New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-12
Stars Come Through in the
Invitation Tourney at
Westminster.
CALIFORNIAN TOO
SPEEDY FOR BEFiR
Middle States Champion Weak
ends at End Of Terrific
Match with VOungster.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

BN RED llAN tiOhNE.
+. Norris Williams, 2d. the secord
ranking lawn tennis player in this
country. and William II. Johnston. of
California. winner Of the Longwooi
singles and New York State charl-
pionship last year, will meet in the
final round this afternoon on the tu,f
courts of the Westchester Country
Club. to decide who shall be the winner
of the clubs annual invitation lawn
tennis tournament.
Johnson gained his place only after
a stirring. heartbreaking four-set
struggle with Kari II. Behr, the Middl'
States champion. whom ne defeated ~
g. Ill. ), 64. Williams mad
far easier time with Harold II. Hack
EFT. captain of last years Davis Cup
team. defeating the veteran in straight
sets, at 81. IS. 90.
Although better lawn tennis has been
seen, rarely has match so closely held
the attention of the gallery from be-
ginning to end as the one between
Johnston and Behr. Until the 1.-the
young Californian scored the last poin,
on a beautiful passing drive as Beh:
ploughed his way to The net, the at
tentiou of every one present was TO
cussed on the contest.
Before admitting defeat Behr called
20 his aid every trick Of the game.
using all his cunning and change Of
pace in an effort TO entrap his younger
opponent. But il awaited him nothing
in the end. for Johnston. the coolest
Of all in the enclosure, met the vet
GRAMS desperate defence and crafty
court tactics with a cool, well planned
i,
Behr's efforts and left him defence
less for the final assault.
Summed w. Johnston foiled Behr's
proved himself a dangerous fOeman
for Williams in the final round this
afternoon.
! The match began without any indi
cation Of the thrilling features that
were 20 distinguish it in the later
stages. Johnston began the service
and at once started passing Behr by
his deep drives TO the rear of the
courtr, stroking the ball so hard that
It hopped over the backstop net and
landed among the spectators.
Behr had not yet warmed 20 his
work and had no effective defence
against those rapier-lke passing shots
that piled mp the points and the games
for the California youth The best
the Middle States champion could do
vas to take the third and the sixth
games. Johnston. who had not even
turned a hair, took the opening set at
e
The temperamental Behr, showing
signs Of an impending storm, started
with bullet-like speed in the second
set. taking the first game at love, large
t. through Johnston's inability to ham
die his forceful smashes. Thereafter
the pace grew faster, with both men
striving desperately for the points.
When he succeeded in gaining the
net on the first rush. the brllllancy OF
Behr's net game shone brightly. John
ston's cannon-ball drives lost their
sting when they met Behr's racquet
and became harmless.
But the Californian rarely allowed
his opponent 70 gain the net. More
often would he manpuvre so as 10
compel Behr to hug the base line,
where ne had all he could do to nam
die the youngsters terrific drives TO
deep court
Back and forth ebbed the fortunes
of the struggle. with neither man able
to clinch a victory. After the games
: had first gone to deuce, Behr began 10
show ANNOYANCE because of the nu-
nerous foot faults called against HIM,
but this only served to make him play
the harder. and his display of lawn
tennis was Of high calibre indeed
Johnston wanted the second set and
he fought grimly for it, swinging on
the hall with concerted action OF the
body. from the hips up, that amazed
the onlookers by the very viciousneSs
Of the strokes. But Behr struck the
impetuous stride that sometimes graceS
his game and fairly outplayed the
eighteen-year- schoOlboy.
Headlong for the net the former IN
ternationalIst rushed, meeting john
ston's boring drives with Lightning
speed. and turning them so sharply
across the court that the boy was
striking wildly at thin air. These en-
cagements were played at high speed,
the ball meeting the opposing racquet.S5
with reports like musketry fire, until
Behr brought off the winning points
with vicious smashes TO his opponents
/ feet.
The second set was Behr's at II
games 10 .. and the match was even
again. Johnston had~won the sympa-
| thy and the good will OF all b. his
genial grin. lie grnned when he
/ scored point and grinned when he
I lost He refused to be RULED by