LAWN TENNIS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1932, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS

SEMI-FINAL PLAY

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

(Received this day at' 9.25 a.m) LONDON, June 28. At Wimbledon it was fine and warm

when the Americans Shields, Vines and Wood, th e Englishmen Perry and Austin, the Spaniard, Maier, the Japanese, Satoh, and the Australian Crawford, battled for ’the right to enter the semi-finals. Crawford drove beautifully and also used an incisive backhand. Tim Australian was slightly superior in finding the corners.' Perry attacked in the thirds set which was won in fifteen minutes, but, after brilliant driving changes in the fourth set Crawford was victorious. ,Satoh took the initiative and surprisingly eliminated the title holder, Wood, who repeatedly missed easy ■strokes in the centre. The courts were' packed, there not being even standing room. j Crawford defeated I’erry 7—5, 3—-'6, 2—6, B—6. Satoh beat Wood 7—5,. 7—5, 2—6, 6—4. Vines beat Mater 6—2 ’ 6—3, 6—2. ! From th e oonsolation singles to the quarter final championships, the Australians won all along the line to-day. Crawford’s victory naturally created a tremendous impression, for critics say_ that Perry, who disputes with Austin for the title of England’s best player, was in top form. Nevertheless, Crawford called the pace almost throughout by his exhibition of superb driving, uncanny placements, and remarkable sense of anticipation. | At no time was the result a foregone conclusion, for Perry -seems to possess all .the strokes, and made many re-1 markable recoveries. Perry was more severe overhead than Crawford, the depth, angle and speed of whose drives kept him from the not but he fought a great uphill fight, especially saving ; four match points. . : J Crawford’s artistic display had relatively few lapses, and it was a different Crawford to yesterday. I't may be doubted if lie has ever given such a sustained exhibition of strong, accurate driving. If Perry made • any tactical error, it was his frequent concentration on the Australian’s backhand, which never functioned more reliably nr aggressively. | The decisive factor of Crawford’s j ability on the whole was to go a little nearer the corners of the baselines with | his drives, but Perry gave as good as 1 hp received.

A similar exhibition against Vines on Thursday might place him in the final, but the question is whether his finesse will neutralise the ferocity of the American’s strokes. Flushed w'th his singles victory, Crawford remained in the peak of form in the mixed doubles, in which ho unexpectedly eliminated Allison and Miss 'Jacobs in 'straight sets racing j away with the first. Great credit )s j. due to Mrs Crawford for standing ...up heroically to Allison’s powerful service.;.

Indeed she played .admirably throughout. Allison’s form was patchy and Miss Jacobs missed many sitters, but :h e Australian’s tactics played an important part, for, when Mi’s Crawfordwas serving to Allr-on, Crawford adopt, ed a tandem formation to prevent him .attacking his wife’s weak backhand. '(Crawford was brilliant all round, and his wife’s passing shots often left -the Americans standing. In the third round of the mixed doubles Crawford and Mrs Crawford heat Allison and Jacobs 6—o, 6—A. Clemengcr and Covell beat Hughes and, Mrs iShepherd-Bai’ron 3—6, 6—3, 6—4.

In the fourth round Andrews and Miss Stammers heat Mangin and IV) Palfrey 6—4, 6—4. Austin in eliminating Shields consistently produced flowing drives. R" did not allow the American to 'take the initiative and gained his revenge on last year’s defeat. LONDON, June 28. Men’s singles:—Austin beat Shields 6—l, 9—7, 5—7, 6—l. Tn tile third round of fho mixed doubles Cochet and Mrs Wliittingstall heat Malfmy and Miss Heeley 7—5, 6 4.

In the consolation singles, Keh fling beat Malfroy 6—2, G —3.