LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 19789, 13 February 1928, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS

FRANCE V. AUSTRALIA BOROTRA AND BOUSSUS BEATEN Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, February 12. The international games between Australia and France were continued in hot weather. In the men’s singles Borotra was beaten for the first time in Australia by Crawford, 6-1, 6-4. Crawford played a magnificent game, frequently passing _ Borotra at the net, and at other times driving hard to his feet. Crawford has never played better than he did in this match, and ho was extraordinarily severe on both hands. O'Hara Wood beat Boussus, 6-2, 3-6, 8-6. The play was even and brilliant in the earlier sets, and there were many thrilling rallies, the Frenchman’s errors giving Wood some chances, of which he took full advantage. In the final set Wood brought all his reserve energy into play, and, with a match point in his favor, served a hot ace, which flashed past the Frenchman and won the match. In the doubles Borotra and Brugnon heat Patterson and Hopman, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 64, 7-5. The match was spectacular, with ail the players at the top of their form. The Australians won the first two sets, but the visitors gradually made up the leeway. The fifth set was a thrilling game, and progressed evenly to 3 all. Hopman dropped his service in the seventh game, and the Frenchman won the nest, giving them the lead, 5-3. The Frenchmen held the match point, but the Australians won the next three for the game. Borotra served, hut lost the game for 5 all, and the Frenchmen, winning the next, led, 6-5. Brugnon served the final game, and won the set, 7-5, and the -match.

AMERICA'S NATIONAL RANKING

NEW YORK, February 11. The United States Lawn Tennis Association’s annual meeting at Chicago decided to present to the Davis Cup Committee Tilden’s suggestion to designate two Davis Cup teams—one to play on American soil and the other to get at least six weeks’ practice under European conditions before attempting to enter the challenge round. Thus they would not jeopardise their chances owing to lack of acclimatisation. The national ranking of the tennis leaders omits Johnston’s name for the first time for many years. The first ten are:—Tilden, Hunter, Lott, Alonzo, Hennessy, Van Ryn, Jones, Doeg, White, and Holman. The first five women are:—Miss Wills, Mrs Mallory, Mrs Chapin, Miss Jacobs, and Mrs Goss. The association decided to approve of open tourneys, in which professionals and amateurs may compete, but only after special permission is' granted. . Dates were fixed for the national singles at Forest Hills on September 10, and the men’s doubles at Boston On August 27. In the doubles ranking Tilden and Hunter are first, with Johnston and Norris Williams runners-up.' \