was playing irresistibly, and lie went, to s—l by scoring his service game again. Most other men would have abandoned the set at this stage, and conserved their energy for a final • effort in the third sot. But Dixon would not give up. Dripping with perspiration, jolted and shaken by liis desperate , efforts to follow his opponent's short, cross-court shots, he yet started serving in the seventh game with uuabated energy. Several flue services, backed up by beautiful low volleying, gave him the game to love-sji'The. Englishman followed this success carrying off the next two games also. Allowing himself to-bo pushed right off the court in his efforts to _ take Brookes's serves on his fore-hand,' in the left-hand corner, he was now compelled to' take all the risks to win his drive outright. So long as Brookes could reach the return, and just scrape it over the net, the Englishman had 110 chance to get back on to the court to. recover the ball: When "Brookes led. 3, the Englishman had'a'long'dnd bitter struggle to win his service game. Brookes twice wanted only one stroke for the game and tiio set, but each time his opponent saved himself by a'.brilliant recovery. As Dixon continued to wipe out the Victorian's lead game by game in this way, the crowd began to show some anxietj. But Brookes was not done. At 5-4 he came with a fine run of services, which paralysed his opponent, and gave him the set at 6—4. It had lasted 23 minutes. As ' they stood facing one another fojr the third set, Dixon looked worn out and done for. Brookes seemed remarkably fresh. But it was soon seen that the Englishman had plenty of strength left. He started serving as hard as ever, and went to 40 —15. Then he sent down a double fault, and Brookes, with a succession of beautiful strokes, took, the game from (him. The impartiality of the crowd was shown at this stage by the loud cries of dissent which greeted a line-umpires decision against Dixon upon one of those flying balls which are both in and out. Even play, marked by great skill ill the anticipation of each other's shots, by both players took the score to 3 all and then to 4 all. When Brookes was serving at 4—3 a terrific struggle ensued. Brookes's keenness to win the match in straight sets then became plain to his friends. He was taking the risk, draw-, ing on all his strength for the set. There was not much to show for it, of course, for Brookes never teaTs his hair nor saws • the atmosphere.with his arms. But those who knew him could see that, for all his quietness, he was making a desperate effort for victory. He was. straining for every point, using every ounce of strength and pace 110 could get out of himself, pur- : suing every forlorn hope, however improbable the chance of recovering the shot. His service, usually an ideal of easy grace and poise, bscaiie almost a- contortion as lie stretched every muscle to its utmost to send the ball twisting and twirling through the air. And at the other end was Dixon making a last game struggle to stem the tide, with a pluck which pulled at the heartstrings of every man who watched him. His shirt clung'to. bis body, drenched with perspiration. His mouth hung open, his eyes were dreadfully haggard, his feet dragged as he moved about between the strokes. And yet, so amazing seemed the strength of the man, so wonderful his power of anticipation, so dogged his defence under his opponent's ' onslaught, that everyone who knew the two men feared that if lie should got this set he might still conquer in a long five-set match. Dixon, too, seemed to think that Brookes was spending himself fast; that if lie could but prolong tho struggle, but squeeze home with this third set, he might do what Wright and Wilding had doiie. For both of them had lost the first two sets to Brookes, and yet won the rubber. ■ . It was a great game this eighth in the third set, which will live long in the memory of those who saw it. Half a dozen "times or more Brookes wanted but the one stroke to give him the critical game, but always Dixon saved the point by some desperate effort. The Englishman also began to toss tho ball into the air, long tantalising lobs, with a heavy underspiii on the ball, making its flight difficult to judge. Brookes, who never relishes them in the air, returned them -all with great care and deliberation, refusing to risk a smash. At last, after 20 aces, a dozen deuces, and a scoro of stirring rallies, the Englishman had his reward. Brookes served a double fault, and then missed a volley, which gave; his opponent the coveted game. ■ ; But 'Dixon was done, and he failed to secure more than one point on his service in the next game, against the continued efforts of the Victorian. w tt .o, pressing inexorably on, simply left the Englishman looking hopelessly dazed by a succession of brilliant drives. Thirh- all was called in the next game. Then Brooltts, with a magnificent serve down the centre line, which Dixon could not reach, and a fino buck-hand volley across the court, took the set and the rubber, amid great enthusiasm. The Governor (Sir John Fuller) quickly jumped from the stand 011 to the court, and was tho first to compliment Brookes upon his great win.