“BEST IN WORLD”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 5

“BEST IN WORLD”

BROMWICH AND QUIST

U.S. DOUBLES VICTORY

AMERICANS ROUTED

ALL-AUSTRALIAN FINAL

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.)

(Reed. Aug. 20, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 19.

The Australians, Quist and Bromwich proved themselves the world s 'best .doubles pair at Boston to-day when they overwhelmed Riggs and Cooke, the Wimbledon champions, 6 (1, &—4, 6—o in the semi-finals of the American men’s doubles.

The Americans were routed in 54 minutes of sensational play. The defeat of the Americans was due to their inability to keep the Australians from the net, although they vainly tried every tactic evolved for that purpose. Lobbing failed and they could not control their smashes with any degree of accuracy.

Changing to the net, Quist piled up an amjazing total of 25 placements in 23 games. Bromwich scored 21 placements.

The Australians made 39 errors compared with the Americans' 48, but the latter were hopelessly outdistanced because they were limited to 22 placements between them.

,The Australians’ team-work was superb. Their attacking plan was to place the first volley down the centre, draw their opponents in and then angle severe volleys' at the first opening. The volleying of both was brilliant. The Americans tried to loib over Bromwich, but could not discover any weakness there. To-day, Quist took many of the deep lobs, but on the mid-court and close up, Bromwich smashed for winners.

In the other semi-final match. Crawford and Hopman (Australia) defeated Parker and McNeill (U.S.A.), 6 —4, 4—6, 6—3, 6 —2.

Davis Cup Chances

The marked superiority of Australia’s second string team was almost anti-climatic, so convinced are the majority of observers that Australia’s chances of gaining the Davis Cup are supreme.

(Hopman led in brilliancy. His volleying, smashing and court strategy proved a perfect foil for Crawford’s steady back-court game. The Americans, moreover, were slow in coming to the net, and the (ball was continuously put at their feet. Hopman was the outstanding player of the' match, the stroke analysis showing that he made 27 placements and only 29 errors. McNeil showed (liability to hold his service. It was broken repeatedly. This was the American’s most glaring weakness. Quist and Bromwich will meet Crawford and Hopman to-morrow in the first all-foreign final in the national doubles history.

Hopman is faced with a position similar to that of last year when he and L. Schwartz met their teammates in the semi-final. Hopman on that occasion deliberated’ for hours whether he and Schwartz should forfeit because he disliked' running the risk of showing up to the Americans any weaknesses in Quist’s and Bromwich’s game.

However, questioned to-night Hopman said: “We will all be trying.”

American Quandry

The defeat of Parker and McNeill puts the Americans in a worse quandary. Hopman told the Australian Associated Press that he believed someone would eventually pair with Riggs, probably Mako, as Pate, the American non-playing captain is still a .great believer in Mako’s ability. On present form —and Bromwich can be even b<*tter —the Australians should win the Davis Cup doubles. Few American leading players have much idea of doubles play. The Australian’s judgment and tactics throughout the tournament have been much superior. The team, is in excellent physical condition The tennis writer of the United Press of America comments that Longwood Club officials were shocked at to-day’s result and fear that an all-foreign final will mean the leanest gate in years. He suggests that the committee had: this in mind when it took the unprecedented step of allowing Riggs to play in spiked shoes which spotted the turf with divots.

Hopman was pleased with the outcome, but said that he and Crawford intended to give their teammates a good battle to-morrow. He and Crawfdrd would concede nothing as they would also like to be American champions. The title will go to the Antipodes for the first time since Norman Brookes and Gerald Patterson won it here in 1919. Sir Norman and Lady Brookes arrived to-day from England and were among the gallery. Hopes of Combination

Although the press concedes the Davis Cup doubles will go to Australia, Pate and Mr. Holcombe Ward, president of the United States Lawn Tennis Association, state that they still hope to arrange a combination which will stand a good chance. They believe anyway that America has a good chance of saving the cup in the singles.

Pate is not announcing the team until Aug. 26. He has found a clause in the rules stating it was not- necessary to name the team until immediately after the last tie. As he wishes to keep the Australians on tenterhooks, he will not jUame the team until after the match with Yugoslavia.

The New York Herald-Tribune says there .appears to be no pnc ready "to question the fact that the Australians are the greatest amateur doubles team in the world today, if not of all time. Pate announced that he is taking Riggs, Parker, Mako, Joe Hunt, Van Horn and Kramer to Philadelphia on Monday for practice. It is believed that the team wiU be the first four. Van Horn and Kramer will be the practice f>air because they gave Quist and Bromwich such good opposition. Pate will have a chance of studying the form of McNeil, Grant bnd Cooke.

:Hopman is to submit to the Australian Lawn. .Tennis Association a

proposal that the Yugoslavs be invited to Australia.

Immediately the team arrived today Puncec approached Hopman inquiring concerning the possibility of touring the Commonwealth this year. It was pointed out that the invitation would have been extended last year if Yugoslavia had won the European zone final. The team is most anxious to visit Australia. It is not expected that the Yugoslav players will give the Australians undue trouble when they meet next week.

In the women’s doubles Mrs. Palfry Fabyan and Miss Marble defeated Mme. Henrotin and Mme. Andrus, 6 —3, 6 —l, entering the finals.