THE CHINA MAH JUL
193
BUDGE AND VON CRAMM IN FINAL
AUSTIN BEATEN IN GREAT 21/2-HOUR FIGHT
ENGLISHMAN WINS THIRD SET
DUEL AT 14-12
(By A. WALLIS MYERS)
London, July 1.
nough, the
Austin brac
a stroke of a fo
the ener took
patient and militant time.
WONDERFTE
What a wonderful
on Oramanr
PREDICTION was fulfilled and relative values endorsed at Wimbledon yesterday. J. D. Budge, America's No. 1, and Baron G. Von Cramm, the German champion, reached the final of the singles cham-game, taking that gam pionship, which will be played to-morrow. Budge beat his compatriot, almost cavalier confiden
Austin's service fter deace then Frank Andrew Parker, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-1, thus repeating his victory produced more kicks on his own, to in the semi-final of the American championship last year.
THE GERMAN'S VICTIM WAS H. W. AUSTIN, GREAT BRITAIN'S. NO. 1 NOW THAT PERRY IS NO LONGER RANKED OFFICIALLY. BUT THE FIGHT WAS LONG, EXCITING AND GRIM, YIELDING TWO AND A HALF HOURS PLAY AND THE LONGEST SET IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, MOST GALLANTLY CAPTURED BY THE ENGLISHMAN. VON GRAMM WON EVENTUALLY, 8–6, 6–3, 12—14, 6—1
Before the skein of Wimbledon was dissected, I suggested that Budge and. Von. Cramm were the logical finalists. The seedsmen's bugles had heralded their approach, yet, if the Californ lan's progress has been majestic, Yamagishi of Japan and Crawford of Australia the latter for. five sets have harassed the German's path.
"A snuff-box, we are told, has no right to sneeze. I imagine that Budge, in spite of the omens that presage his victory, is not likely to under-estimate the strength of the challenge.
In-service the rivals are well matched, and if it may be consi-
lead
On the threshold
faltered,
victory he
Austin was
stolidly
firm. Amid great, cheering he Itared three games in sequence, to Head 6 5. He broke through the
service to love, extracted errors and volleying slips. directed drives.
fore!
-AUSTIN BAULKED BY SERVICE
If only he could handle the vicious German service which came between him and the set for nearly 40 min-
j
[pressed under the volleying pressure.
Until Budge could reimpose his ser-utes! He could not do it until the vice superiority one felt that Parker 26th game and after seven set balls
had been saved by his rival had a chance..
If tribute must rightly be given In the end the clouds dissolved over the head of America's No 1 to Austin for hanging on so nobly, and he sailed home serenely to con- producing in this phase his best ten-
nis of the season, the German de tinue the metaphor, in clear sun-
dered that the German's second crew were not called out and there shine. He was led 3-2 in the third served every cheer he got for his kicking service is a little more were no interruption.
The trim, agile yet impassive cramping to the receiver than the American's second, more normal Parker, clad like a ten-second sprin- in type, the strain, of generating ter-one almost looked for the motor-power over a long duel is supplied the day's early sensation mat more likely to be felt by Von He took the first set from the great Gramm.
Badge in 19 minutes and went for- ward, the ace of confidence, to lead 2-0 in the second.
that was his last red lamp. set losing his service yet again, but great salving shots when the set seemed lost. At these successive the champion's Parker now began to net his vol crises he showed
and to feel the lack of a nor-nerve and skill, and every shot, in forehand drive. In the fourth his armoury, was required. Badge was his furious, depend-1 self. But "Nosey Parker had
BUDGE'S LONG SWING
ment, supported by resolute volleys. But Budge's swing, especially on the backhand, is longer and more mea sured than his adversary's; that fraction of precious time may con- ceivably exercise an adverse in- fluence.
This was highway robbery. Budge had not lost a set in his five pre- vious rounds, scarcely a game Here was a young play who had never threatened him fore not only holding him making him look helpless-mTE dicament
Apart from this technical factor, I consider that the American has shown, outside Wimbledon, a more
PARKER'S S convincing claim to the title than
The pistol was the German. He has never been a
the shortes range. finalist before, like Von Cramm, but
at the his match against the winner last ter proved to be the decisive trial for Perry
One or two net-cords fewer and Budge might have been debating a fifth set
MIGHT HAVE!
ser
But whole tru remembering
LINDING SPEED
At long last, on the eighth set
a domble at Wimbledon yesterday ball, Austin hit a fine backhand ser- vice return past the incoming volleyer. A deep throated shout went up. But Von Cramm, in no
ENGLAND'S LAST STAND
meeting Von Crammin cond semi-final; made an effort to keep England in way distressed, swept through the
fourth set with blinding speed des He was beaten only
ggle of 56 games which of his six games were taken to 15,000 spectators glued to their He only lost the fifth game
broke through Austin's service for well over two hours:
love to finish the match. Tenze excitement did not bubble
"I have not yet begun to fight" until the third set had wavered
you could almost hear himr say, to and fro. Indeed, the German, in secret
repeating the words of John Paul re if not in play, held such a Jones when summoned to surrender commanding lead that he was divid- ed from a three-set victory over Austin by a couple of
ATTACK
was to chop Budge's behin low,
hooter did eply. Parker,
a winning vol NOT INSPIRING ise attack and He had won the first teenth game. It was sintegrating one
splendid story inspiring set because
that Budge, was returning the service wit
ness or accuracy. Perhaps ves, was not
Both have beaten Perry in his best amateur days, but only Budge has done so on a grass court. Budge disturbed by the Milwaukee miracle. because both were ser might have come to Wimbledon this in the third game of the second set von Cramm with the year as the American champion if his service, hitherto idle
break which aimed at Au he had reserved his best service for
Frand
fight began to
the crucial period when he was he had broke Reading Perry 5-3 in the fifth set at Forest Hills last September.
Yon Gramm has won no major ent, with First Ten mén en- ance May of last year.
German champion
Olympiad int
ship sing
Love, gaining level began to breathe more
"NO SURRE Yet Parker was. ing
in the ward when
His
which was sinking under
MORAL OF AUSTIN'S PLAY
footnote to this skeleton-nar- one may point a moral con- Austin's play. His form much higher in the third the two preceding it. Fould seem to reveal the first ten practice
had been declining bsence
cour
the centre time
the virtue of quite
slice but the
tarpaulin which was his birth-sho
rese two int only the gods know.
(Continued on Page 21).
ting