The Washington times., 1915-09-07

WEST SIDE TENNIS COURTS.
FOREST HILLS, Long Island. Sept. T.
The national tennis championship is 60
Ing back to California. All doubts as
to whether the Western brand Of tennis
IL superior to that Of the East has
been settled. This year. at least. 1t Is.
William M. Johnston. a diminutive Cali
fornian. who came East for the first
time In 1918. proved 1t concAsively yes
terday afternoon when he worked his
way into the fnal round Of the thirty
NTH all-comers tournament by un-
crowning r. Norris Williams. I'd.
Today Johnston meets his brother
Californian. "Maurie" Mclaughlin. the
1ery-headed comet. who Is remembered
for his Davis Cup successes. in the finals
for the championship. 1t is q strictly
California affair. The East has no in
terest In the matter at all. Likewise is
tomorrows doubles championship
matches a strictly Pacific coast exhibi-
ton. Thomas c. Bundy and McLough-
lin will defend their titles against john
ston and still another Californian. Clar-
ence J. Griffin. Tennis. at present. is
passe game in the East.
Early indications point to the two
Coast stars taking the courts with the
betting even. McLoushlin ordinarily
would have been top-heavy favorite.
but the IN snS PLAY of his
yesterday drew him lot Of supporters.
With the downfall OF Champion Will
iiams yesterday In the national tennis
great triumvirate in tennis have fol:
lowed the footsteps. of Travers. Ouimet
and Evans in golf last week, and II
only remains for McLouEhlin e lose to.:
Johnston has justly earned his place
close to the top of the ladder, for, It II
no small task for any man to beat Behr
and Williams In the same tournament
and who knows what may happen to.
day?
90, q Rsy Il. can Satten only b
tully up to. hts average game. II not
, better, but he was clearly and cleanly
outplayed and at his own game OF hart
and Nit the bail harder than the cha m
plon. That tells the whole tale. 1t 1.
very easy to imagine that any beater
champion Is off his game when he loses
but Williams was not yesterday. H.
made errors to be sure, but no man liv
ing could have avoided making pient!
OF errors with such accuracy and speet
against him. he was not perhaps ul
would be fairer to say that that wa.
above his normal form than yesterday.
play was below.
In the pinches williams was very
strong. Facing the loss Of the first set
by single error. he hit the ball as fast
and accurately as ever and fairly earned
the pull-out that he got.
Johnston's play was absolutely first
class in every department of the game
He Is today probably the hardest hitting
ground stroke player In the country, II
not In the world. He has all the ability
Of the peerless Larned in forehand play
with more speed. His backhand is a
safe. though perhaps not quite so bril-,
liant as Larned's but his service and
volleying are distinctly better than thai
of the old champion. Larned rushed the
net better than Johnston. but from the
back OF the court against a base linei
ne was not so good and against a vol
lever little IL any better.
The coast man made splendid use o,
his service yesterday. and 1t countet
much more heavily in his favor than II
any Of his previous matches. 1t wa!
fast and deep, and frequently he whip
ped across a second delivery with NOR,
cut far out to the outside edge Of tn,
right court that won many points fol
him.