New-York tribune., 1912-08-27
Johnson Bows in Defeat After
PIuCky Fight for National
Singles Title.
STAMINA TELLS AT THE END
Final Match the Most Bitterly
Contested One in Big Lawn
Tennis Tourney at
Newport.
fPv Telegraph 10 The Tribune. !

Newport. Aug 26.-Maurice f. McLOugh-
lin won the all-cOmers national cham
pionship singles on the turf courts of the
Casino here to-day in the final match of
the thirty-second annual tournament The
brilliant Californian defeated Wallace +.
Johnson, the Pennsylvania. after five
hard fought sets at 3-6. 2-6 6-3, 81 and
e. BY his victory Mclaughlin COM
pletes the clean sweep which the players
from the Pacific Coast have made i'm the
list Of national titles this season. He also
becomes the successor to William \.
Larned in the holding of the all-comers
and the twelfth man to hold the laurels
which only once. with the victory of ".
/. Doherty here in 1905, have passed from
an American holding. The match proved
more eXciting- more spectacular, and
longer contest than any of the close stu
dents Of the game had expected Johnson,
while his strength lasted. compelled Nc
I.oughln TO play upon the defensive in
way that surprised the gallery, which
numbered five thousand. Throughout the
first two sets the famous Californian
could do nothing with the vicious chop
strokes of his opponent. The ball came
10 him with low, hanging bounds. Nc
I,oughHn is weakest off the ground, his
fondness being for a high, bounding ball.
As the nets Nled up against him
through the first two sets, especially
when johnson forced his back hand. Nc
LoughHn was almost at his wits end.
At the beginning Of the third set Nc
Ioughlin started net attack that was
not to be thwarted. He took all kinds Of
chances and by plunging headlong for the
close range volleying. by which he could
avoid the bounds of the ball, he managed
10 work out the set. 1t was the same In
the fourth and fifth sets. Gradually tow
ard the ending of the fourth, Johnson
shots began to come off with less GER
tainty and power than before. He was
firing. and tiring fast, and Mclaughlin
forced the game all the harder until
under the grueling the Pennsylvanian
faded completely from the contest and
McLoughlin's stamina and splendid phys
icsI endurance carried him into the win
ner's place as it had done in his match
against r. Norris Williams.
How closely the great match was played
may be judged from the fact that the
competitors scored total of 25 to Il
games The point totals stood at la ior
Mclaughlin to 1872 for Johnson.
While his physical powers lasted john
son surprised the crowd by outplaclhg
his adversary. But he fell off greatly
toward the end 1t was at this stage
that Mclaughlin. by getting to the net.
outplaced him as he slashed the oalI OH
10 the sides for the spectacular shots
which always brought applause from the
gallery.
Johnson led of with the service, and
when he toed the line the Casino inclos-
ure was packed with a brilliant assem-
hlage despite the fact that again rain
threatened 10 put damper on the
tournament which was to finish as
record one for celerity of action. At once
the bad bounds Of the ball bothered Nc
Youghlin, and the Pennsylvania took
the first game on his opponents drives
outside court Then service began to play
an important part. The games hung level
ND to 3-al On the eighth game john
son. BY beautiful shots that skirted the
lines and lobs TO the baseline, broke
through McLoughlin's service and won on
the next game from the set at 6-3.
The Pennsylvania worked his chop
strokes so cleverly in the second that ne
advanced to 4-love on games before Nc
Loughlin made good for love game on his
service. There were many flashing rallies
st this stage. but Johnson held steady
and won. the two sets being played in the
fast time of fifty-four minutes.
With the second game Of the third set
McLoughlin broke through his opponents S
service for the first time, and led at 2
love on games But the PENNSYLVANIA
changed pace, cutting drives off short and
lobbing when Mclaughlin came up, so
that he balanced the score at 2-all. 1t
was then that the great Pacific Coast
player began his furious attack at the
net that lasted to the end. He timed his
drives well, and then, as Johnson stepped
in, whipped over passes for the points to
take his first set at 6-3.
Knowing that his strength was tagging.
johnson went into the fourth set more Wig
orousy The two met in wonderfully played
rallies. with each making sensational
gets. johnson lived up to his service In
the seventh game despite a tremendous