THE DAVIS CUP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3692, 29 November 1912, Page 5

THE DAVIS CUP.

OPENING MATCHES

BRITISHERS WIN FIRST TWO RUBBERS.

PARKE DEFEATS BROOKES

DIXON DEFEATS HEATH

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT] (Received Nov. 29, 1.5- a.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 28.

There was perfect weather and the tennis courts saw the excellent attendance of 40,000. Dixon yielded to the persuasion of his colleagues and decided to play instead of Beamish.

The Englishmen met with a fine reception.

Parke and Brookes played the first match, which ended in a disappointment for the Australian. Brookes served and took service to fifteen and won on Parke’s service and won the .first three games to love. Parke took the next and Brookes the following. Brilliant driving by Parke was cheered* Parke, getting 4 —3, won on Brooke’s service to love, making four all. Parke took the set B—68 —6 amid great cheering. In the thirteenth game Brookes lost the service, finishing with a double fault. In the second set Brookes showed up poorly on the volley, breaking down repeatedly and failing to find his length, his efforts to do so sending the ball to the back line in this set. Parke got two sets in against him, a feat not done for years with Brookes. In the third set Brookes was extremely tired when the score stood at s—l5 —1 in Parke’s favor. Brookes won the subsequent five games with grim determination. The seventh and eighth games were lost by Parke rather than won bv Brookes..

In the fourth set Parke won the first game off his service, Brookes netting two returns off easy services. Brookes won the next game off his own service after vantage, which the server called eight times. After two all Parke went out with a sequence of four. Brookes was very tired and scarcely able to step aside to intercept a ball at the net. Throughout the match Parke" executed perfect drives, either deep down the side line or across from corner to qorner. Such perfect 'driving had never previously been witnessed here. After four all in the first set Brookes never looked like winning. He mis-timed his balls and got too many on the wood.

Parke received an ovation at the conclusion of the match.

Dixon started serving finely (and won the game on it). The seventh game was one of the best of the day, Heath taking it and also the next with fine serving. After 4—l Dixon won his service. By splendid serving and volleying he took Heath’s serve to love and won the set 6 —4.

In the third set Dixon won his first two games, Heath taking the third and Dixon winning the next owing to the poor half-vollev play by Heath—--3—l. Heath made it 3 —2 off Dixon’s serve. Heath next- won. After a service to love, making four all. The ninth game was responsible for splendid rallies, Dixon winning that and the next and the set. In the fourth set Dixon took the first two, killing beautifully the weak return- of Heath, who won the third game. Heath won the service to love, making two all. Dixon won the next three, pounding Heath's backhand strokes. Heath won the service to love and after a fine uphill fight Dixon carried the game to 5 —3. Vantage was called by the server twice. A double fault allowed Heath to getout of the difficulty and win the game • —f—4 —Dixon leading. Dixon won the next off Heath’s service and 'the match.

A striking feature of the day's play was the complete breakdown of the Australian’s service. Heath serving nearly as many double-faults as in his first service. There was no sting or length in tho second, which Dixon punished severely. Both seemed afraid to hit. It was a question rather of a good man playing a better and both were playing badly, the difference between the two accounting for the scores. Parke beat Brookes, S—6, 6—3, 5—7, &—2.

jnxon beat Heath 7—5, 6 —l. 6—4 6—f.

The Britishers have wen two rubbers, with six sets and 48 games to Australia’s two sets and 37 games.