The Washington herald., 1914-08-30

When r. Norris Williams, IN a vain at
tempt to backhand Yolley Norman L
Brookes' terrific cross-court drive, which
he was lust barely able to reach, and
consequently netted. in the ninth game
of their fourth set on Saturday, August
Is, which point registered game, set, and
match and the loss Of the Davis Cup, the
oficials OF the L. 8. y. L. 7. A. should
have started their preparations for insur-
ing the return Of the bowl embIamatic of
the lawn tennis supremacy of the world.
II the loss Of the cup can be traced to
one source more than another. then II Is
because they failed TO properly prepare
for its defense Immediately upon its re-
turn to America last summer.
Williams lost both of his matches, in
neither of which did he do himself jus
tice for approach within miles OF the
form Of which his record in tournament
play in America this summer proves him
capable. But it cannot be said that he
did not try. On the contrary, he over
tried.
Williams seemed to feel in both matches
that he was up against an opponent much
better than any he had ever played be-
fore and that, as the critics had so fire.
ouently stated, upon his showing de-
pended the destiny of the cup, and as
consequence he felt that he must do
little better than he had ever done before.
The shots he had been making in tourna-
ment play he felt would not be good
enough to beat the steady Wilding or to
pass the wonderful Brookes. He seemed
TO feel that tust inside the lines or COM
fortAbly close over the tape would not
do II he were to win and do his share to
retain the cup. No. he must nick the
lines and at extremely severe angles when
his opponent was in the back court and
breeze over the net with not a hair to
spare when he came in, and all the time
endeavoring to apply faster pace to
his stroke than he ever before thought
necessary He started against wilding
with speed and strokes that fairly dazzled
the New ZealAnder. Never before in his
long and successful career was the great
Wilding so completely outplayed.
Breaks Against Him.
After williams obtained a lead Of Al
the breaks started to go against him.
Beautiful angle shots at kiting speed
and apparently deadly aces began to fall
an inch or two over the line. Shots that
had the vollier completely beaten smacked
the tape, hesitated. then fell back IN
Williams court. Not once or twice did
this happen, but countless times. and
they were responsible for wilding bring
ing the score to 50. On Williams serv-I
Ice. however, II seemed certainty that
the Philadelphian would win the set
Right here was the turning point of
the match. Williams, with a beautiful
short angle backhsnd. forced wilding to
the net. On the next point the Philadel-
phian made a heart-brealing double
fault. the ball missing the center service
line by a hair. 1t was so close. in fact.
that many in the stands directly behind
the play thought 1t was good. and, as Il
beat Wilding completely. the latter never
even starting for It. the crowd thought
williams led at 30 love. They were
shocked and disappointed, when Clothier
called the score Ball. Williams then
scored on brilliant placement, but again
discounted It with the costliest double
fault on record, for II seemed 10 unnerve
him, and from then on he seemed pal
pably worried. His strokes lost their
confident sting, and, though he aid his
best to come out Of II, the breaks. which
found his shots again Just over the lines
or on the tape, greatly discouraged him.
To my mind. the committee made a
grave mistake In not putting the wilding-
NcLoughiin match on first on Saturday.
II would have been better, not only from
the spectators' viewpoint, ~ Mac's win,