1937-07-15 — Page 21

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 15, 1937,

WIMBLEDON'S FIRST-DAY

MENZEL FIRST OF SEEDED PLAYERS TO LOSE

FINE RECOVERY BY

CRAWFORD:

AUSTIN AND VON CRAMM EACH DROP A SET

(By A. WALLIS MYERS)

London, June 22.

H.

WIMBLEDON opened in its usual sunshine and before the same teem- ing crowds, but in the first half hour there was a mild sensation. W. Austin, on the centre court, and Baron von Cramm, on its nearest neighbour, No. 1, were both a set down, and visions of miracles began to cross the eye's retina.

AUSTIN, POSSIBLY SUFFERING A LITTLE FROM “BUDGEITIS”—THAT IS, IMPORTING HIS QUEEN'S FORM TO WIMBLEDON WAS MORE THAN A SET TO THE BAD. G. L. ROGERS, THE IRISHMAN WITH THE GIANT STRIDE, AND A BURGLAR'S REACH, LED BUT FOR A NEW LOW DRIVES, HIT TOO EXUBERANTLY,

HIM 5-3 IN THE SECOND.

JUST CROSSING THE LINE, HE MIGHT EASILY HAVE BEEN TWO SETS UP.

The British No. 1 came round, so did the German champion, and both played sterling tennis : after their initial reverse; but Austin had to draw on the Irish temperament, and he was not play- ing with the confidence of a fourth seeded player until the gap between the two men had widened.

:

Von Cramm's opponent was Jack Lysaught, who surprised both himself and the crowd by returning the kicking German service with damage to the ser- ver. If there was an adventur- ous air about the old Etonian's bangs and slices they found their thor- mark, and Lysaght was oughly enjoying himself

when

Von Cramm found his missing touch.

After that Lysaght, though

he

ran for miles and never forsook en-

PRELIMINARY PRACTICE

terprise, was doomed.

He collected only three more games

in as many sets.

'The German had

been practising on a different turf surface; the swifter "carry

on No. 1 court needed a preliminary prac- tice.

Two seeded players opened with- out their medals on; a third, was beaten. The towering Roderick Menzel, after leading Jack Crawford by two sets to one, and looking as if his service and top-spin stabs might prevail, was overhauled and finally passed by a more orthodox longer strokemaker with a much experience of turf courts.

TOO MUCH FENCING It was not a great match because there was too much fencing for position in it, too short a length on many of the ground strokes, and a certain shyness about the attack of both sides.

But the service was first class and the court-craft often canny. Menzel made a brave effort after the Aus- tralian led 5-love in the final set. He

saved a match-ball in the seventh Miss Kay Stammers, above, is game and celebrated his escape by capturing the next two games from fifteen.

Crawford was nearly bowled over by the Czech's. withering service in

Great Britain's main hope in the

· Wightmän Cup series against the United States now that Misg Dorothy Round, the Wimbledon.“ champion, is unable to play.

'- -

it when he saved several match bas some time before.

SURPRISE

Be-

held him in the first two sets. neath the outward calm of Brom- wich the strain of a first match at Wimbledon bad, to be overcome; he was much more confident in the third set.

SURPRISING WIN

Another stranger to Wimbledon, C. J. Eedes, of South Africa, gain- ed a surprising victory over G. de

Stefani. It was fortified by

knowledge that the Italian, repre-

the senting his country in

mid-

European Cup, had come straight from a sand court at Prague. A 40 hour journey to damp grass court

played with increasing confidence; did not help matters, but Eedes and he buried the short lobs which Stefani was prone to put up. Italian had a point for the third set

and a lead.

The

Losing his chance here, he be-

hastened matters by a robust ser- came rather disheartened, and Eedes

vice.

HECHT OVERWHELMS FILBY Eric Filby, of whom high hopes AMERICANS' PEACEFUL DAY The big American brigade had a are held, failed to win a set against the Czechoslovak · second peaceful day, and none of their Hecht, nominated men was in danger.string, but the Surrey lad did not Budge's premiere

He led 4-2 in on the Centre disgrace himself. Court held the interest of a large the opening set, and might have crowd after tea, but Farquharson won it but for double faults. His

thrusting has lost some of the brilliant dash backhand was which once surprised Perry, and he Hecht's, but not nearly as consistent, was scarcely a match for the tuned while he was often trapped by the

Czech's delicate volleying. up Californian.

Filby did better in the third than

as

23

The Centre Court certainly looked as if Budge was its complete master in the second he led 5-4-and I there, yesterday, but te lay we shall see hope his talent, obviously

chance to him in conflict with G. P. Hughes will be given another in what may conceivably be the re-prove itself. hearsal of a more momentous match

PALLADA'S RECOVERY

in four weeks' time. One cannot The Jugoslavians, European fina- hold out much hope for the English-lists in the Davis Cup, scored three man's success, but Hughes has kept victories, but Pallada had to come The more than one champion guessing.up from behind to beat Olliff,

Englishman, with fine forcing shots. * PARKER'S QUICK VICTORY Parker was a quick winner and volleying raids, won the first against Ho, the Chinese player steal-two sets; Pallada's physical reserves ing only five games. Here was too prevented his opponent from going much backhand depth and too alert further.

a volleyer for any slower-footed Another five-set struggle provid- player to breathe freely, and Par-jed Nakano of Japan with an op- ker's forehand chops had strength portunity to uproot an American; and cunning, too.

he revived in the fifth set to beat

WILDE DEFEATS PETRA As the shades of night were fall-

Mako had much more trouble Chas. Harris of Florida. with the young Frenchman, Jamain, who has learnt to strike purposefuling over the Centre Court Frank drives by imbiding the Lacoste doc- trine. Budge's partner lost the open- ing set, but gathered speed and ac-for England. He defeated

Petra in the 12th game of the fifth curacy in the next three. His ser-

set. vicę brought its meed of aces.

Wilde achieved a stirring triumph Yvon

In Paris just recently France's Bitsy Grant had been in his

new recruit had taken nine games very short bed for the past three off the reel against his adversary days, recovering from a bout

of yesterday. But on the fast turf ‘flu,” and he looked like a convales- cent when he started against J. M. at Wimbledon Wilde found a sur face that brought out his volleying Hunt, of Sussex County Hunt was hill and ministered to his service powerful overhead and opened on

times

new

a level note, the first set yielding race. His back-hand drive, some-

insecure, found a. the eighth game, and when he got against Max Ellmer. A love set start- quite a fight. But after winning strength, and some of his passing shots in the first and third sets left

ing. a lucky net-cord in the next game ed the ball rolling in favour of the in the tenth game, Grant quicken-

Wilde used the fourth set wisely you almost felt that his reprisal Swiss champion. He was driving ed his pace of foot and drive, and

with consistently good length, the the end was signalled.

BROMWICH'S DEBUT

He

just deserved it.

Spectators had, not become fami- for

remain- There were more net-cords, for all clinging to the turf in its well- }

directed flight. McGrath's famous liar with the golf-club hold, and enough eyesight and. both men in the vital tenth game.

double-hander would have liked

perhaps this is why the debut of ing to get home in the fifth. It was a tense moment and Craw-

the bit of work for Middlesex. Results finalist in John BromwiX,“ ford looked shaky, but he scrambled higher bound or alternatively a vol-

ary, did not attract Bromwich has

good

Rezzo amid a great hurt of cheer.¡lever as target. Ellmer rarely Australian chair

Vanu- MEN'S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP...

ing for a popular favourite. He had broken the seeding string on the first day.

McGRATH EXTENDED

volleys; he leaves the country open and is happy with the long rally.

:

crowd.

Holder: J Perry (G.B.)

FIRST ROUND (Seeded Players In Black: Type) G. Von Cramm (Germany) beat

stolidity of a Although victorious in the end, veteran and the angling craft of the Australian champion was kept Lacoste. But he did not always While Crawford was fighting for busy throughout a long duel. The time his volleving excursions judi- F. G. Lysaght (G.B.), 3–6, his life on the centre court his young fourth set wavered into 16 games, ciously, and Comery, who hails-from 6.0. compatriot McGrath, was in troubleland Ellmer had his chance to win Charles Hare's club at Bir

gham

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