LAWN TENNIS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1933, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS

AUSTRALIA V. JAPAN

CRAWFORD AND McGRATH .WIN

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

PAUt&j dime 17.

After many terise moments, tltthAustralians, Crawford McGiath, won two gfeat i'idkd'ies GVel' the Japanese, Nunoi and Satch, thei’eOy placing Australia. in a position where only ft plcte landside in the three remaining event© can lose them the match.

A great crowd, wllo Were keenly interested, -protested so vigofottdy on. . one occasion against a linesman giving one of Crawford’s drives in his favour against Nunoi that whistling and booing Continued tiii the unhappy official retired and, another was found. The quality of the tennis W«3 clever, and was often exciting. Crawford's match was a matter of mathematical manoeuvring. It rained heavily all the morning. The winds, however, fresh- I ened, thus drying the courts, which, . nevertheless, were slow, and thus to Nunoi’s. advantage. Crawford begun, < more quickly than usual. He led s—l, and took the set as though he were practising. Nunoi then demonstrated improved form all round, compared with when the Australian served. He showed a better backhand,' and stronger hitting, and was cleaner and more 'accurate. Crawford was smashing ineffectively, hut, establishing a commanding grip in th© .second set, he played two successive shots close to the baseline, which the crowd considered outside. Hence the barracking incident. Crawford regained his confidence in the third set, but in the fourth, Nunoi, with graceful shot© in all directions, led 3—o, but lie went down to 3—4, when he increased his pace to' both wings, volleyed at the net in a deadly fashion, and so evened the scci-es. . The Japanese led 2—o in the fifth set,' scoring with mighty sm.a©h?'s. Crawford’© reply was to take the next three, keeping the Japanese running from side to side. Then the Australian had to fight all he know to prevent his defeat. He won because he kept cool in a 'crisis. ,- : Satoh’© experienced attacking powers were expected to defeat McGrath, but tlio : Australian boy’s tenacity pulled hini through. The latter’s service often went astray in the early sets, 'thus'permitting the Japanese to smash, repeated winners. Subsequently Mc-j * Graflt •'• improved, and he troubled. Satoh. Rain interrupted the secondset, which the Japanese won by moans of terrific smashes. In the succeeding sots bo used burst© of irnpired smash*, ing, which seemed to leave McGrath .standing helplessly, but he nluckilv kept his head. He blayed coolly, and he saved a wonderful match, in which he showed' himself capable of giving measure for measure with the Japan-