INTERNATIONAL TENNIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2371, 11 December 1908, Page 2

INTERNATIONAL TENNIS.

THE DAVIS GUP.

AUSTRALASIA’S VICTORY

INTENSE ENTHUSIASM

Australian papers just to .hand contain "glowing accounts of the contests for the Davis Cup, and particular reference is made to the brilliant form shown by the young New Zealander, Anthony Wilding. The following, taken from .the Melbourne “Argus,” wall therefore bo read with interest by Gisborne enthusiasts.

Trio Double Championship in the Davis Cup competition has been won by Australasia. The full significance of this .plain statement of fact can be appreciated to the fuii by those who sat and sweltered in the sun on Saturday (November 30) and forgot that they were sweltering because theirs was the privilege of seeing how it was done. For the bare announcement of tho result, though it means much to tho tennis enthusiast, conveys hut the faintest idea of the excitement ■and thrill of the contest whose arena was the green lawn of the Victorian Lawn Association, and whose reward was a substantial lien upon the great silver cup exhibited on the court before play was begun. The issue was in doubt until', the end; and towards its conclusion the play was so close that, had the alternation of victory and defeat been arranged mathematically. it would have been difficult to provide a more equal struggle. .But for mathematics had to be substituted living factors—two pairs of experts who wore prepared to tax to the utmost all their strength, swiftness, and dexterity to uphold the reputation of the nations whose representatives they wore. So well did 1 they acquit- themselves, that when at fast Australasia won, and America- leapt the net to congratulate the victors, such cheers went up as have never before been heard on an Australian tennis court. Long "before The first game started the stands were crowded to their full capacity. The Governor, the Premie]-, -and the Chief Justice of tho state were there; and when play had been iu> progress for some time, even Sir Thomas Bent seemed prepared to admit that what he saw before him eclipsed the tennis of which ho says himself he was an able exponent in his youtli. Australasia’s representatives—N. E. Brookes and A. F. Wilding—played w-itli their hats on, but B. C. Wright and F. B. Alexander, t-lie American pair, remained bareheaded throughout the rubber. Each of the players were intensely keen, Alexander in particular displaying a hair-trigger readiness in attack and defence. The comment has been made that hitherto the Americans have perhaps had “something up their sleeve” ; but on Saturday the last ounce of their reserve force was expended,,and the manner of its expenditure was uplifting to watch. As for the Australasian representatives, it was equally clear that there was nothing concealed in their sleeves — indeed. Wilding had turned his beyond the elbow in -an unconscious guarantee of good faith. Alexander began serving, Wright waiting for the return with his feet -apart, both hands gripping his racket, and his eyes fixed on the flight of the ball as u. pointer watches a bird. In a few seconds all four players were in swift action, and the hum of g-ossip that had risen from all round the court gave place to a waiting silence, in which the impact of the ball on the rackets sounded as distinctly as the plucking of -a harp-string. Then came the full round of applause which testified that Australasia had won tho first game. Everyone sighed a little sigh of contentment for the good omen, and settled down as comfortably -at?* might be to see whether it would he justified. It was noticeable that in none of the three stands was anybody smoking. On Friday a faint blue spiral might have been observed here and there, as an expression of the accepted belief that, after a-lf, the open air was made to he smoked in—hut- on Saturday people were too keenly interested to strike a match. liven at the interval, .when a brief opportunity .presented itself, liirdly anyone took advantage 6f it. Perhaps this was to be put down to the charitable second thought that there were ladies nreseht.

One of Brookes’s slashing soxwes opened the second ga'me, and soon it was as if an orchestra, thoroughly in tune, was playing its masterpiece. No player sank his individuality, hut each was in thorough accord avitli his partner, and the resultant tennis avas of the class that may he expected when four such exponents of the game come together. Australasia still maintained its lead, winning three games to love. Those three games -included examples of all that -avas best in. the stylo of each player, and avere an earnest of avliat avas t-o come. At the end of the fifth game there was a tittle breathing space, and the spectators exchanged congratulations on forming the component parts of the largest crowd that lias witnessed a tennis match in Australia. The ground avas playing fast and avell, and rally after rally keyed the aa-at-chers to -a -pitch of excitement aadneh found vent in a rattle of applause when Brookes and Wilding avon the first set by six games; t-o four. Early in the second set, the Australasian pair found themselves taxed to the full to deal with m beautiful series of lobs from Wright. But they took them turn about, and aa - on the exchange in, despite of Alexander, avho was hovering on the flank for the opportunity, so often taken, of returning an almost impossible ball in such a manner that it should ho unplayable. The concerted work of

, botli pairs’ of players' was excellent,. Perhaps through nervousness, Brookes seemed more . inclined.' to- give alirec--1 tions to his partner than did Wright, but on each side the. co-operation was so nearly perfect, that only one? or twice -was there overlapping in striking or failure in the 'attempt to hack up a defence. In the third game of the second set, each of the Americans made up his mind simultaneously that the return of the -ball depended upon him alone, and the second’s embarrassment which followed, was overcome only in the nick of'time.' Soon afterwards a' section of the crowd commented, in somewhat hostile fashion upon a decision of the linesman, but the matter was -realised to be of no importance. An attractive feature of the play, which was repeated again and again, were the brief duels -across the net, in which two opponents would use their rackets -almost with the rapidity displayed by fencers. Neither dared retreat, aiid, unless by skill and dexterity almost too swift to- anticipate or to follow the help- of a partner could bo enlisted, the rally came to an end with a -gallant attempt at the impossible. In the seventh game of the second set a temporary diversion was caused by tho necessity of settling whether “net” -or “fault” was called, and the difficulty was overcome by allowing the service to be repented. It was won by the Americans. In this -set —tho second—the Australasian players attained their best score in point of the number of games won, defeating the Americans by six game, to two. The tables were turned u> the fourth set, in which the figures were exactly reversed. Twelve games were necessary to decide the third set, and ah exciting set it was. Each player jiut into -his stroke .all the sting and swing of which lie ay as capable. Time and again Wilding threw up his head at the end of the serve as if he had been chucked under the chin, anal the sudden jerk seemed to he the visible recoil from the force of t-lie blow. Rallies «t the net were frequent, those between Wright and Wilding being imarvellous in their fio3 - ce accuracy. One of them was ended l by a swift smash from Wright, which was the pink and the pick of hits expositions ■of this stroke in which he so often displayed his proficiency. This set was a neck-and-neek contest indeed, each side winning game about until '' America had scored six games to their •opponents’ five. Wright and Alexander were working together like indispensable parts of the same machine. They kept step a§ they marched solemnly back to the service line after a successful stroke, hanging their heads, and -looking almost downcast; and interdependence still characterised them when the occasion arose for a- rapid rush to the net, and an excited war-dance governed l>v the movements of a tennis ba-’T which seemed to have been driven absolutely frantic. They won the game and the set, and everybody took a rest —for everybody deserved it. With the score standing at two sets to one in Australians favor, play was resumed. A striking effect was created as the spectators came to attention to watch it. Those in the grandstand. which was designed for standing only, had for the most part contrived to approach a sitting attitude in order to rest. Many of those who had been sitting down in the other two stands had risen in order to give relief to cramped limbs. But, at the 'moment the players took the court again, the entire population of the first stand rose as one individual, while everybody else sat down. Like many other things witnessed on Saturday, it was unique. The fourth set was won hv America by six games to two. Better tennis than had already been seen was not looked for, and although the standard was maintained there was among the spectators the consciousness of a- Ink in anticipation of the fifth and final set, for here something special was .expected. That expectation was justified. In -a- tense silence, which was broken only by gasps and ejaculations—for the situation was too strained for prolonged applause—the Americans won the first two games. The next two were won' by Australasia, each side playing superb tennis. The score of games was exactly even, and the pi i.yer.s seemed to realise that every stroke was fateful. Yet few symptoms of weakness manifested themselves. The pace was too keen. The stimuli us supplied by the. closeness of the contest, .and the realisation of the fact that its end was very near, rendered hesitation impossible, and in the fourth game everything ay as done at the charge. Only im the intervals between the games was cheering possible, but the, -spectators took full advantage of that opportunity when, after each side had a von another game, Australasia again drew ahead. The result of the next game increased that lead' to five games to three. In the ninth game the accuracy displayed by both sides in timing and placing the balls eclipsed even their own high standard. America won, -bringing their score to four games, as against their opponents’ five. It avas Wilding’s serve in the tenth game, and he put into the-stroke all the strength -aml the skill that avas in him. Playing with a vervo and an impetus that would riot be denied, the Australasian players brought the score to 40 —15. But Wright -and Alexander, avhoso -brilliant skill did not fail them on such an occasion as tin's, when they never Iliad greater need of it, brought tho score to 40 all. Every individual in the crowd avas tingling with excitement, and when tho umpire called “Advantage Wriglit,” land the Americans were avithin a stroke of victory, it avas hardly in human nature to repress itisolf. Wilding’s long drive met Wright’s lob once more, and as the hall avas returned Brookes smashed it back and saved: the situation. Wright

foil in' reaching 'for a stroke-, and Alexander kept both his opponents at bay until his partner was on his feet again, trying -to explain, entirely uu>nccessari<!y, that he had fallen down. By this time tho lesrs stoical of the spectators were 'almost hysterical. The climax came with, a- magnificent rally, at. the end of avhich Alexander, attempting the impossible, strove to return a ball from Brookes. Striking as he fell, he rolled over and over into the corner of the court, liis head avrenched up' to see avhere his desperate stroke had placed the ball. The next stroke gave the victory to Australasia, and amid a roar of cheers everybody shook hands avitli- earerybody else, the defeated players, true sportsmen to the last, being the first to congratulate tlie men who hid beaten them.

The match a\~as won bv 25 games to 23, .and the closeness -of the play from the commencement of the -first singles contest may be gauged by the fact that each side has to its credit 7 sets and 70 games, Australasia of course being one rubber to the good. The number of -aces scored by Australasia is 42G, and by America 455.

THE CONCLUDING SINGLES A SENSATIONAL FINISH.

As the result of the most brilliant series of tennis contests yet seen- liore, Australia has won the Davis Challenge Cup, and avitli it the right to retain for another year the title of “The Champion Nation.” The tavo singles matches, which wore to -decido the supremacy, were played on the championship court of the Lawn Tennis Association, and to Anthony E. Wilding, the avinner of the final contest, is due the honor of having placed Australasia in the position which she holds in the tennis world to-day. Tho issue avas in doubt until tho last. The spectators, unlike the players, avere able to give a r ent to their feelings, and a section of them did so in a manner disconcerting to the men on the court, and troublesome to those avho avished to devote their whole attention to the game. Yet it avas little avonder that those avho watched avere- overwrought, for they were treated in the opening sets to such an exhibition of tennis on the part of Brookes as avas not excelled even by Wilding’s victory of three straight at the conclusion of the day’s play? For a time it seemed as if Brookes was above himself, for no one coulxl have - maintained to the end the standard which lie sot. The first contest avas that between B. C. Wright and N. E. Brookes. The quality of Brookes’ play may be gauged from the fact that- -he a\-on the first set to lo\ r e, his opponent , failing to score a game until the second of the second set. Saviftnoss and accuracy avas coupled avitli judg- j snout little short of infallible, -and the ability to avear doavn and defeat such an opponent' speaks -highly for Wright’s confidence, staying poaver, and -.skill. In the first hai!f of the second set the games began to alternate, and the score at the end of the sixth game being 3 -all. Then Brookes seemed to become irresistible once more, and avon, the score being G to 3 in his i'aami*. It was at tlri< juncture that the brilliancy . of Wright's overhead play-began' to tell, and. after a keen and exhausting struggle, extending over tavela r e games, the third set fell- to the American by 7 games ,to 5. Then there ivas a little breathing space, and a cool, wet towo.l avas brought. Its pressure on the streaming faces of the panting players must Jiaa r e been exceedingly refreshing, but its use caused dreadful misgivings on the part of at least- one lady. “Oh, how dangerous!” she said, as Wright mopped his face. “And he’s putting it on the back of liis neck, too, right in the sun!” The fourth set avas a triumph for Wright by 6 games to 2, but the score does not indicate how gallantly Brookes fought every stroke of everv exchange. Brookes and W right having each aaon tavo sets, tho deciding set- avas begun. Wright avon three games before his opjxment scored, hut Brookes drew lea*el avitli him at -I all. Excited by the display, some of his admirers began to “barrack” for him, drawing air angry ‘.-•Sli-sli!” from the rest of the spec-

tutors. Then each player avon game about until Wright’s score and Brookes’ 10. Hero Wright simply .smashed his way-to victory. ’The scores avere 2 all, and the fourth, match had fallen to America, leaving Alexander and Wilding to fight out tho deciding contest. The cheers avhich greeted Wright's success hearing died' away, the lawn, avhich avas playing fast and true, avas rolled, and Alexander and Wilding joined issue. As compared avith the play of tho previous pair, much of which’ avas cut and ythrust it close quarters, the- long-range tennis of these tavo furnished an interesting contrast. Faultlessly accurate drives skimmed from service-line to iservicetine, and many of the strokes avere of n character which rendered it possible to return them several times in succession. This conduced to open, even play, so regular that it- avas restful lo natch -after the snateli-and-rocovery of the previous contest. But Alexander had not forgotten the effectiveness of liis smash, avhich lie used avhenever -lie thought there avas an opportuniy. As it is characteristic of this player t-o make his oavn opportunities when his adversary fails to present them, smashes were frequent. Yet in the first tavo sets Wilding more than held his oavn by virtue of liis -masterly service and his terrific hitting' from the back ■line. Tho score, avhich avas ;» fairly accurate reflex of the merit -of his play, shoaved that in the first set he- aa - on six games to three, and that the second terminated in his favor by six games to four. Amid intense excitement the .third set began. Alexander’s keenness led him to try for everything it was possible to reach, hut ' Wilding -refused to he disconcerted by tho fleetness and skill -avhich av-Sre opposed to him. Playing fast and avell, and maintaining an even standard l of excellence, he aa-on four games in succession. Then there avas a check to his progress in the shape of a game for Alexander. Confident still, the New Zealander avent on, and without another reverse aa r on the set, the rubber, and the championship for Australasia. . 1 -

. Tho crowd roared its congratulations, and cheered wildly for Alexander, whose jgaflant play had made the victory a victory indeed. Then Wilding avas-. hoisted on to tho shoulders of certain enthusiastic admirers and chaired ;to the pavilion, looking thorashamed of /himself -for having been the cause of all the sensation.