"Where are you going next, Fred?"

"Frahnce, shi'. Aix-en-Provenche, oy think."

"Is that tournament worth much?"

"Ay, a bludy nickel," Newcombe grinned.

"Shi, i's no' thet bad," Stolle muttered. "Be'uh than a kick i' the arse.''

Newcombe had to agree that it was.

Saturday, however, was a "kick i' the arse." By 2:30 p.m. a thunderstorm had washed out the entire semifinal singles round, forcing the finals to Monday night. Stolle, who was scheduled to play in France Monday afternoon, was stuck.

"'E can always lose the match on Sunday, can'ht 'e?," said Semple, attempting to find a solution.

"E could, that," replied Rod Laver. "Ahfter oll, Fred's the ownly woon who'll be affected by the postponement."

By then Stolle, who was sunk into a chair in the members' lounge, had all but decided to forego the French tournament to stay at Longwood, where his match with Newcombe would be one part of the first All-American semifinal in the tournament's history.

The Australian domination was not entirely surprising. American entries had been expected to have a rough time at Longwood, but the beating they received was quick, calculated and thorough.

Dennis Ralston, Butch Buchholz and Marty Riessen all fell on the tournament's first day. Ron Holmberg, after beating South African Cliff Drysdale, blew his match with Stolle. And Pancho Gonzalez, the Old Wolf, fell apart, leading Australian Ken Rosewall 2-0 in the third set, then losing 6-2.

By Friday afternoon, the only survivors were the Australians--Laver, Newcombe, Rosewall and Stolle. A fifth, Tony Roche, had been eliminated by Stolle in the opening round.

"We'll 'ave a faighve seht'er, eh Fred?," Newcombe was saying, when it became certain the two would meet.

"Shi', faighve seh'ts," Stolle grumbled. "Faighve seh'ts."