AUSTRALIA LEADS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1651, 18 January 1913, Page 5

AUSTRALIA LEADS.

SENSATIONAL TENNIS.

BROOKES OVERWHELMS

DIXON.

BLILLIANT. DISPLAY.. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Rec' January 17, 11.20 p.m.) Sydney, January 17. The lawn tennis test match, British Isles v.■;■ Australia, was opened to-day before an jattendanco of 8000, in dull, muggy weather. Tho courts were fast. The featuro of i the contest wan the brilliant display of Brookes (Victoria) who beat Dixon (British Isles) in two love sets, the first minutes, and tho -second nine minutes. Dixon played a plucky uphill game, getting in a number of smart serves and scoring shots, but Brookes■■ was unplayable, and Dixon at no stago had a chance. Tho, Victorian champion sent down many eevoro serves which Dixon cither did not reach or mishit. Brookos's power of anticipating his opponent's shot and 'concealing his, own intention; was shown to perfection. The opinion of observers who had 6eon Brookes oftoDi was that he had never played better. Again and again he eent back a winning shot when it seemed impossible to reach the ball. Brookes himself declares that the game was the'best of his life. He took' twenfcy-flevon noes to twelve) and; twenty-six ,to une.

Dunlop (Victoria) easily succumbed to BeamisH'(British Isles) in tho singles. Beamish showed beautiful back-hand work and cross-court drives. ..

Lowe (British Isles) played Jones (New South Wales) in an open court simultaneously with another match in tho main court., Lowo's resentment at tho unscreened'court and the spectators stream- • ing pnst badly affected his garao.V » Heath; (New South' Wales) made a good stand against'■ Parke (British Isles), but his weak bnck-hand work was costly. In the, doubles,; Brookes and Dunlop over-matched-'Beamish 'and Dixon. Dunlop played an- entirely-different ganio from his display in the singles. Bioolces again sent many .unplayable serves, «nd his net work was perfect. Tho Australian pair took tho > first set to, love', a incst unusual feat in modern first-class doubles. Parke and Lowo fought a close ,crt test with Heathi and Jones. Heath proved an indifferent doubles player,, possessing- no proper' low . volley,.,and-he found the net with irritating - frequency. Jones's brilliance compensated and won tho match. ; The scores wore'as follow:— Beamish beat,Dunlop, 6--1, 6—2. Jones jbeat Lowe, ,G—o,G—l. y-Parksvbeat; Hcath, 1 9—7, 3-6, 6—3. ; 'Brookes beat, Dixon, ,6-4),' 6—0.: v .-.Heath and Jones beat Parke and'Lowe, 4-6.-G-4, 12-f10../ v ;.':'■"' '.-■'' ~-■ ..Brookes and Dunlop beat Beamish and Dixon, 6-0,; 6-3. ; '"•-.;'. ... V; .■',..' '. The-present position of the,fecoro is as .under:—.. '■•■• •',, ,-.'' •' ■ . ■ ~ ,' ; '[-, Britain. Australia. ~',.....'.. 2 '■■■''■ .4- : ■ V Sets'!' ;.;..,....;.;„........; 5., -. 9 y Games .................... 55 '.-.,■ s 57 "" "->" - _.':' .' ! .' v '• :';