1937-07-24 — Page 21

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 24, 1937.

TWO AMERICANS REACH LAST FOUR

CRAWFORD'S PLUCKY FIGHT WITH VON CRAMM

HENKEL LOSES

TO PARKER BEATS GRANT

AUSTIN RAND

(By A. WALLIS MYERS)

London, June 29.

waging and winning a five-set struggle before 15,000 spectators, his compatriot, Henkel, was hold- ing the interest of 6,000 in the neighbouring court as he fought to save a five-setter against Frankie Parker.

The cheers intermingled, and Heinrich Klenschroth, the German captain, was flitting from one arena to the other bearing tidings of the adjacent battle.

Strange that, as von Cramm's cause prospered so Henkel's was depressed. Henkel lost the first two sets and won the third and fourth.

his hold on the young

Q

UEEN MARY, paying her second visit, was a mo ng another vast when he heard that von Cramm crowd, yesterday, watching a programme that maintained Wimble-American loosened. His drive seem- don's claim to be both wonderful and weather-proof.

ed to come to the volleyer's racket. Parker, trim and alert as usual,

Yet another tradition-the honours and cheers were divided. If Ameri-was the better match-player. He ca placed two players in the semi-final round, one at the expense of Ger-was not in the least dismayed when many and the other at that of Australia, Donald Budge and Frank Parker Henkel, throwing off his early nerv earned their promotion by sterling play.

ousness, squared the match. Park- er's forehand chops in the final set THEN ENGLAND KEPT H. W. AUSTIN AS EXPECTED. TO “BETSY” GRÄNT DESPITE A 5—2 LEAD BY THE LITTLE AMERICAN IN THE SECOND own

HE DID NOT DROP A SET -strokes somewhat despised in his SET AND A DANGEROUS THREAT OF A “COME-BACK" IN THE THIRD SET.

country-were winning as many points as his more anglicised The fourth place, again according to the book, was filled by G. von Cramm. lantly and with such beautiful stroke play, reminiscent of his vintage year, did Jack Crawford strive to check the German's progress and save Australia's claim to the championship.

These four matches must be reviewed in turn. Austin, the first to enter the Centre Court a week ago, was the first to enter the

semi-final. He did not beat Grant with the same fluent ease that characterised their previous meeting at Eastbourne a year

ago; but he was steadfast under rounds of the championship, and galling sniping... and shrewd not one of these sets has been ex- enough to press his moral ad-tended into 'vantage games.

If the glory of the present is to vantage home.

A seven-game set to. Austin make the future secure, Budge wil revealed a too defensive Grant, succeed Perry as the new cham- hoisting underbaked lobs and a pion. His service alone was too neat capacity on the driver's part withering for McGrath to handle to singe the little Atlantan's with any profit. wings if he came to the net.

Up to this stage Grant had not tumbled once, and one began to Wonder whether he was experi- menting with the theory that Amer- icans are prosperous because there is no place to sit down.

GRANT RECOVERS

Then Grant,

honouring

shorts which he wore for the

first

Cramm

the first set from three.

But how gal-backhand.

AT HIS BEST IN DECIDER If, as. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, America is the only place Crawford seemed to be reacting, looked the seasoned general. His where man is full grown, Parker but he rushed forward to engage in a drop versus drop rally, ended service, depreciating in the forfeit- by a fine lob volley from Von strength in the fifth. He was guard- ed sets, came to its maximum Cramm, that. extracted. riotous cheers.

Before they had subsided, the German was two sets up. He look-

ed as a secure as the foundations of the Centre Court. But Crawford

to began underspin him with splendid talent.

served a seeded place.

a

ing every conceivable loophole, and when he was out of position for a full-blown drive he made the sur- prise half-volley.

It seems almost a pity that this earnest and courageous player must apparently be mown down by a fel- . low-countryman in the next round.

The women's championship yield- ed its last eight, and England has secured two places. Miss Stammers, Mrs. King, Miss Nuthall, and the Countess de la Valdene were among the casualties. Only Mrs. King could collect a set.

CRAWFORD'S TACTICS The mine was laid with calculat ed strategy, and the explosion was ominous. Crawford was out to dis- turb the disciplined rhythm of the VON CRAMM STARTS WELL The day's most stimulating en-of length and strength and such

German's game by such a variation counter, rich in

classic play, was mixture of spin that he could vir- Von

against Crawford.tually call the tune. Suffering from tonsilitis during the

LACK OF CONFIDENCE He won the third and fourth sets the first time, Mme. Mathieu be- Coming to the Centre Court for week-end, the Australian did not to a storm of applause. It was the trayed in the opening bout a sur fancy his chance, nor, I imagine, crowd's salute to a worthy warrior prising lack of confidence. She did the crowd when the German,one who was demonstrating with could win only one game against the opening on a high note, captured every game won that he had de- Mrs. King. Then her genius. for time in this country, raised his quicker than last year, and his ser-crowned with success was due part-were revealed. She finished with a Crawford was covering the court That his gallant effort was not places and her resource in defence steering the ball into awkward whole game as well as his lobs and, vice had a healthier seeming to depress Austin by his until he

sting; but ly to failing physical reserves and love set, the complete mistress of amazing redemptions and his slant and pace of Von Cramm's ground sistence in the hour of need.

could match the length partly to the German's stoical in-the situation. volleys when he had laboured for strokes the hand looked as if i the opening, got a 5-2 lead. would fail the heart.

When Crawford's

Miss Stammers was in erratic There were visions of a long and

service failed mood Then, in the second set, all was set, giving Von

to save the second game of the fifth either won

against Miss Scriven; she open struggle with attrition as its changed. Here was Crawford the cleavage, the end was signalled: peat the achievement.

the watchword. But to a timely spurt artist of old. The: deft return of Quietly and confidently maintain-of service was

Cramm a

point outright or. vital lost it through an attempt to re- by Austin his opponent did not service, the varied range of drive, ing his wonderful composure, last tain, and Miss Scriven. never relax- respond.

He played for safety and the beautiful "fadeaway" backhand year's finalist hit his way to the ing her grip and shining in her Her return lamentably uncer- lost five games in a row.

drive down the line, and the dainty winning post. Luck was against him. A ball drop volleys-all were revived, SECOND GERMAN IN STERN DUEL first set, that looked out on the side-line-a plus a service equal in power, if

ground strokes, was safe after the point that would have won the 12th not-in

While the German champion was game for the American was man's

Ger-

deemed valid by the linesman.

FINAL STAND

consistency, to the

GERMAN'S TENACITY ONE Only Von Cramm's tenacity and Grant's heart did not work quite extra mobility prevented Crawford as gaily after that incident. He led from winning the second set. It 2-1 in the third set, but saw looked his rightful prize when, Austin go to 4-2 with a love game [lifting his game to a dazzling before making his final stand..

height, he broke, through the Ger- With lob and drop volley Grant man's service to square the set at saved three match balls in the four-all, and next went on to gain eighth game, and stole the nintha 54 lead. The confident ace because his enemy attempted drops which came in this ninth game al- that did not fructify.

most seemed a herald of victory. But the die was cast, and Aus- But Von Cramm was adamant tin, much the sounder ground- He won his service from 15 in the stroke player of the two, went out tenth game, then captured Craw- from 15 in the next game.

ford's to lead 6-5. In the twelfth BUDGE'S EASY PROGRESS game Von Cramm had two

set Budge was the next winner-the balls. He was foot-faulted on the swift executioner Vivian Mc-second-a galling check. He

was Grath. The Californian has cap- unsteadied momentarily, but re- tured 15 successive sets in his five covered to lead 7-6.

¿

COMMENCING

MONDAY

JULY 26TH

MID-YEAR CLEARANCE

(Continued on Page 22)

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