Evening star., 1954-12-27
Trabert, Seixas
Gain 20 Lead
rAussies
Both Americans Beut
20-Yeur-old Singles
RivuIs in Four Sets
BY ,he As.eeicssd prsss

SYDNEY, Australia. Dec. 27.-|
America seized a firm, almost
unbreakable. grip on the Davis
Cup today when two long -frus-
trated tennis veterans. Tony
Trabert and Vic Seixas, fought
their way to almost identical
four-set victories over 20-year-
old Australian opponents in
opening singles matches of the
challenge round.
Trabert, tight Tipped and
determined, cut down powerful
Lewis Hoad, in the first match,
ga, 26, 12-10, 6-3. Seixas,
31-year-old United States cham
pion, evened a long and en-
barrassing jinx by trouncing little
Ken Rosewall, 8-6, 6-8. Ga,
6-3.
1.-TWO down and three to CO."
Billy Talbert. non-playing cap
tain of the Americans, said
exultantly as he congratulated
his victorious athletes in the
dressing room.
"We'l clinch the cup tomorrow
in the doubles. And then
Wednesdays final singles
matches will be just a formality."
Aussies Rallied in '39.
Only one other time in the
history Of this international
tennis competition dating back
to 1900 has a team lost the open
ing two singles and come back to
victory.
That was in 1899 at Phila-
delphia where Australia's John
Rromwich and Adrian Quist fell
on the first day but rallied to
win over Americas Bobby Riggs
and Frankie Parker.
In tomorrow's doubles, with
the United States leading 20.
America will send out Trabert |
and Seixas again against Aus
tralia's Hoad and Rosewall. The |
Americans, who have established
themselves as the best in the
world, will be overwhelmingly |
favored.
Harry Hopman, disappointed |
Aussie captain, has the choice
between Rosewall and Hoad or |
Rex Hartwig and Mervyn Rose,
who have brilliant doubles
record.
Sweep Looks Like Good Bet.
But both Hartwig, just up
from mumps,, and Rose, a left
handler Of shifting temperament.
have been mediocre in practice
this week and appear certain to
watch the doubles from the side
lines.
i was very proud of both Tony
and Vic," said Talbert, whose
ridiculed prediction of a SO
sweep now looks like a good bet.
Both of them followed our battle
plans almost to the letter and
they showed great fighting quail
tiles"
A crowd Of 25,57s, largest
crowd ever to see a tennis match
anywhere, sat in the big wood
and steel saucer for the days
program and most of them took
a lingering look at the cleaning
Davis Cup as they left the arena.
They were a fair non-partisan
assembly on the whole, although
they let go some jeers during
the second set of the Seixas-
Rosewall match when Seixas
protested a line call.
Seixas Bangs Racquet.
Seixas thought the call-an
one on game point
which would have given him a
vital service break in the only
set he lost-was out. He said.
No, no" and banged his racquet
to the ground where he thought
the ball hit.
A low murmur rolled through
the crowd and there were shouts
Of "it was good" and "go on and
play" The catcalls continued
when the players changed courts
and the referee. Cliff Sproule.
found it necessary to take the
microphone and beg the crowd
to be quiet.
This is the fourth year Seixas
and Trabert have come to Aus
tralia in an effort to wrest back
the trophy taken Down Under
in 1850, but every previous mis-
sion has been in vain.
Last year the Americans were
beaten, 80, with Trabert bow
Ing to Hoad in a brilliant five
set match, and at that time
Tony vowed: Next year will
come Tony Trabert's day."
Shaky Start for Trabert.
The 24-year-old Cincinnatian
started shakily against Hoad,
who has been in a terrible slump.
but he held on grimly to gain
the decision.
In the % game third set,
which lasted more than an hour,
Tony fought of one set point
CONTINUED on Page Alb, Col. 81
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