DAVIS CUP TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 19 June 1933, Page 3

DAVIS CUP TENNIS

EUROPEAN ZONE SEMI-FINALS. AUSTRALIANS IMPRESSIVE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) LONDON, June 17. After many tense moments Crawford and Me.Gtratli won two great victories over the Japanese Nunoi and Satoh in the Davis Cup European zone semi-final at Paris, placing Australia in a position where only a complete landslide in the three remaining events can lose the match. A great crowd was keenly interested and protested so vigorously on one occasion against a linesman giving one of Crawrord’s drives in his favoui- against Nunoi that the whistling and booing continued until the unhappy official retired and another was found. The quality of the- tennis was clever, often exciting. Crawford’s match was a matter of mathematical manoeuvring. It rained heavily all the morning. The wind, however, freshened, drying the courts, which nevertheless were slow, to Nunoi’s advantage. Crawford began more quickly than usual. He led s—l and took the setas though practising. Nunoi then de-i monstrated lie was vastly improved all round. -Crawford was smashing ineffectively. He played two successive shots close to the baseline which the crowd considered outside, hence the barracking incident. Crawford regained confidence in t-lie third set, but in the fourth. Nunoi, with graceful shots in all directions, led 3—o, but went down to 3—4. He led 2—o in the fifth, scoring with mighty smashes. Crawford’s reply was to take the next three games, Keeping the Japanese running from side to side. Then the Australian had to fight all he knew to prevent defeat. He won because he was cool in crises. The score was 6 —2, 4 —6, 6—3’, 4—6, t o. Satoh’s experienced attacking powers were expected to defeat McGrath, but the boy’s tenacity pulled him through 9—7, i— 6, 4: —6, B—4.8 —4. 7—5. McGrath’s service was often astray in the early sets, permitting the Japanese to smash with repeating winners. Subsequently the Australian improved and troubled Satoh. Rain interrupted the second set-, which the . Japanese won by terrific smashes. In the succeeding sets bursts of inspired smashing seemed to leave McGrath standing helplessly, but he piuckily kept his head and played coolly to save a wonderful match in which he showed himself capable of giving measure for measure.

To-morrow's doubles will be drawford and Quist versus Satoh and Nunoi. In the other zone .semi-final being, played in London. Perry (Britain) beat Menzei (Czechoslovakia) 6 —l, 6 —4, B—3, and Austin (Britain) beat Beoht (Czechoslovakia) 6—l, 11 —9, B—4.8 —4. Perry played inspired tennis; even his opponent on several occasions applauded the brilliance of his shots. Rain interfered with the Austin v. Heclit match. Hecht showed great retrieving powers throughout.