DAVIS CUP LAURELS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20081, 30 October 1939, Page 8

DAVIS CUP LAURELS

AUSTRALIANS RETURN VISITORS’ SUPERIORITY RIGGS THE EXCEPTION (I’er Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Proud to have in their possession the emblem of world tennis supremacy, the Davis Cup, the Australians, H. Hopman, manager, J. Bromwich, J. H. Crawford, and A. K. Quist arrived by the Mariposa from San Francisco.

The team will play exhibition games this afternoon and continue by the Mariposa for Sydney to-night.

With them is Sir Norman Brookes, the veteran Davis Cun player.

‘‘Our team was taken a little on the hop by the unfavourable conditions in the first day, said Sir Norman Brookes. ‘'But. our win in the doubles on the second day turned the tide in our favour ”

After a series of wins in earlier contests, they were at a disadvantage in having to meet the Americans in the first" singles matches on heavy courts, but their success on the second day raised their hopes that they would be able to win the deciding matches. Crucial Match Quist had a crucial match to play, he added, against Riggs, the American champion and, at one stage, it looked as though the honours might go against him, but he recovered in time. Bromwich’s defeat of Parker was due to exploiting his opponent's weak point, his forehand and also to Bromwich’s consistency. • “I have never seen such long exchanges which took 29 strokes to decide the first point and the first game occupied nearly {ls minutes,” said Sir Norman. “Bromwich gradually wore Parker down.” With the possible exception of Riggs, the Australians were superior. Sir Norman declared. Riggs’ game resembled that of Bromwich and he was in such wonderful condition that he appeared to be able to play all day without exhaustion. Riggs had a good service and a good forcing forehand, but usually played to the back of {lie court which cost him many points through hitting out. If he adopted more forcing tactics, he would be difficult to beat. The American doubles pair were the only two able to extend the Australian combination. Quist and Bromwich, in America.