BROOKES’ GREAT FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1921, Page 3

BROOKES’ GREAT FIGHT.

Describing the contest between Brookes and Tilden a northern writer says: The draw had fallen out as Brookes had wished- He was anxious to try out Tilden, for he knew if he could beat him he could also beat Johnston, while almost certain of winning the doubles as well, but the postponement of the games for two days’ rain put Brookes in a less favorable position, in that he was called on to play on three successive days without a day’s interval between. However, this did not affect his chances against Tilden, and the court under a very bright sun rolled out beautifully true and so dry that the balls never became discolored. At the same time the rain must have slowed the court up to a certain extent, but there was not much room for better* tennis than in the memorable struggle'that ensued between Tilden and Brookes. The result was a

win for Tilden in four sets, but the games were only 23 to 22, and one could not help feeling proud of the great game Brookes played against his brilliant young opponent. If anybody was nervous it was Tilden, for he double faulted frequently, but he found that he could just put on the extra speed that nullified Brookes’ superior tactics. ft was really Tilden’s wonderful cannonball service that game him the game. He seemed to be able to put it across whenever he stood in need of an ace. He played to score most admirably, and he found a strong scoring shot in a lightning cross-court flick that found Brookes still on the way to the net. and either passed his backhand entirely or had such speed on it that the Australian could not return it effectively. Tilden’s tactics consisted of the terrific first service known as the cannon-ball, and old hands said that they had never seen Brookes left standing so often before. Three or four times Brookes managed to return it, but generally it was out of sight before he could move over to it. When it failed Tilden relied entirely on the ordinary. American service, which was a safe service inasmuch as it landed fn the court regularly, but Brokes played it magnificently, taking it on the rise and slamming it straight and hard with a beautiful topped forehand drive right to his opponent’s feet, and nothing but superlative play enabled Tilden to survive the net-rushing, hard*thinking tactician in the opposite court. Nearly all that had been written of Tilden turned out to be true. He played a magnificent game, but Brookes was superb. His anticipatory moves made his game look simple, but time after time he had Tilden cold, With the crowd laughing heartily, and Tilden joining in as the American started to rush one way, and Brookes sent the ball sailing into the opposite court. As a strategist and tactician Brookes was still the master mind, but he seemed to lack just the additional force that would have made Tilden look like the apprentice. Brookes maintained his fast rising service, which he placed uncannily, and Tilden was frequently nothing more than a spectator, but undoubtedly Brookes missed one or two “sitters” at the net. At one stage Tilden looked like changing his game, but Brookes anticipated him with occasional short dropped shots that found Tilden waiting vainly on the base line. The luck of the day was all against Brookes. In a hot, steaming atmosphere, he struck the very thing that he feared, a strenuous opening advantage pet that ran to 10—8, and extended over nearly 45 minutes. It left him a bit breathi and possibly a bit shaken psychologically, for he had been within an ace of winning at 5—3, and had service'at 5 4. As things turned out, that particular ace might have decided the whole match, for even then Brookes made a marvellous recovery, and in the subsequent play won 14 games to his opponent’s 13. He had the third set 6 1, and the fourth 3—o, and then lost, but it was a loss than brought him nothing but praise from friends and foes, who saw in him still the great master mind of modern lawn tennis.