Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

FOREST HILLS. N. Y, September A.
At the end Of the first week Of play In
the thirty fifth annual championship
tournament of the National Tennis As
ISOLATION the eastern and western
schools of tennis were equally repre-
scented by the four surviving players.
At the close of the fifth round on the
courts of the West Side Club here to-
day William M. Johnston Of San Fran
cisco and r. Norris Williams, I'd. OF
Philadelphia were bracketed for the
upper half of the semi finals, and Maui
rice E. Mclaughlin and Theodore r.
Pell aligned in the lower half of the
draw for the semi-f1nal round, which
will be played here Monday.
Johnston came through as the result
OF his victory over Clarence J. Griffin
Of San Francisco at 60, S-1. 6-s,
Isl. 81. Williams advanced by de-
feating William Rand, Sd. a team men,
Der with the United States champion in
the Harvard University Tennis Club,
SIS, Is, 6-1.
Mclaughlin put out F. T. Hunter of
the Cornell University team at GO,
Cd. 90, while T. r. Pell was winning
from L. c. Wright of Boston, 6-3, 81,
81. AS result of these victories
one
east versus west match Monday. while
Mclaughlin and Pell will be the con-
tenders in the other half of the semi
finals.
The best play of the day was wit
| messed in the contest of the lower half
OF the draw. Neither Johnston nor Will
liams played up to their form of pre-
vlous matches. while Mclaughlin and
Pefl showed distinct Improvement in
their racquet work today. Johnston
required five sets. two of which went
to deuce. to dispose of his California
teammate, while Williams was forced
to play two deuce sets by Rand. Pell
, ana MeLLoughiin, however, raced
der and never left the spectators in
doubt as to the final outcome.
Johnston Starts Well.
johnston. who has generally been ex-
| pected to be the player to meet Will
liams in one of the semi finals, opened
in excellent form against Griffin, and
by clever generalship and an exhibition
Of rapid racquet technique won the first
two sets in handy fashion. He appeared
J to falter. however, under the extreme
heat as the play progressed, and Griffin,
bringing the full power of his sturdy
physique into action, evened the score
OF sets by winning two deuce contests
Johnston, however, showed great come
pdck III the nnal set and with daShinK
assortment OF strokes played from ali
| parts OF the court at top speed quickly
| ran through the deucing set at 6-1, thus
clnching his right to meet Williams on
Labor day.
This match afforded the best tennis
/ OF the day and drew round after round
Of applause from the spectators, who
! were kept deeply interested by the DASH
ing play and long rallies Of the two
young Californians. Considering the
/ ms a a nh oko -
greater generalship and flnesse in his
placing and stroking of the ball, EXCEPT
for his lapse In the third and fourth
sets his Judgment of distance and height
| was excellent. as he brought fore and
back hand strokes the length of the
court or at sharp angles with mar
| velous skill.
| Griffin had difficulty in holding his po-
sition against this fusillade and return
! ing the ball when he could check 1t with
his racquet At times he lifted his game
to a point equal with that OF Johnston,
but could not maintain the pace long
enough on a stretch to win the match.
| Johnston's game was not as good as the
one he played against Behr Friday,
| when he defeated the former reserve
! member Of the Davis cup team three out
| of four sets, none of which went to deuce.
He developed a tendency to hit the ball
4 into the net and out Of court when in the
fore part OF his territory and his best
work was done on the base lines today
| That he deserved the victory over Grif-
| fin was shown by the fact that his total
| point score for the five sets was 49,
| to Griffin's 119.