Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 7 May 1928, page 17


DAVIS CUP.

AUSTRALIA AND ITALY.

Rain Prevents Play.

Crawford Improving.

advent of the Ai batting.)

GENOA, May 5.

Showers of rain which fell at midday made the surface of the court for use in the Davis Cup tie between Italy and Australia too slippery for play, and the first match was postponed for an hour. Further rain fell, however, and the court could not be used Play was then postponed for the day

The groundsman s routine of watering the court before lunch left a perfect bil- liard

table surface but inky blue rain-clouds swept unexpectedly from the Allis and heavy rain fell at 1 o'clock The unwatered courts emerged in an ideal condition, but further rain left the Hans Cup court a quagmire, which defied the afternoon's strong sun He Morpurgo and Crawford went on to the court, but decided on a for the inspection at half-past 3 o'clock when Patterson took a hand, and said that so far as he was concerned there was only one decision play was impossible We Moi pin-go wanted to begin at a quarter past i o'clock, but Patterson demonstrated that there was no foothold, and induced De Aforpui-fco to agree to postponement for one day

The fashionable cloud was disappointed, but sportingly accepted the inevitable The singles will, therefore, be played to morrow, at 2 o'clock, and the doubles on Monday

Possibly Crawford would have been less inconvenienced by the sticky court than De Morpurgo, but u days' grace would be more valuable if he could have had vigorous practice

Glimpses of True Form.

Members- of the Australian team were more hopeful following pi act ice on Friday afternoon, as Crawford showed glimpses of his true form, playing beautiful ground strokes and forecourt valley-, The only doubt now is whether his cold will sap his (-Living power if the match against De Morpurgo exceeds three sets Patterson said that Crawford was having more cleanly to day, though he was not so active as last week when his form was his lilian t. "We are now more hopeful that he will use to the occasion," Patterson added

Genoa is doing the utmost honour to the Australians, and a special flagstaff has been erected for a local 116 made Australian flag Intense, interest is being shown, and red placards, worded Coppa Davis," are displayed everywhere

'The doubles will form a gala occasion Die Italians should not be under lated, as last year they had a better tally of sets and games against li ance than did the United States Stcfam, one of Italy's singles players, had four match points against Cochet The Australians however, may be relied upon to set the time, and not to do the dancing

In view of the Continental vogue for line disputes, it is satisfactory to know that Pionsc, the central umpire, has enlisted reliable linesmen

European Zone Matches.

Windsor Great Britain.

LONDON, May 0

w inning four matches at Torquay against Argentine, Great Britain won is first found in the Davis Cup contest The British team will next play the winner of the JugoSlav ia I inland match L Higgs (Bl i tam) d W Hobson, 7 5, 7 2, 2 6, 7 3, J C Gregory (Britain) d T! E Boyd, 0-4, 110, 0 2, G I! Close Kees and James (Britain) d Boyd and Robson, 6-1 6-1, OF 1-0 7.3

The rubbers were even after play on the first day, as Gregory defeated Robson and Higgs lost to Royal

Roumania Defeats Belgium.

BUCHAREST. May 3 in

the Davis Cup tie between Roumania and Belgium to decide who should oppose the winner of the match between Australia and Italy, Roumania defeated Belgium The scores were - Lupjiu (Roumania) d M Ivvhink, 0-3, 70 75, 7!), 6 2, Nicholas Misses (Roumania) d Iwcins, 03, 80 JO, 6-3 Mtshu and Bocincr (Roumania) d 1 bank and Iwems after losing the first

set

Denmark Beats Poland.

WARSAW, May 5

9 K Uli ich (Denmark) d Georges Stola row (Poland), 30 0-4, 0-0, 6 4, Axel Petersen (Denmark) d Warminski, 6-2, 36, 0-4, 82 Ulrich and Petersen (Denmark) d Stolaiow and Stolarovv, 64, 63, 64

Austria and the Philippines.

A rENNA, May 5

H W Allens (Austin) d Aragon (Philippines), 6 J, 0*1, 03, I Matcjka (Austin) d Ingajo (Philippines) 6 2, 6 20 4 miles and Aitens (-Vnstira) d Aragon and Ingajo, 0 2, 40 1113, 6-0, 63

Germany v. Greece

BERLIN, May) 5 in

the Divis Cup match between Ger-many and Greece Buss (Germany) d A J Islands (Greece), 7 50 4, 40 0-2, Otto 11 outshone (Germany) d Billi, JO, 0 40 3, 10-8, Bergmann and H Kleinschmidt (Germany ) d Ball and Iceland, 01, 6-3

6-4

Finland and Jugo-Slavia.

ZAGREB, May 5

Giuhn (JTinlaml) d Popov itch, 6 20 3, 65, Schaffer (1 inland) d Giotcnfddt, 0 2, 2 0 0 7, 7 3

Hungary and Norway

BUDAPEST, May) 5

Baron von Kchrling (Hungary ) d Chris Johnson (Norway), 0-1, 0-2, 0 1, Takacs (Hungary ) d loakildscn, 7 30 80 1, 10

New Zealand Team

LISBON, May 6

The members of the New Zealand team have arrived at Lisbon

Cummings Defeated

CAPE DON N, Ma j 5

Playing against Border at East London, E F Moon defeated Cornell, 6 40 2, and defeated Dodd 64, 61 R O Cummings defeated Cornell, 04, 6 4, and lost to Dodd, 0 0, 2-0 In the doubles, Cummings and Moon defeated Kemp and Beavan, 0-0,

0-1

(Moon and Cummings are two Queensland players who are playing in matches abroad )

Hard Courts Championships

LONDON, May 5

The final rounds in the said courts championships played at Bournemouth to suited -Smiles's D B Spence (dig land) d H Cochet (France), 5.7 40 6 2, 6, 6 7, Rene Lacoste (France) d Mayes, 62 64, 46, 64 Final Lacoste d Spence,

,02,02 Women's Singles Miss Goldsack d Miss. Eileen Bennett, 16, 7-5, 6 4, Miss J Ridley d Miss Birdie. 8-6, 6-1 6-0, Miss Goldsack d Miss Ridley, 8-6, 6-4 Women's Doubles Miss Watson and Miss B Nuthall d Mrs Shepherd Baron and Miss Steel y, 6-2 6-3 Mixed Doubles Final -H Cochet and Miss K Bennett d R Lester and Miss J Ridley. 5-7, 6-2 Men's Doubles Silence and C Kingsley d La Coste and M Johns 3 0 8-0 6 6 2