Tennis: American Twist

Australians have won the Davis Cup so regularly (eleven out of the last 13 years) that nobody else remembers whether the silver monstrosity holds one magnum of champagne or two. The U.S. had not reached the Challenge Round since 1959, and the last time it won was in 1958—when Peruvian Alex Olmedo took the Pledge of Allegiance with his fingers crossed. But last week an American team finally took the cup home—and on its own.

It was done by Dennis ("The Menace") Ralston, 21, a red-headed firecracker from Bakersfield, Calif., and Chuck McKinley, 22, a muscular fireplug from Corpus Christi, Tex., who has been nursing a bad back ever since winning at Wimbledon.

The first two singles were a standoff. Ralston defeated Australia's John Newcombe, 19, in five sets, and McKinley lost in four to Roy Emerson, 27, rated No. 1 in the world. But then came the doubles, and the U.S. team victimized Neale Fraser, 30, who had been called out of retirement to pair with Emerson. Keeping the ball away from Emerson, the Americans gave Fraser cut shots and lobs. Taunted beyond endurance, he wound up to smash one lob—and missed completely. McKinley and Ralston won handily—and took a 2-1 lead.

All the U.S. needed was to split the last two singles. But Emerson routed Ralston, and the pressure was on McKinley. He lost the first set to Newcombe, 10-12, bounded back to win the second, 6-2. Again the Texan faltered; again he rallied—from a 0-3 deficit to a 9-7 victory. Then, leaning into his serve, McKinley blasted the young Aussie right off the court, 6-2—and the delirious Americans tenderly packed the Davis Cup for its long voyage.