New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-22
Weaknesses and Flashes
of BriIIianCy Mark Four
Set Battle.
NEAR VICTORY EIGHT TIMES
California Boy Bows with
Colors Flying in All
Corners Lawn Tennis
Tournament.

and bad qualities r. Norris Williams.
a. succeeded in eliminating William NJ.
Johnston. the brilliant young player from
California from among the contenders
for the All Corners singles crown in the
tournament ON the turf courts of the
Casino here to-day Wniamss weak
r.sges were glaring. His brilliaucy flashed
AZ the end when he really settled himself
IN battle for the points. And even then
Johnston held the Davis cup player of
mo- less than eight times when he was
within q stroke OF victory before Will
Jams could claim the match by the score
Of IS. O.. So. st.
Those who witnessed the contest which
was the feature of the day. expressed
disappointment that WIllams's victory
had not been more decisive. The young
American. who fairly electrified his COM
patriots last season upon mis- first appear
ance here in premier tournament competi-
lions seems TO lack the punch this year
There is too much Of the headless, lacka-
daisical and careless about his work TO
make il duly impressive.
Johnston. a novice i'm tournaments such
as the All Corners went down with colors
flying. for his margin of loss against
such q famous opponent was negligible.
for the games tally stood at % TO 10 and
the point totals at l56 10 li9, scant
seven points difference in favor Of an in
ternatoral cup player.
OF course. while this contest was hold
..aH. TrrrF md
watched bv a gallery nearly as large as
that of YESTERDAY. others Of the top hish-
Of aspirants for the championship held
BY Maurice Z. Mclaughlin were winning
their way into the sixth round, the one
before the semi-dnals. In the upper nan
Leonard Beekman, the Paving school
captain. Nathaniel W. Niles. the MasSa-
cbusetts state title holder. and Watson
NJ. Washburn, the young Metropohta"
champion. We're successful. In the lower
half the famous trio-William J. Clothier'
Maurice T.. Mclaughlin and Wallace r.
Johnson-won in straight sets in the easl-
est fashion.
John r Strachan, the California me-
teor. along with Williams, only won as
far as the fifth round. as their portion
NJ the singles. was delayed because OF
tho doubles match. Strachan PLAYED Ike
lightning flashing through a summer
storm. He darted in and out between
tho hack Of the court and the let until
he had defeated Charles NJ Bull IT, OIL
the Crescent Athletic club setiess al
81, 6-3, Go.
The recording Of "a reversal fell 10
the portion of Niles. who took revenge
mon George Pea body Gardner. Jr, ms
most formidable rival The two engaged
in slashing battle through four sets
Gardner. who heretofore mas regularly
beaten Niles. made his most desper-
ate assault i'm the third set, which ne
carried by sheer force Of arms at the
net The tremendous energy he hao
10 put into it thwarted his purpose loI
he went 10 pieces in the fourth Niles
winning By the score Of SIS, Ct ID
81
The contest between the boy from the
Pacific Coast. who had stepped into NC
I.ourbliu's shoes i'm winning the Pacinc
Coast I.ongwood and the New York state
titles and williams eclipsed everything
so far as the fourth day Of the great
tournament was concerned NilIlahS
was Dicked 10 win in straight sets
sgaiDst an uurated boy. At the end Oh
the battle however, the stroke ahaIlsis
was all in favor of the Californian
Williams earned a total Of 81 winnihs
shots 10 losses Of "a total Of Jos on outs
and nets. Johnston's percentage was
slightly better for he tailed 40 winning
aces 10 losing shots Of "A total Of 80
Il was Al the net by chopping han
vollev shots directly al Williams rect
that the hoy scored most often. rms
caused the Davis cup player TO pile UP
q tot.l Of s. nets while the boy had only
80. Tn fact. the youth making his DEBUT
in the All Corners was already the steau-
Ter Of the two.
when be faced defeat then Williams
lifted his game At these times his fore
ing tactics were worthy of the greatest
men who nave trod the courts, being es-
psSiauy reminiscent Of the Famous
Dohertys and other Of the English top
notchcrs at their best. Williams, by
speeding deeply placed drives through the
opposite court. compelled Johnston 70
give ground. Then he whipped in sort
return. which IL the Californian got the
ball as he ran n Williams slammed down
one Of the side lines for a pass. 1t was
chiefly on tactical lawn tennis Of this de-
scription that the internationalist carried
the games
For the most part Johnston played back
In court. for he learned early IN the
match 70 fear Williams's passing strokes.
il was in the fourth set that Johnston
deserted his base line. With Williams
leading at 81 on games, the boy from
across the continent brought the tally TO
games all By his smashing. although
Williams was three times within stroke
Of winning
Again. i'm the twelfth game. with the
cup player ahead at 6-5. the boy steadied
himself and by shots that bit the lines
held Williams of again, when on three
occasions a single tally would have won.
Williams was twice within "A stroke OF
victory I'm the fourteenth game before ne
scored the point by drive low to johns
toms forehand as he came up to the net
on the run
The match was filed with many dra-
matte incidents. The one that stood out
above all the rest was bit OF Sports
manship in the third game Of the second
set when Johnston made a drive 10 VIII
iams's base line, and the ball was caNeo
out Williams knew that the stroke was
good. and on the next ball he slashed II
TO one side arbitrarily, giving the equiVd-
lent point 10 his opponent. IL was
graceful act and the gallery applauded
him I.r To-