Evening star., 1946-09-09
Brown Likely Davis Cupper Despite Title Miss
Tennis Records Made
As Kramer, Beiz WIN;
ans Storm Officials
BY me Asseeiessd Press

by me Assoe'ofed ssess
FOREST HILLS, N. Y, Sept. O.
1t would have been a little too story
bookish II Tom Brown, jr., actually
had won the National Tennis Cham
pionships, and, besides, he figured
to lose to as fine and experienced
player as long Jack Kramer of Los
Angeles in yesterdays .final.
Yet the record thronss that
packed the big stadium the last
two days probably always will re-
member this years tournament rs
the one in which great, new,
young player appeared upon the
the scene and sent thrills chasing
down their spines with a series of
brilliant victories over the old guard.
That would be Brown.
The 23-year-old San Francisco
product, who played in only one
previous National before the war
and was knocked out so fast nobody
ACSniic iiA SAA8 cCCli llUt let
down his new and rabid following
in the final, even though he lost in
straight sets. 81, 6-3. SO.
First Set Thrill ll-packed.
More fine tennis was packed into
that furious first set than is seen in
most five-set finals. Brown played
the same chance-taking, almost
reckless tennis that gave him vic
tories over frankie Parker and
Gardnar Mulloy, both Davis Cup
pers, in previous rounds. And he
went down only because he was up
against a player who, for the day,
was extremely good in every depart
ment.
If Brown had won the first set he
might have gone on to be the new
champion. But Kramer, on the cru
cial points, was just little too good
for him-his ground strokes were too
hard and too steady, and his net
game too deadly.
Tournament officials were frank
to say that Browns sensational
string Of wins was responsible for
the sell-out, turn-away crowds that
jammed the big stadium to its
capacity of about $1,000 on the last
two days. The first postwar event
took in record gross OF some $685.
900.
Brown Due Cup Berth.
Because of the rules Of Davis Cup
play, which provide that a nation
must name its team 10 days before
match, Brown will not play in the
interzone final between this country
and Sweden here next week. The
Swedish captain offered to waive the
rule snd let Brown play. but Capt. I
Walter Pate OF the United States
squad declined to take advantage of
his rivals sporting gesture.
However. it can be put down as a
certainty that the young excl will
be very much present and accounted
for il an American team goes to
Australia tins winter in search of
the cup, as it very likely will. With
Kramer and Brown to play the sin
giles, chances of an American victory
down under are much brighter than
they were week ago Several Aus
tralian observers in the spressbox
shuddered every time they saw
Brown swat a forehand drive the
past few days. -.-.s......s..ss-....s.5 1
The result of the women's final,
in which Pauline Betz of Los Angeles
won her fourth title in five years by
defeating Doris Hart of Miami, 1l-s.
6-3, caused no great surprise, but
it produced some ding dong tennis
and set at least one record.
Crowd Pelts Officials.
The 20 games required by Miss
Betz to win the, first set were the
most ever played in a women's final. |
and the 40 minutes they struggled
under broiling sun before it was
decided might very we'll have been
another new mark.
The crowd was loud and boisterous
in its support of the two underdogs. |
Brown and Hart. and gave the tour !
nament omcials some bad moments !
The ears Of several linesmen. who |
offended by calling a few rank de-
cisions against two idols, probably
still are burning.
When the final match ended the
cushions came curving down by the
thousand and with lethal intent. 1t
was remarkable that none of the
arbiters was skulled. The last thing
heard over the loudspeaker was the
referee imploring the reused popu-
lace to Please stop throwing those
cushions until the presentation Is
made" |