The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-25
Wood, Shields
Take J Final
Singles Tits
YankS Overcome 20 Lead;
Biggest Recovery on
Cup Records.
BY HENRY M'LEMORE
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staf Correspondent
WIMBLEDON, England, July Is.
Sidney B. Wood Jr. and Francis
X. Shields, both of New York,
staged a fighting tennis comeback
today to give the United States vic
tory in the interzone final Davis
Cup battle with Australia. Amer
ica thus gained the right to meet
Great Britain in the final or chal-
lenge round.
wood completed the victory he
started yesterday, defeating the
great Jack Crawford, 6-3, 81, 40,
As, 6-2. Then, with the meeting on
even terms, Shields bested Vivian
McGrath, GA, 6-2, ga.
The American cause, regarded as
hopeless one after the two open
ing singles matches were lost on
Saturday, was revived when the
one doubles match was won on
Monday. This was because all ex-
perts virtually conceded the doubles
to the United States side.
Odds Against Americans
When play was continued yester-
day, the Americans were underdogs
in the betting at to /, and Craw-
ford was a 4-to-1 favorite over the
slender Wood.
Wood stunned the gallery by cap
turing the first two sets of his match
before rain halted play. Crawford,
in turn, scored a surprise by win
ming the third and fourth sets played
today, but Wood, his game found
again, swarmed over the Anzac to
capture the deciding set at 6-2.
Thus the meeting was on even
terms, with two victories for each
nation as Shields and McGrath be-
gan play, and the victory by the big
New York boy gave the Americans
the decision, three matches to two.
Break All Records
The American victory today was
believed to have established a
precedent. According to all avail
able records here, never before has
team, while playing in the inter-
zone final or in the challenge round
come from behind 2-to-0 match
score and go on to capture the tie.
In several cases such a team has
lost a tie by a to 2 margin, but,
so far as the most complete records
can disclose, never before has a
team which lost both opening sim
| giles matches come on to win.
In the first two sets played today
Crawford sprinted off to lead at 4
love, and in each case Wood pulled
up to trail. to 5, only to lose the
tenth game But in the deciding
set he made short work of the
Amaze.
Shields Begins Play
With Wood safely over the Craw-
ford hurdle, the burden of the in
terzone final rested on the brawny
shoulders of Frank Shields of New
York, and upon those o. young
Vivian McGrath, the Aussie who
upset Wood in Saturdays opening
matches.
Shields and McGrath entered the
! center court as soon as Wood and
Crawford finished their match. The
weather was still threatening
Shields won the first set, GA.
Shields hammered three aces past
McGrath to win the first game of
the first set, but the Australian took
the second with pair of backhand
placements. Shields won the third
game despite five double-faults and
then broke McGrath's service to
lead at 3 games to l.
Stubborn Battle
Shields won the fourth game by
scoring two volley kills. He went
on to lead, to l, taking the fifth
game mainly through his dazzling
speed. McGrath held his own serv-
ice in the sixth and broke Shields
in the seventh as frankie twice was
| guilty of double faults. McGrath
held his own service to make it
4-all.
Shields took the ninth game on
his own service after six deuces and
broke through McGrath's service
with two net smashes and a pair
of backhand placements to win the
tenth game and set, GA.
Shields won the second set, GO.
Shields continued his lombard
ment in the first game of the third
set, twice blasting service aces past
the bewildered McGrath frankie
broke service in the second game
rushing the net to beat Vivian with
angled shots.
Both Serve Wickedly
McGrath came back to break
service in the third game, counting
with two beautifully executed lobS
He held service to level the set at
2-all.
Shields was now showing signs
OF becoming weary from the ter
rife pace. The fifth, sixth and
seventh games followed service at
love, both players serving wickedly
Shields blasted through in the ninth
game to lead. to 4. He was going
at a furious pace once again and
he swept McGrath from the court
with three forehand drives which
nicked the sidelines for game, set
and match.
/
GRIMES To FACE WEST