DAVIS CUP.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1920, Page 5

DAVIS CUP.

WON BY AUSTRALASIA, FOUR MATCHES TO ONE. Jly Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received Jan, 21, 10.5 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 21. Australasia won the Davis Cup. Patterson (Australasia) beat Kingscote (British Isles), 6—l, 6—4, B—6.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Jan. 21, 11.15 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 21. Misty rain and a southerly wind did not daunt a crowd of seven thousand who assembled to witness the final stage of the Davis Cup. The court was covered by a tarpaulin, and not affected by the rain, but an hour elapsed before play was commenced.' After that, though the weather was dull and threatening, rain held off.

Contrary to anticipations, the umpire called the game "one all" when Patterson commenced serving to Kingscote. whereas it was expected that yesterday's games would not be counted. Patterson was in superb form, and his forceful service completely outwitted the Englishman', whose delivery appeared weaker than in former games. Patterson continually cut and drove the ball" to Kingscote's back hand, speedily reached the net by means of short drop shots, and repeatedly beat the visitor. Patterson took the first set, o—l. Kingscote won the opening game in the second set. Patterson equalised in the nest game, and carried the score to 3—l in his favor. Kingscote again footfanlted twice before winning his second game by means'of fine back-hand passing shots. Each player won his own service in the next four games. The seventh game was keenly contested, each holding the advantage several times. With the score. 5—4 in Patterson's favor, Kingscote brilliantly attempted to equalise, but after duce, Patterson's service carried him through, winning the second set 6—4.

Both appeared anxious to attack, playing up to the net when opportunity offered. Patterson won off Kingscote's service, but lost his first service of the match in. the next game through two double faults. Kingscote took the third game, getting ahead by 2—l for the first time in this match. Patterson recovered, and, placing well, won three successive games. But the indomitable Englishman never relaxed, and equalised four all. Kingscote got ahead in the next game, and then Patterson, winning the following game to love, created great excitement by again equalising five all. A long deuce followed, each playing perfect tennis, and it resulted in the Australian's favor. The final game went to six deuce before Patterson, with a terrific smash, settled the game, the set, and the destination of the Davis Cup. The score was B—6,

Patterson demonstrated his ability in the match as a player of wonderful equanimity in the tightest corner, exhibiting a perfect temperament for big games.

Interest relaxed when Lowe and Anderson commenced what proved to be one of the greatest and most evenly contested matches ever witnessed. Here each played a similar base line game of long drives. The absence of volleys made the rallies longer, but lacking in the brilliance and speed of the other Cup iratches. Anderson, after ding-dong games, took the first set, o— i. Lowe won the second set 7—5, Anderson the third 6—3, and Lowe the fourth 6—4. The final set was only decided after twenty-two games. Each hung on tenaciously, first one gaining the advantage and then the other, until, with a failing light, Anderson took the set and the match for Australasia 12 —10.

The final scores for the contest are:— Australasia—Four matches, twelve sets, 102 games. British Isles—One match, six sets, 77 games.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE FOOT-FAULT RULE. SUBJECT GENERALLY DISCUSSED. Sydney, Jan. 21. Kingseote's repeated foot-faults in the Davis Cup matches are widely discussed, find are probably unprecedented in international tennis. The umpire agreed that the linesman was quite justified in calling Kingscote, whose breach of. rules when playing Anderson caused some comment, but the linesman hesitated to call him on Friday. The umpire expressed the opinion that unpires and linesmen the world over are too lax regarding the foot-fault rule. He recently brought a motion before the Victorian Association to 'approach the Australasian Association with a view of altering the foot-fault rule, but the motion was rejected. Some keen spectators of the game, including a prominent New Zealand player, declare that there was not one of the cup contestants who did not foot-fault in a greater or less degree. It is generally admitted that the repeated rulings against Kingscote's footwork perturbed both Britishers, and was one of the minor causes of their undoing. In some quarters it is advocated that the footfaulting rule be amended or cut out.

The number of matches necessary to decide the contest is five (four singles and one doubles). Australasia has won three singles and the doubles, and the British Isles one singles. The detailed results of the matches, in the order in which they weve played, are: Patterson (Austrairtsia) beat Lowe (British Isles), o—4, 6—3, 6—2.

King.scote (British Isles) beat Anderson (Australasia), 7—5, o—2, B—4. Brookes and Patterson (Australasia) beat Kingscote and Beamish (British Isles), G—o, (i—o, 6--2. Patterson (Australasia) beat Kingscote (British Isles), 6—l, C—4, S—6. Anderson (Australasia) beat Lowe (British Isles), (J— 4, 5—7, ti—3, 4—6, 12—10. ' Australia four matches: British Isles one match.

HISTORY OF THE CUP, MANY KEEK CONTESTS, The Davis Cup was presented for competition' among the nations by Mr. •fewisht iVfiav*,. a£ St, J-eui*- £L3«6»

Competition for its possession, has created a keen and friendly rivalry, and hasbeen 'tie means of bringing together lawn tennis champions from all guar* ters of the globe. The first contest took place at Longwood, Boston, U.S.A., in 1900,' the contestants being America and the British Isles. America was successful by 3 matches to 0. There was no contest in 1901, but in the following year the British Isles sent over the brothers Doherty and Dr. Pirn. The holders retained the trophy by 3 matches to 2, but in 1903 the Dohertys were successful by 4 matches to 1. In 1904, Belgium, Austria, and France entered the lists, but America did not challenge. Belgium earned the right of challenge, but was then easily defeated by 5 matches to 0. In the following year Australasia issued her first challenge, and was represented by Brookes, Dunlop, and Wilding. They defeated Austria easily, but lost to America by 5 matches to 0. America was defeated in the challenge round by the same score. Australasia.in the following year again p!ia.V:ij:e.i. being represented by Wilding :u.. J)r. Poidevin, but Were once more defeated by America by 3 matches to 2, and again the latter were defeated by the British Isles team by 5 matches to" 0. Then in 1907, Brookes and Wilding were, successful, both against America and in the challenge round, and brought the cup tp Australia, where it remained, notwithstanding three attempts by America to lift it, until 1913, when Britain again took the cup. In 1913 America defeated the British Isles, 4—l, and in 1914 Australasia once more gained the trophy by 3 to 2. During the war period 1915 — 1919, there were no contests.

VISIT OP ENGLISH PLAYERS. That Beamish and Lowe, two of the members of the English tennis team now competing for the Davis Cup in Sydney, are to pay a brief visit to New Zealand on their way back to England, has now been practically decided. Matches will be played against New Zealand combinations at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association now awaits information as to the exact dale when the visitors arrive.