Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-21
TOUCHARD A WINNER
Defeats Wallace Johnson for
First Place in Tennis Tourney.
RAIN STOPS OTHER PLAY
Victor to Meet Conrad Doyle for
Championship-President
Taft an Onlooker.
'AIN STOPS OTHER PLAY

Rain interfered with the extensive pro-
gram which was planned for yesterday
afternoon at the Chevy Chase tennis
tournament. but one match, the finals Of
the mems singles. being decided This
was a good one. however. and those who
took the trip out to the Maryland club
were amply repaid for their trouble Pres
ident Taft braved the weather for his
golf, but stopped and watched the play
awhile.
The much heralded match between
George F. Touchard, of New York. and
Wallace F. Johnson of Philadelphia, was
the only one decided. and in this, much
to every ones surprise, not excluding
Johnson, he was defeated, and rather de-
cisvely at that, 10. 1-6. 60 and g..
The first set was the best of the four,
twelve games being necessary in order to
determine the winner. Touchard finally
throughout. neither man being able to
hold the lead for any length of time.
Johnson took the opening game in very
easy fashion, but Touchard was evidently
just getting warmed up. as he came back
with the next three. After that the games
alternated up to the tenth, when the
Metropolitan player again got a hustle on
himself and captured the last three, CIV
ing him the set In the last two games
Johnson was allowed to score but one
point.
Throughout the contest both players
were very erratic, often following spec
tacular plays with the worst kind Of
plumbers. The great speed for which
johnson is noted was. except in spots.
n n cut hN- hs> vrrhS a
Touchard played to his best form in
this respect. The New Workers. service
was much more speedy and accurate
than that Of his opponent, who very
rarely got the first ball over the net
and, consequently, had to ease up on
the second for fear of making doubles.
The collegiate champion turned the
tables on the New Yorker in the second
set. however. displaying flash of such
brilliant form that his many followers
in the gallery already began claiming
victory for him and explaining how he
had settled down, etc, and could not
possibly lose the next two sets. AL
though every point was stubbornly
contested but one game in the set was
a deuce, Johnson finally taking ii after
it had reverted to the deuce score four
different times The score for this set
was 81 in favor of Johnson.
Touchard took the third about as
easily as had Johnson the second, the
score UelnR 81. several OIL the SdIHcS
in this set were unusually fast and
exciting. With such players competing
1T should be unnecessary to add that
numerous brilliant shots and recov-
cries were made. This would be stat
ing it mildly, as the gallery was APP
plauding either one player or the other
from beginning to end.
Touchard used the better court gen.
eralship during the play, many times
gaining points by doing the unexpected.
Both men were willing to play lob
bing game from the back court line.
each gradually working up toward the
net, and then speeding the ball out OF
reach. Frequently when Johnson did
gain the net his opponent made him ap-
pear rather foolish by lobbing the ball
over his head This maneuver cost
him several points.
In the fourth and last set Johnson
played as though his life depended on
the result, realizing that this would be
his last chance, but try as he might he
could not batter down the impregnable
defense Of his opponent. who was just
as determined and unusually long rallies
of exciting play resulted. With the score
Al in Touchard's favor the match was
called on account of rain, but as it
proved to be but passing shower the
men were again called out and the
contest completed. Although he put forth
every ounce of energy at his command.
johnson could do nothing with Touchard.
who won the remaining games of the set,
anu thereby the match and tournament.
The card for this match is given be-
low hy pOintS.