THE DAVIS CUP

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1921, Page 4

THE DAVIS CUP

AMERICANS WIN OUTRIGHT,

THE DOUBLE'S PLAY

[llY TEEEG HA I’ll —I’EK I’ll ESS ASSOCIATION I AUCKLAND, Dee 31.

The United States secured the Davis Cup from Australasia by winning the doubles match 46, 6—4, 6—o, 6—4. It was chiefly Johnston, who, with accurate driving, won the initiative tor America. Tt was a case of a great baseline player breaking up the game ( ,f net players, yet it would he unfair to say that Johnston relied entirely upon his drive. His backhand smash was formidable, and once at the nets he and Tilden could finish off with a conclusive volley. The first set was marked by many brilliant rallies, and Australasia’s win was duo chiefly to Patterson’s good work. From then on, however, he faded away. The detailed description of the play will give a good idea of what followed, and the chief causes of Australasia’s complete failure in the next three sets can he snmarised as follows: Patterson proved sadly unreliable, in spits of occasional flashes of brilliancy and Brookes was fo.reod to attempt to cover him. This threw too much work on the Australian captain, with the result that he went off his own game. As pie match progressed Patterson also sceijid to lose confidence in his own initiative. Gradually the Americans drove the Australasians to the hack line, and from then on they held the ascendancy throughout.

Contrary to expectations, Tilden and Johnston showed good combination, par ticiilarly towards the close. Johnston was the bright particular star, his volleying being terrific, but Tilden hullvaluable support with bis famous bullet service. They were both consistent and accurate, and accuracy won them the match and the Davis Cup.

AMERICANS AGAIN SUCCESSFUL. AUCKLAND, January 1. The final matches for the Davis Cup wore played, to-day in hot weather, the Court being fast. '['lie Americans continued their winning career by annexing the remainder of the singles. Johnston beat Brookes 5_7, 7-5 t 6-3, 6-4. Tilden beat Patterson 5-7, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. There was a large attendance including the Govern-or-General and Lady Jellicoe. The game between Brookes and Johnston was a fine, exhibition of scientific ton pis. The Australasian captain fought for every point. Patterson bad again to lower bis colours to Tilden, but this game was far from scientific, . being marked by terrific smashing by j Patterson, who was first brilliant and than erratic. The two Australians did 1 themselves more justice to-day than 'on the first two days. Patterson particularly showing greatly improved form. The fight between Johnston and Brookes was worth going a long way to watch. Johnston plays to some ex- | tent the same 'type of a game as

Brookes, though be relies- more on off the ground strokes than the Australian. To-day, as in the doubles yesterday, Johnstrtn’s (low volleys were a treat to watch, being clean, bard and low and for the most par delivered with greater sting than Brookcs’s volleys, they falling further back on the court and keeping lfpwer. Brookjes seemed generally to lack the extra yard in pace that would have enabled him to get inside the service line and tidal effectively with his opponent's strokes. Brookes came in persistently

on his own service and whenever there was the least opportunity of getting up in time to volley a return, and his volleying was extremely clever and well judged, but it was not fbr the most ) part, forcible enough to prevent Johnston picking up the ball, and when Brookes was near the net Johnston was frequently able to drive down tb e side lines, a stroke he often put into praetieo with remarkable accuracy.

JOHNSTON’S BRILMANCE. Johnston was seen at his best in the doubles, and the honours rested with him and Brookes. The one man’s name that came first in all the comments was 'J.'ofrndton's. He was an impassable barrier. He volleyed, with the most I deadly accuracy, and simply refused to ' consider himself beaten, even when the j average man would have turned it in. j Johnston outplayed his opponent and finished the rally not only with the ! same snap with which he entered it. j hut often with a burst of speed that ihe seemed to work up to. Technically I his extreme mobility carried him back I time after time to play the halls that were simply hemp; smashed out ol the court, and so far from playing them deI fensively he crowded on the pace with a ; deadly net skimming forehand drive : that even Brookes failed to volley. The Americans lost the first set. and then 1 ran out winners in three straight sets, ‘ that showed easily that they had the ’ upper hand. They were never fighting 1 hard like Brookes, whose countenance

became more sombre as tlie game progressed. Johnston's terrific drives and volleys were part of an apparently piearranged plan, in which Tilden took the part of th 0 slow pace player, lobbing whenever possible, and thus taking the sting out of the net-crowding tactics of Brookes and Patterson. If Patterson could have gone on as he started, cutting and slashing most effectually, it would have made the game veVy interesting, but lie went to pieces in his overhead work, and was novel triejkv when lie was compelled to act oil his own initiative, and towards the end of the game Brookes was playing a lone hand, and it looked as if he might

avert disaster, hut the Americans were altogether too clever. They received a great ovation from the five or six thousand spectators who saw tlu*m make the winning hit.

AMERICANS TO VISIT TRALIAThe members' of both teams with Mr Hicks, secretary of the Australasian association, who is in Auckland, "ill leave by the Makura next Thursday for Sydney. The Americans will play Victoria at Mell*ouriie 0,1 January 13 and succeeding days, and will play Australia at Sydney a week later. Brookes will he sole selector for the Australians. Johnston will only stay in Sydney four or five days, returning to America by the Makura.