THE DAVIS CUP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1815, 30 July 1913, Page 15

THE DAVIS CUP.

HOW THE UNITED STATES BEAT AUSTRALASIA. JONES SUPREME IN DOUBLES. Detailed particulars are now to hand of the contest between the United States of America antl Australasia in the preliminary tie of the Davis Cup, which 'was played on tho courts of the "West Side Tennis Club, New York, on June 0, 7, and 9. Tho New York populace took the greatest interest in the matches, so that the stands were thronged on each day, it being estimated that 6000 were present on the Saturday,. when tho doubles match took place, nnd .5000 on each of' tho other days. M'Louahlin v. Rice. The draw that brought M'Loughlin and Rice against each other for tho first match of the contest, and before they commenced a request was made to tho spectators by the umpire that they should refrain from applause and demonstrations ot critical stages. This request was pfobably tho outcome of tho complaint of C. P. Dixon when the British Isles met the United States in tho preliminary tie of tho Davis. Cup a few years ago. There were tho customary linesmen, and, in addition, a foot-fault umpire, an official unknown in Australia, though the innovation is one which might bo adopted here with advantage. M'Loughlin was all over Rico at the commencement of tlieir match, losing only one point in the first three games.' The Australian won the fourth after deuce had been called, but then M'Loughlin took three in succession. Tho record kept of points/showed that in this set M'Loughlin won 32 to Rice's 14. In the next Rico offered more resistance, but could never obtain a lead from tho California, though he . liung )m tenaciously in the third set, the games going alternately till each half won three, when M'Loughlin finished off the match. The winner began in a more subdued manner than is customary with him; but when he had taken Eice's measure lie attacked in the stylo that 'has made him famous. His service was a terror to Rice throughout tho mutch, nine aces on service—that is, services which win outright —being credited to the United States champion. Tho only weak spot in M'Longhlin's game was in "backhand ground strokes, many of which he missed. Still, his service was .to deadly that it made up for anv shortcomings in other departments of the gariie. Eico was forced to wait for it Bft. outside the base-line, and in tho three sets M'Loughlin lost only one service game. ' Williams v. Doust. Williams was footfaulted at the outset of' the match with Doust, and this seemed to upset him. He. lost the first game In which ho was serving, and also the second. Then the American went forward to the net more frequently nnd made up his lost ground. Thence tho games in thejirst- set see-sawed, Williams eventually winning if. at 7.5. Dmist had . been playing without spiked shoes, and had experienced some falls in consequence, but ho put them on before tho second set, and was able to get about the court quicker. Ho worked faster, hammering tho American back, and keeping • the spectators applauding. - But this burst of.'spoed'was not 1 maintained r,nd periods of apparent sluggishness were noticed. Do'tist' was seen at his best in the third set, which lie won by six-games'to one after losing the, first two sets. He had •a good chance in the fourth, in,which lio led 4—3 and 40—love, but faulty backhand strokes were made by him at this stage, and the opportunity was lost. Williams won- tlve-sefc-at. 7—5. awl the diiy. ended with the United States two up and three to play. Jones and Doust 'V. M' t Lddgh^n /: and' ■ ■ ••• ... Then. followed file doubles 'contests',' which provided the immense-crowd'with a. magnificent,exhibition of. the game,. At tho' commoncemont the Australians com-w-eneod lobbing evidently ns the result of a preconceived scheme of tactics, but Hva scheme- was .not" remunerative, - as M'Lougtilin was smashing from all parts -of the court. Doust lost both his service games, these being all that the servers failed to win in this set. which' went lo the Americans nt G—2. In the second the Australasians changed their tactics, and there was a battlß for the net position between both , teams. A thunderstorm had been working no, and the light was very ; Kid, but aft«r a consultation between Doust ,'nnd Hackett play was continued. Very soon, however, the storm broke, and. th.ero was a rush for the insufficient shelter. , Tarpaulins were ■spread to save the court as much as possible. and consequently the ramo was continued- after an hour's delay, when the Australians b«pnn to forge ahead. Jones pulled off the third game of the second set by wonderful line drives. Tho fourth went to Australasia ■ also; but M'Loughlin's servico checked them in tho following game. It,was .only a temporary, check, however, for three more game 9 in rapid succession went to the visitors, and the. set was theirs at G—2. With one set all, a terrific struggle ensued for the third. . - Jones and Doust led at 2—l by capturing Hackett's service, but Doust's, which followed, was lost. Henceforward," the servers won with regularity till the twelfth game, when Doust failed again,!-tliis time-to- love, nnd the United States led by 2 sets'to'l. The aim of tlio Australasians had' been, to give Hackett all the-play, and ho was breaking down in the. fourth set' rather frequently. M'Loughliii' tried; to ;savc him, but when lie left his court at, all open in these attempts the Australasians were prompt to take advantage of the opportunities offered, and they had quite'the best of the fourth set, which they won at G—2. In the deciding set. .the pairs wero level at 2 all. M'Loughlin serving, won tho fifth, and then a calamity, from an Australasian point of view, happened, as Jones, for the fiivt time in tho match, lost his service game. They got on terms again with the Americans by winning Hackett's service, and were level at •i all. Then tho customary sequence of winning services was resumed till nackett failed in the fifteenth, Doust, . though pressed to deuce, won his, which followed, and Australia won tho set at 9—7.' and the luatch by 3 sets to 2.' Jones was easily the hero of the day. Overhead ho was a terror. His smashes went sailing through the opposite court, and. although M'Loughlin worked like a Trojan, making marvellous recoveries, there was no checking-the Sydney player. His play was most scientific, nnd rnado the crowd wonder what would have happened if Jones had not been compelled to give up his place in tho singles beeauso of his illness. One report says that "Jones proved a whirlwind at smashing, nnd kept the crowd cheering, even wlicn it realised that the match was going against the Americans, and that tho Australasians were scoring a point in the international competitions towards the recovery of the world's famous trophy." M'Loughlin and Hackett fought bravely; they bit hard and well, but it was the resourceful steadiness, tho phenomenal aggressiveness, of Doust and Jones, and more particularly the latter, that plucked games out of the fire when they seemed to bo safely won for the American side. Both' the Australians handled Hackett's service with ease, despite tho fact Hackett played the ball faster than he ever did in his life. M'Loughlin v, Doust. Doust began auspiciously with a service ace against M'Loughlin, and won tho first game; but gained, only one point in each of the three which followed, and never subsequently got on ierms in that. set. M'Loughlin winning by G to 1, not one of the ten games reaching deuce. Throughout the next two sets Doust tried various devices, the low bouncing ball, well followed up, being as lucrative ns any, but M'Loughlin was always his master, and in just an hour had won three sets in succession. Williams v. Rice. Although the contest was over, nnd the United States had won, the match between Rico nnd Williams was proceeded j with. Williams started weaklv, his length being poor; yet he gained tho first game by Eice's mistakes. The Australian left-hander then settled down to his work, and won six games in succession. They were level at four all in the. second set, at which stage Bice won two games in succession—the first to love—and thus had two sots 'o "il 'n his favour. Rice

was playing remarkably well. "Tho American's' service was as putty in his hands, as, swinging his racquet in his left hand, he met the ball shoulder-high l'or returns that for surety of aim have rorely been duplicated in international contests." Both men played chiefly'from the back of the court. In the third set Williams began In make up his ground, and took this with the loss of only one game, and tile fourth was a battle roval. Rice, after being behind, led at 7—C, but Williams saved the next after deuce had been called, nnd ran out at 9—7. Thereafter Williams went ahead, and won the deciding set to two games.