Tennis: Cups & Robbers

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Last year a couple of cat burglars named Chuck McKinley and Dennis Ralston sneaked off with Australia's prize silver: the Davis Cup. The mug had been in the family for most of 13 years, and the Aussies did not take the abduction kindly. So off to Cleveland last week trotted two of Australia's finest: Roy Emerson, the world's No. 1-ranked amateur, and Fred Stolle, ranked No. 2. "We'll win 4 to 1," predicted Aussie Captain Harry Hopman, as always the soul of confidence—and not without cause.

McKinley's game had been sour all year: he was beaten in the semifinals at Wimbledon, in the quarters at the U.S. Nationals, was even talking about quitting to sell stocks. Ralston had been off his chow too—with blisters and a bad case of jitters. But U.S. Captain Vic Seixas figured that the porous clay courts at Cleveland's new, $75,000 tennis stadium would help the Americans; Aussies are used to grass, on which the ball tends to bounce flatter and faster. The theory looked good when McKinley beat Stolle 6-1, 9-7, 4-6, 6-2. But then Emerson climbed all over Ralston in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.

That left the two teams even, and they were still even after four sets and six games of the next day's crucial doubles match. Emerson won with his slicing serve. Now it was Ralston's turn, and his serve is his weakest point. Two serves, and it was love-30. But then, backs to the wall, the Americans abruptly came alive. In a series of blasting volleys directly at the Aussies' feet, they reeled off four straight points to make it 4-4. Fred Stolle wound up to serve—and Ralston looped a backhand volley over his head—love-15. McKinley smashed a forehand past Emerson's futilely waving racket—love-30—pounded over a short, cross-court volley—love-40. Then, with a magnificent overhead smash straight between the two Aussies, Ralston administered the coup de grâce. The last game was easy, and the U.S. won the match, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

All the Yanks needed to do now was split the last two singles, and the champagne would flow again. Win or lose, it had been a wonderful weekend of topflight tennis.