Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-08
INVADERS BEST
ON SOGGY COURT
International Tennis Match
Proves Most Exciting
Struggle.
| MANY SETS REQUIRED TO
DECIDE GRUELING CONTEST
Visitors Must Win Both Match.
| es Monday in Order to Gain
Entrance in Finals.

NEW YORK. June Play.
ing tennis that ran the gamut
from sensational TO mediocre, the
Australasian team defeated the
United States pair in the double
match OF the Davis cup prelim-
mary tie today by a score OF
20, %, 50, %. 81.
The victory gave the players
from down under" the first
match of the series. which now
stands:
United States, ?; Australasia. I.
| Monday the two remaining
single matches will be played. and
while America needs one match
| the Australasians must win both
in order TO secure entrance into
the second round, to be played in
England next month.
| For thrills and excellent work
no Davis cup tennis match played
in this country heretofore equaled
that of today The United States
pinned its faith to Maurice f. Nc
Loughlin and Harold IL. Hackett,
while the island continents repre-
sentatives were Stanley \. Doust
and A. B. Jones.
| For five full sets these players
battled back and forth. First one
lpair obtained the advantage. only
to lose it moment later to their
Opponents Dashing individual
play was nullified by wretche'i
lack of team work. and marvellous
i"gets' made. only to be Cancelled
by stupid plays moment later.
Played on Soggy Courts.
The spice of adventure was added by
drenching thunderstorm. which soaked
the majority of the $50 spectators ana
delayed the play for almost an hoLr.
Hardly had the second set been started
when the black clouds overhanging the
seconded on players and spectators alike
!; Tarpaulins were hastily stretched over
the playing turf while the thoasands
! rushed for the clubhouse me cro"us
| proved too heavy for the porches and
! iloors and when the supports began 10
| creak the drenched gathering sought
safety again in the open.
/ With the first sign OF clear SKY the ON
Gals set to work to clear away the water.
+. Underneath the turf was found soggs
! but playable and the match proceeded
| The water-soaked spectators returned y"
the stands and soon forgot their discoh-
j fort in the excitement of the spectacle
, The delay and changed condition of the
court however. turned the tide OF VIC.
! tory in favor of the Austraiasans ana
! fighting desperately to the last point
M cLou5hn and Hachett went down IN
| defeat where early in the play they APP
| peared to be the logical winners. The
heavy condition of the turf took me eds
| off McLoughlin's game ana gave the VS.
itors the advantage tnat nnaily eadooo
! them to Wn out.
Foreigners Have Team Work.
[ While the Californian was the star OF
| the match, the steady teamwork OF the
! Australasians proved too much FOR MN 10
overcome aided as he was by flashes oil
brilliant form on the part OF Hackett-
The Americans never at any time ap-
peared to understand The technique or
double play and either interfered WIN
! each ether or left territory uncoVercn
, which the opponents were quick to shoot
/ at. Before the rain fell Mclaughlin was
able to employ the full power and speed
of his tremendous strokes. but when the
! turf and balls became watersoaked TINS
asset lost much of its effectiveness
/ Hatkett failed TO show The form which
has marked his play In previous years.
| and both his service and returns Tor the
! greater part of the play We're weak ana
Z in, Elective. His short lobS, which seldom
nassed the center of the opponents court,
! were turned into smashing drives which
! scored point after point for the austria
lasians. Jones proved TO De tennis
PLAYER who lived up to the reputation
| which preceded him to America. and his
| service and volleying were both last ana
:, accurate. Dous; did not appear TO equal
advantage netting or outing many re-
| turns but he did team up with Jones In
excellent manner at critical points. whcn
| enabled them to stave on the wonderfuI
| rallies of Mclaughlin.
II is doubtful whether the United
States champion ever played better ten
mis- under conditions distastefni to hini'
| and his deadly smashes and Voiiesins re-
peatedly pulled games out "n mn a sha
reared to be lost. Realizing TINS, the
| hustralasians PLAYED at Harkett when
ever possible. and although the Amer
lean team captain tried maniuhS 10 stem
tba torrent of balls which Mashed at him
frou every angle, he could not cope with
TIA situation (which he was placed BY
,he reneralship of the opposing pair.
Conditions Favor Invaders.
with Mclaughlin serving In the opening
game of the first set the Americans
Jumped into the lead and ran out the set
in eight games outplacing and outgener.
aling their opponents. The second set
saw the situation reversed. for Doust and
Jones rushed to the net at every oppor-
trtnity and either shot the ball between
or on the outside of the United States
pair Both Hackett and Mclaughlin att
tempted to smash the ball ~ they had
done before the rain, with the result that
the nets helped bring victory to the In