TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 287, 28 November 1908, Page 5

TENNIS.

lEB DAVIS CUP. XHB OPENING MATCHES. BBOOKES 1 BEATS ALEXANDER.

Received 27, 11.20 p.m. • Melbourne, Last Night. Tl, e weather was splendid for to-day's tennis matches. Drying winds left the eourts in g oo * condition, except that they played a trifle slow. A great crowd assembled to isec the opening matches for the Davis Cup. Brookes met Alexander. The Victorian soon established a strong lead, taking t>e first four games of the first get. Alexander warmed to his work, and placed a different complexion on the game by his splendid play. His masterly returns and irresistible smashing gave him seven games, while Brookes secured i only one. The second set will be long remembered as one of the most keen ever witnessed in Melbourne. The players took game for game till the score was seven aIL Brookes then took the next two games and the set. In the next set Alexander failed, while Brookes, if anything, improved, Alexander placing service after service into the net. In the fourth set Alexander put up another great light, playing his best game. The fifth and deciding set fell to Brookes. The scores were 5—7, 9—7, 6—2, 4—B, 6—3. I

WILDING SUCCUMBS TO WRIGHT. Received 28, 1.15 a.m. Melbourne, Last Night. Wright beat Wilding, the scores being 3—6, 7—5, 6—3, 6—l. The New Zealander in the first set scored the first three games. Wright seemed slow at getting about the court. After the second set, in which Wilding held nis own, the American had the best of toe remaining sets, his game getting better as he went on. His lobs troubled Wilding, while his well-played drop shots just over the net had the precision of a genius. In the final set Wilding scarcely did himself justice, he apparently realising that the position was beyond redemption. The doubles, will he played to-morrow.