DAVIS CUP

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1933, Page 5

DAVIS CUP

BRITAIN’S VICTORY

FINAL OF EUROPEAN ZONE.

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON July 15. Britain won the European Davis •Cup zone final. In the second series of singles, Austin beat McGrath 6—4, 7—5, 6—3 ; n!nd Crawford beat, Lee B—6, 7—5, 6—4.

Rain delayed the commencement of play, Iho 'court being Covered. Perry, Who strained his shoulder in the doubles on Friday, lva-s replaced by Lee. The British captain decided that it would he wise that Perry .should not play .after McGrath had been defeated, as the game against Crawford then would not affect th© result of the match. Th© Australians were naturally disappointed after McGrach had made a promising opening in the first and second sets, in which he seemed to have Austin’s measures, McGrath surrendered much in consequence of faulty stroking. Nevertheless, the Australians heartily congratulated England, Crawford saying that the better team won.

In the singles, Austin opened the match in cloudy weather. He found McGrath hitting cleanly nnfl confidently. The Australian wa, s attacking in the corners alternately, thus causing the Englishman to err. McGrath wa s obviously determined to play Austin at his own game. McGrath led 3—o. Then he had bad lapses, double .faulting and overdriving, and netting an o?sy smash. This allowed Austin to win the set.

j McGrath .started the second set "in a sparkling manner. He was the Eng lishman’s equal until when he was leading 3—l, he presented Austin with the game by ,a, serie.3 of nettings. The Australian reached 4—2 with an .admirable stroke, but- could not sustain his accuracy or brilliance, whereas Austin was making few errors. Austin began the third set with a lead, winning bis own and McGrath’s .serves, after .much strenuous fighting. McGrath continued to find, the net an impediment, but he guv© hi.s .supporters rar© hope ■by wiruling this service to love. Then his errors of iudgment arid stroking returned, V .compelling 'him to -fight a-rearguard action. From I—4,1 —4, Austin 'took ■’the seventh game with admirable passing shots. England was just about, to cheer itY victory on McGrath’s service when the lad saved with an angled drive. Austin made no mistake with his own service, disappearing from the Davj s Cup with a ballooned drive over the baseline. flie crowd, which, -increased, to ten ' jhonuand, imunmired .disapproval of Britain’s substitution of Lee against Crawford whom a majority came in the hope of .seeing play against Perry. Lee hesran ‘Splendidly, his strong service, which was varied with a n occasional amusing, freakish break delivery and a fast-whipped forehand, giving him a load of 4—l. Then Crawford came properly into action and won an excellent hard-hitting set. by superior driving, exposing the weakness °f Lee’s backhand. Thou eh it wa s questionable whether Crawford was all out. he produced strokes sufficiently near hi.s best to delight the crowd. Lee played really well, with occasionally bursts of brilliant driving, catching Crawford on the wrong foot, but the latter peppered the linos with (delightful iaecuracy, and again came from behind to win the ..set. Except when he appeared deliberately to drop points. Crawford stroked majestically through the third set against a tiring opponent. The match merely served to emphasise the great gulf between Crawford and his team mates as a singles player.

THE DOUBLES PLAY LONDON, July 14. In the doubles game in the first set, the first four games went with service after brisk exchanges. Play generally was of a high level, 'both sides being full of fight. The Englishmen splendidly saved the eighth, game, in which they were 15-40 behind on Hughes’ service, hut Australia, led 5-4 on Quist’s fine service. So far he was the best plaNei of the four. All four continued to win services to five all, then Turnbull dropped his, and Hughes clinched the next game for. the set. England led 4-2 in the second set, both Australians making bad errors, and Turnbull failing to toss deep enough. England had three set points a| 5.3. but the Australians saved splendidly. Perry, however, won his service lo fifteen in the next game, and England led by two sets to nil. Australia, with 3-0, wore ahead in the third set with the loss of only three points, Hughes having dropped the first service for the Englishmen so far in the match. Games continued to go with service, and Turnbull, after a long service, won the ninth game for the set.

The Australians began the fourth set tragically, their drives and smashes going astray, whilst the Englishmen, who broke through M’lirnhull’s service, rushed into a 3-0 load. r lbc standard of play detenornted slightly, due to flu* gusty wind, and with all tour players holding" their service after this Perry and Hughes ran out winners. '5-3, for the match.

Services dominated thy, match throughout. Hughes only once failed to win a cervice and Perry never

failed. On the other hand, the Australians’ sendees broke down at critical moments. Quist was patchy, while Turnbull was never so good as he was against Vines and Glendhill. The winners’ team work was naturally better. Their tossing improved after an early weakness, and the Australians failed through errors off easy halls. TRIANG FI.AR TOURNAMENT. PARIS, July 14. ’ The first matches of a three-day triangular tennis tournament between France, Japan and South Africa resulted:— H. Coehet (France) beat R. Nunoi (Japan). 12—10, 3—6, 7 5. C. J. Robbins (South Africa) heat 31. .Bernard (Franco) 6—4, 10—S. J. S a toll (Japan) beat V. G. Kirby (S ,N uth Africa). o—l, 6—2. R. Xunoi and J. Se.toh (Japan) beat X. G. Fa rcpi ha’'son and V. G. Kirby (Sputli Africa), o—3, 1-—6, G—2. STEDMAX 'REACHES A FINAL. LONDON, July 15. At the Felixstowe tennis championships in the Fast E l- "la.ml bind H. S. Burrows bi d' Stedmnn (New Zealand) o—4, 1—6 S (.*—4.