Brave Hearts

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Eye Care Foundation

Page 59

The Brave Hearts
and Shirley won the first set 6–3. The spectators were stunned. During the second set the rival pair of Los and Margaret produced a powerful game. They wanted to retain their monopoly over the doubles title. But by now the spectators were on the side of Doris and Shirley and were constantly encouraging them and applauding them throughout the remaining game. The
Doris Heart pair was giving a fitting reply to every shot that was hurled at them by their rivals in the tug of war going on between the two sides. At one time the score was 9 'all' (9–9), then 10-9, then 10 all, then 11-10. Thus the game was like a sea-saw game. When the two pairs were 11 all (11-11) the game had almost tilted in favour of Doris and Shirley. This pair finally won the encounter and the doubles crown, thereby defeating the pair who had held the title for the last three years. What was more noteworthy was the fact that Doris and Shirley were not in the reckoning at all to win the title before the encounter actually began that day.
After an hour or so, Doris Hart walked once again to the centre court, this time to play the mixed doubles final. Her partner in this match was Frank Sedjman of Australia and their rivals were the Australian pair of Mervun Ross and
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