DEFENDERS LOSE DAVIS CUP

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5288, 28 December 1946, Page 5

DEFENDERS LOSE DAVIS CUP

(Press Assit-.-

AMERICAN VICTORY » ERAMER AND SCHROEDER WIN DOUBLES

-R'ec. 11.30 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, Dec. 27. "F. E. Schroeder was the hero oi the Davis Cup challenge it and at Kooyong Court to-da.y3 having been victorioUs both in the singlevS .yesterday and the doubl©8 this morning. It was a skd day for Australian tennis, but the 14,000 in the gallery ge-nerously cheered J. A, Kramc and Schroeder when they b:at the formerly undefeated Australian playeis J. Bromwich fiid A. K. Quist, 6—2, 7—5, 0 — 4 hi the doubles, ancl the fate ci the coveted trophy was' decided. ^ The remaining two singles tomorrow will be an anti-climax but Bromwich will be lceen to- avenge defeat by downing Schroeder. "Is he ;..ood enoug-h?" is the auestion being psked. Schroeder, even in company with Kramer, made the others on the court look almost seeond-rate by compariscn. His service returns were accurate and severe, and overhead he killed his opponents' lobbed let.urns. Nobody else on the court could equal the severity and clever lacing of his volleys. Kramer, on the other hand, was" vvvaker overhead. Bromwich was j. ain disappointing. He lapsed un-accc-untably at times and appeared unahle to reproduce his pre-war ' lilliance. Quist- showed inability to follow ihiough close enough to the net and ome of his service returns were ob•iously weak. The Americans disrrissed the Australians unceremoniously on their display to--day and in the singles yesterday the Australians were not good enough. Bromwichand Quist had a chance to acquit themselves in the first set but the eccuracy of the Americans caused Quist particularly to wilt. Bromwich Weak The first game, with Bromwich seivmg, was a succession of errors, Kramer netting- four times on the service returns and Bromwich volleying weakly. The Americans took service for a one love lead and Kiamer held his for two love. Quist also took the service, owing to his cpponents' clever interception at the net and the Americans led three •ove. The Australians were being left fiat-fc-oted with the Americans -• oileying superbly, and Schroeder look the service for a four love lead. Bromwich took the service to fifteen after being hit in the stomach by a i eturn-from Kramer. He was winded ••uf soon resumed, fighting back on Quist's service, which went to nine ■ mces. The set ended six two- in favour of the Americans. Bromwich aced Schroeder with the first service in the second set and ook the game to 15 after three netted smashes by the Americans. Quist also held the service despite a douhle fault and the Australians led two one. Schroeder dropped the service to give Australia a useful lead, Kramer making- far too many mistakes. Bromwich took the lead to four one with- a love service. The Americans resorted to smashing and rceovered to three four and four all. Schroeder, who was brilliant, was commanding the play. Kramer was very erratic, especially overhead. Bromwich held service to a five four lead and Kramer todc his for 15 after double fault to fivc all. Quist dropped the service and the Americans won the set, 7 — 5. Americans Still on Top The third set saw the Americans still on top. It beg-an badly when Bromwich dropped the service and Kramer held his for a two -love lead. The Australians were still fighting, however, and when Bromwich won the service the score was three two in favour of the Americans. The Australians had a chance, when, after being down love 40 on Ivramer's service, they recovered to deuce and held two game points, but Kramer took the game with successive aces to lead 4 — 2. Amid terrific applause Bromwich passed Kramer twice and forced Schroeder into errors when serving, allowing the Australians to draw level fo-ur all. Then Bromwich dropped the service and the Americans led 5 — 4. Kramer helcl service and took the mach 6 — 4 in the last set.