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The Harry Hopman Era: 1950-1957 1950
Hopman could identify talent a mile off. His first batch were Ken McGregor, Mervyn Rose and George Worthington and 'old' hand John Bromwich. They reached the Challenge Round, as expected at Forest Hills, and Hopman surprised all by naming McGregor ahead of Bromwich for the singles berth. That was to be a masterstroke. The courts at Westside Tennis Club were full as they expected an American victory, but when Ted Schroeder lost to McGregor, Hopman's decision was vindicated. Frank Sedgman had already beaten America's Tom Brown and after he partnered Bromwich in the doubles, to beat Schroeder and Gardnar Mulloy 6-4 in the fifth, so the Cup was Australia's. This did wonders for Australian sport. Tennis was available to a wide spread of communities and was bound to produce a string of champions sooner or later. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, it was sooner than they had expected. 1951
Once again America played Australia at the White City ground in Sydney and Australians flocked to see the tennis, as it became front-page news. Hopman wanted McGregor selected for the second singles spot, but selectors opted for Rose. Rose subsequently lost in straight sets to Vic Seixas, Sedgman levelled the tie by beating Schroeder and teamed up with McGregor to win the doubles. Schroeder had decided this was to be his last tie and prepared meticulously winning against Rose in three sets. Sedgman however kept the Australian tradition going by beating Seixas and Christmas tennis in the sunshine over the next decade. 1952 Sedgman and McGregor signed professional forms with Jack Kramer after the tie amidst cries from the Australian public and selectors. They believed this was Australia's demise. Hopman had other ideas the rainbow was just beginning. 1953 Extra stands were built at Kooyong for the Challenge Round, as 17,500 people crammed in from beginning until end. Hoad blasted his way into Davis Cup history with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory. Rosewall's flimsy frame, compared to Hoad's muscles was unable to prevent Trabert exposing the youngster's weak serve, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Rex Hartwig replaced a mentally drained Rosewall for the doubles, partnering Hoad. Hopman's choice was wrong, as both were right court players. Trabert and Seixas didn't allow them much rhythm, winning 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. America were 2-1 up going into the third day, telegrams from all corners of Australia poured in. Australia were asking a couple of boys to do a man-sized job. Hoad and Trabert played through the drizzle and were at 2 sets all, when, during a changeover Hopman ran over with a towel and said to Hoad: "Come on, Musclebound. You can't lie there forever." Hoad got up and smiled, Hopman had eased the tension. Hoad got to 6-5 and won three points with some scintillating returns. Hoad won the match point, levelling the tie for Australia. As Hoad left someone shouted to spectator, Prime Minister Robert Menzies: "Give him a knighthood, Bob!" Rosewall returned the following day, as the court was deemed to be unplayable. Seixas feeling aggrieved by some debatable lines calls in the third and fourth sets, and lost 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Rosewall had performed with accuracy and a strength that belied this age. Trabert later summed it up best:"I've been playing tennis since the age of six, but this is the first time I have been beaten by two babies and an old fox." 1954 Thousands poured into White City to see the two sides practice, 16,000 temporary seats were being erected, to increase the capacity to 25,578 - a Cup record, which has yet to be surpassed - and £90,000 had to be returned to unlucky ticket applicants. 'The Sydney twins,' Rosewall and Hoad, had their first letdown, often suffered by young players in any sport after their first year. Both had been bitten by love. This years Challenge Round was to be a big letdown for Australia.
Trabert beat Hoad in four sets, the Australian not playing his best tennis at all. With the pressure off Seixas, Rosewall's game began to fall apart early on and duly lost. Selectors stuck with the pair ahead of Wimbledon champions Hartwig and Rose for the doubles. The 'twins' lost 10-8 in the fourth and America had the Cup. 1955 Rosewall unveiled his crisp new volley against an ageing Seixas, winning 6-2 in the fourth. Trabert had the excuse of a blistered racket hand, but Hoad was in no mood to relax and won in four. Hartwig then became the outstanding doubles player on the court partnering Hoad to a five set victory. The Cup belonged to Australia again. 1956 Rosewall was all set to play his last match as an amateur,
and then join the Kramer tour. It came as a surprise that Hoad decided
to play the Grand Slam's one further year. Hoad had beaten Herbie Flam
and Rosewall - Seixas on the opening day, so the 'twins' played their
last Davis Cup
doubles tie together securing victory for Australia.
Hopman had two Queensland youngsters waiting in the wings, Ashley Cooper and Mal Anderson. Both did not disappoint their nation. With Australia getting to the final so often they had no warm-up matches so new blood had to be given their chance in the cauldron of a Davis Cup final. Cooper beat Seixas and Anderson defeated Barry MacKay - a player who had been preferred over Flam - both in five sets. Anderson then teamed up with Rose and destroyed Seixas and MacKay. American's were becoming weary of their yearly losses, so Bill Talbert was replaced by a new captain, 70-year-old, Perry T. Jones. 1958 In front of 17,500 Queenslanders Olmedo was blooded, beating Anderson in four sets. Hopman wondered how a player straight out of college could carry the weight of a nation so well. Cooper levelled the tie by overcoming MacKay. Richardson then joined up with Olmedo to play Anderson and newcomer Neale Fraser. 82 games, four hours eight minutes later, America had a 2 to 1 lead. Cooper now had to beat Olmedo for Australia to keep the Cup, but the pressure was too much for young Cooper, who lost 8-6 in the fourth.
1959 Perry Jones, the American captain was predicting a 5-0 whitewash, so he moved his side to the Waldorf Astoria in New York, preparing for the Challenge Round in Forest Hills. Fraser had developed a new spinning serve, this dumbfounded Olmedo and America's hope lost to the new Wimbledon champion 8-6 in the fourth. Laver could not handle MacKay's explosive deliveries, but through Fraser's serving regained the lead in the doubles. Fraser continued his fine form against MacKay in the first reverse singles and the Cup was back Down Under after only one year away. |
