Omaha daily bee., 1914-09-02
WILLIAMS BEAT SM'LOUGHLIN
Philadelphia Wins Chief Tennis
Honor of County.
HE is VICTOR IN STRAIGHT SETS
Result One Of Greatest Surprises of
Athletic NcHr-Chnmpion -
Caught i'm the Dol
drums,

NEWPORT, r. l., Sept Catching
the champion in the doldrums and play
ing with sustained brliancy. r. Norris
Williams. il, of Philadelphia and Har-
ward. today snatched the chief lawn
tennis honor Of the country from Maui
rice f. Mclaughlin of san Francisco,
who had held it for two years.
Williams victory was in straight sets,
the scores being 6-3, Sc los
The result was one of the greatest
surprises of the athletic year That
Williams might take a set from the 1913
champion was generally conceded by close
followers Of the game, but that he could
make it three sets and match was re-
gsrded as entirely improbable
His own explanation after the match
was the one generally accepted by all
who saw the contest.
Champ OFF His Game.
Mac was off his game" he said.
But Mclaughlin was no farther under
his own game than Williams was above
the brand OF tennis which he had pre-
viouslv displayed. There have been times
since Williams entered the American ten
mis- arena threeyears ago when his play
was equal to McLoughlin's best. but his
briliaucy has been only in flashes, which
It has been his hardest problem to sus-
tain. He solved the problem today and
it was McLoughlins misfortune that his
opponents long sequence of successful
rallies, perfect drives and unplayable
aces found him far below par
All Of Williams shots seemed TO come
through Most of the champions landed
in the net or out Of court. Williams car
ried off II clean service aces, to II for
Mclaughlin In addition. there were a
score of services which Mclaughlin just
managed to reach and which were evd-
IDENTIFY credited nets or outs.
Lack Usual sting.
on the other hand the drives Of the
1913 title holder lacked the usual sting.
His forceful smashes, which the wonder
full Brookes could not handle. were easy
for Williams, who drove them back with
even greater vigor And to cap all, the
tactics Of the Harvard man were fully
as good and at times better than those Of
the Californian. Mclaughlin was also uu-
fortunate in having eight foot faults
called on him, three of them resulting in
double faults.
The crowd Of eager followers of the
,
initial set as a spasmodic burst. although
his tennis then was compelling, for he
scored nine placements and six service !
aces in thirty points. or 90 per cent earned !
shots
The set was very quickly played as only |
one game went to deuce.
His Only Reversal.
. That Williams was playing the best
game of his career began 70 dawn upon
the gallery when he ran the second set
up to three games to love, through Nc
Loughlin's errors. Then came his only |
reversal in the match, and his nets and
outs gave Mclaughlin a chance to tie the
score at sail. The next six games alter
mated, each player winning his service.
but Williams, after winning the thir-
teenth game on two errors by McLough-
lin, place and a terrific service ace, |
jumped to the net and drove the cham |
pion back into deep court. From there |
Mclaughlin was forced into making nets |
and outs, giving the set to Williams.
For single game when he captured
the first contest in the third set, on Will !
Jams service, ii was felt Mclaughlin had |
found himself again. Then the net be- !
San catching his returns and William |
not only won the championship service, |
but made it two games 10 one a moment
later on his own. After that the games
alternated on the service until the fif |
teenth, when Mclaughlin broke through |
and gained lead OF to on Williams !
service.
Fades Away.
In the sixteenth game, McLoughlin was
within two points of the set ant the pros
pect of twentyminute rest TO regain
his fast ebbing strength when his three
nets and a placement by Williams again
tied the score at eight games all. Then
the champion faded away.
The crowd saw tht shift Of the tennis
crown from the Authenticated Cali
fornian to the black pompadoured Phila-
delphian without the slightest demonstra-
ton. The result seemed too amazing for
two players, still the closest of friends.
walked to the club house unaccompanied
Mclaughlin wore his characteristic
smile, while Williams seemed dazed with
his new honors. Williams is % years old.
Until three years ago he was absolutely
unknown on tennis courts. He acquired
his game in Switzerland and when he
appeared in the summer of 1912. after a
miraculous escape from the sinking
steamer Titanic, he proved the sensation
of the season, He was member of the
1913 Davis cup team and was victorious
in one of his two matches This year he
fell before Mclaughlin at Longwood and
was defeated by both Wilding and