The Key West citizen., 1954-12-27
Americans Can
Clinch TheCup
In Today's Sets
By WILL CRIMSL EY

ot WILL SNtWS66T
SYDNEY, Australia R-America
seized a firm. almost unbreakable
grip on the Davis Cup today when
two long frustrated veterans, Tony
Trabert and Vic Seixas, fought
their way to almost identical four
set victories over young Aus
tralian foes in opening singles
matches of the challenge round.
Trabert. tight-lipped and deter
mined, cut down powerful Lewis
HOad in the first match. GA, 2-6,
1910, 6-3. Seixas, scrapping 81
year-old United States champion,
cvened a long and embarrassing
jinx by trouncing little Ken Rose
wall, 8-6, 6-8, Ga. 6-3.
1.-TWO down and three to CO."
eXultantly said Bill Talbert, nom
playing captain of the Americans
as he congratulated his victorious
athletes in the dressing room.
"We'll clinch the cup tomorrow
in the doubles. And then Wednes-
days final singles matches will
be just formality
Only one other time IN the his
tory of this storied international
tennis competition dating back to
1900 has team lost the opening
two singles and come back to VIC
tory.
In tomorrow's doubles, with the
United States leading 20, Amer
lea will send out Trabert and
SeiXaS again against Australia S
Hoad and Rosewall. The Ameri-
cans, who have established them
selves as the best in the world,
will be overwhelmingly favored.
Harry HOpman, a disappointed
AuSSie captain, has the choice be-
tween Rosewan and Hoad or Rex
Hartwig and Mervyn Rose, who
have brilliant doubles record.
But both Hartwig, just up from
mumps, and Rose, a lefthander of
shifting temperament, have been
mediocre in practice this week and
appear certain to watch the dou-
bleS from the sidelines.
Il was very proud of both Tony
and Vic," said Talbert, whose ridi-
cliled 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 qualities. -
A crowd of 25,57S, largest crowd
ever to see a tennis match any,
where, sat in the big wood and
steel saucer for the days program
and most of them took a linger-
ing look at the cleaning Davis
Cup as they left the arena.
This is the fourth year Seixas
and Trabert have come to Aus
tralia in an effort to wrest back
the trophy taken to the bottom of
the world in 1850 but every pre-
vlous mission has been in vain.
Trabert, his teeth clinched with
determination, s tarted shakily
against Hoad, who has been in a
terrible slump. But he held on
grlmly to gain the decision.
In the 22-game third set, which
lasted more than an hour, Tony
fought off one set point in the
17th game, twice came back from
15-40 on his own service and won
the set with a powerful serve
volley exhibition in the 22nd game.
1t was a real tonic for ex-sailor
Trabert of Cincinnati, who had
taken Al and Az leads in the set
only to have Hoad rally to tie il
up.
Hoad, who had explained his
year-long slump recently by say
ing he was "fed up" with tennis.
served eight double faults and
most of them were costly.
Seixas, who had lost to Rose
wall eight of the nine times they
had met and the last six times in
row, made good his boast he
would end the Indian sign.
He followed Captain Talbert's
instructions to serve to Rosewall's S
torehand and move to the net
swiftly; also to attack Rosewall's s
second service and, if possible, the
first with a shot to the forehand.
"Vic followed our campaign
strategy to the letter." Talbert
said. 81 was very proud of him. -
Rosewall had two set points in
the first set against Seixas, hold
ing 40-15 lead in the ninth game
but Seixas pulled out with a strong
volley to the backline and then a
forcing shot at Rosewall's feet
which was flubbed into the. net.
Hopman said he had nominated
Eoad and Rosewall for the dou-
hlpS hlif racnrvod tho RIGHT IN