DAVIS CUP

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 September 1924, Page 5

DAVIS CUP

THE AMERICAN VICTORY. PLAY IN THE DOUBLES. 8Y CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT NEW YORK, Sept. 12, In the Davis Cup doubles Tilden and Johnston beat Patterson and Wood 5—7, 6 —3, 6—4, 6 —l. America retains the Cup. The doubles were played in perfect sunny weather, the only handicap being a strong cross-court .wind. There was a large attendance. Johnston, 'serving, won the first, Wood the second, Tilden the third and Patterson the fourth 5—3. He was winning 3—o in this game when he double-faulted twice, . permitting the Americans to go to deuce. Patterson was deadly overhead, earning, many points and killing Johnston’s defensive lobs. He was weak, however ,on ground strokes, and this resulted in numerous errors. The; games alternated with the service until the score was 4 all. A break came in the ninth game when Johnston’s service, cracked. He stood o—4o0 —40 and lost after reaching 30—40, but the Americans retaliated^ breaking through Wood in the tenth, and the score stood five all. It cannot be said that the Americans "were a smooth-working doubles team. Johnston’s error, proved costly he being unable, to handle Patterson's service; and missing many easy returns The Australians led. 6—5 when they cracked Tilden’.s service in the eleventh'. Patterson pulled his service out from lo—3o, . winning the twelfth 50—30, and’ the Australians thus won the set 7—5. ' ...

In the second set Wood lost his service in the second game, when Patterson hammered two overheads into the net and he himself missed two returns from the forehand.

The Americans quickly gained a 3 love; lead, but Patterson pulled .his service out, winning the fourth after three deuces. The Americans increased their lead to 4 —l upon Johnston's seivice. They were more aggressive advancing to the net and Tilden was now more at ease and they ran out tne set with alternate games. the third set Tilden, standing at 40—love and serving in the fourth, round the Australians running up 80— 40, but he. pulled out liis service i-r,d the score stood 2 all. The Americans won the next five points and took the lead, five games against four. Several sharp rallies occurred at the net \\ herein Johnston and Tilden outdrove the Australians or found openings between them. It then became a comparatively easy matter for the Americans to run out.

, The fourth set proved a quick , debacle. The American pair, teaming awkwardly, , and getting in each other’* way, were apparently unable to dovetail their efforts, bu t nevertheless overwhelmed their experienced double opponents, whose team work was perfect. They won because they individually possessed strokes which won points. Johnston’s forehand drive, functioning with a report like a gun and a force like a bullet, was unanswerable, while Tilden’s stroking was smooth, accurate, jforceful and gainful. Patterson running up to answer a return from his own service seemed unable to lift the ball more than inches. Patterson lost his service in the first game and Wood his in the third and-the seventh. They gave the Americans the requisite headway to win with ease. Patterson again found his service endangered in the fifth, but he, pulled it out after one deuce and the American* led, four games against one. They quickly tore through Wood’s service, in the final game and ran, out the set expeditiously 6 —l. ings and 45 runs. NEW YORK, Sept. 12. Throughout to-day’s match at Philadelphia. the American players excelled in clean placements. A tendency to netting which they displayed at the beginning of the match disappeared, and they were also remarkably effective at lobbing.

THE FINAL SINGLES

NEW YORK, Sept. 13

In the final single's of the Davis Cup Richards defeated Patterson 6—3. 7 5, 6—4. and Tilden defeated Wood 6 —2. 6—l, 6—l.

The final Davis Cup matches were favoured with summery weather. In the first set Wood broke through Tilden’s service in the first game. Tilden returned the compliment on Wood’s service, and thereafter the American, stripping off his sweater, rolled up points with comparative ease. He raced through the other two sets, playins a deep court game without effort at killing strokes, Wood running across the court.

Patterson won his first service in the second game. Richards then took the lead and the Australian broke Richard’s service, and took his own, his slashing first ball being almost unplayable. Richards then reeled off the set on his own service.

In the second set Patterson crashed through Richards’ service in the second game, the American faltering and making two double faults. The Australian won the fourth game through two fine service aces and clean placement. Richards took the fourth game Patterson won his first service in the and staged an amazing rally, winning six successful games and the. set. Patterson made a brave effort in the third set to turn the tide, but Richards, coming to mid-court, kept pounding his backhand. The Australian netted drives he took on the full volley at mid-court and could not savethe game.

Upon the completion of the challenge round Patterson announced that the Australian team would proceed homeward via Chicago, Winnipeg and other- centres, where they will nlay exhibition matches amongst themselves embarking on the Sonoma for Sydney on October 10. ‘ v