New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-05
r. Norris Williams Placed
Second, While the
Comet Is Third.
MANY CHANGES IN
THE LEADING TEN
Karl Behr Named as No. Al.
R. Pell Slips Into No. 5
Position.
Bv FRED HAWTHORNE.

For he frst time in three years the
name % Maurice T. Mclaughlin, OF
California. does not stand at the top or
the ranking list in lawn tennis, made
public yesterday by the United States
National tLawn Tennis Association,
and instead, William NJ. Johnston, also
hsiling from California and the ma
tional champion. gets the coveted No.
] position. with r. Norris Williams a.
in second place and Mclaughlin rele-
gated 10 third position.
The committee arrived at its decision
ONLY after an exhaustive examination
and consideration Of the mems records,
Frederick c. Inman. Walter l.. Pate and
Walter Merrill Hall. who compose the
raining body. reporting as follows TO
the executive committee as 20 the man
ner in which they arrived at their de-
cision in the matter:
"The committee has found IL exceed
incly difficult to distinguish between
the records Of Messrs. Johnston, Will
Jams. Mclaughlin and Behr. Even I'M
der the rule requiring that greater
weight be given tr the results OF tour
naments held at the height of the sea-
son than to early season performances,
the records of these four players are
very nearly on a par and their respec-
tive abilities appear 20 be nearly equal
during the last season, however. the
national championship was the out
standing and all important event. In
that tournament Mr.. Johnston's path
20 the championship pitted him in turn
against each Of the other three play
els in question. The committee recalls
No instance when the draw has put
PLACER to q sevcrer test, and II has
given full credit for the performance
Of winning under those circumstances.
On these facts il believes that Mr..
Johnston is entitled 20 the first posi-
ton. In aay event q comparison OF
the champions record with those OF
the three others reveals at least rea-
sonable doubt as TO the relative merits
OF such records. and. therefore, under
the rule adopted at the last annual
meeting. he must be awarded the high
est ranking
The first ten players in the singles
ranking follow: No. /, William IL.
Johnston. OF California; No. 2. R. Nor
ris Williams. I'd. of Philadelphia; NO.
3. Maurice r. Mclaughlin, Of Cali
fornia: No 4. Kari II. Behr. o. New
Yo,k; No. >. Theodore Roosevelt Pell,
OF Nex GorE; No. 6, Nathaniel W.
Nncs. cf Bostoa; No. Z, Clarence j.
CriMu. OF t. fornia; No. s. Watson NJ.
Wa.Ltu.r. OF New YORK: No. 9, George
VI. thu.cs. oil New Jersey; No. 10,
Wai.rf Merrill Hall. Of New York.
I he neNt H.Dct. men are ranked by
elias. al b.bet ca j. arranged, as The
playing aoi.ity 81 the players in each
elias s. opposed 10 be about equal.
The class 'ticatiou follows:
The Hrst ten present some startling
difference from previous rankings,
aside from the change in McLoughlin's
standing and Johnston's. Behr drops
from third to fourth place Pell takes
the biggest leap upward, advancing
from Class /, in 1914 TO No. in the
leading ten Niles and Griffin are also
graduates from the first class, while
Hall at No. 10, was only placed in
Class last year. Washburn was at
No last year and Church. at No. Z,
the former going up one and the latter
falling two nOtches.
Johnstons Great Record.
Had it not been for his performance
In the All-Comers' tournament at For
est Hills. last September, Johnston
would never have been considered for
a place among the first three or four
ranking players of the country.
His work during the ten days Of the
national championship tourney, how
ever, when he came through one Of the
strongest fields that ever started after
the title, forced the little Californian
into the forefront Of those contending
,,1ona
can lawn tennis players.
Here is the record made by Johnston
in fighting his way 10 the championship,
and IL Is one that will bear comparison
with the campaign of any other pre-
yious title holder. In the first round
the new champion took the measure Of
the crafty veteran, Harold II. Hackett.
Next in his path was Clarence c. Pell,
national racquets champion, who was
defeated easily. and then came Douglas
s. Waters, of New Orleans, player OF
great promise. Waters was unable 10
withstand the fury Of Johnston's attack
and took hts place among the racine
Coast stars victims.
In the fourth round Johnston found
hts work growing harder, being OPP
posed by Karl Behr, Davis Cup veteran,
who. only a short three weeks before,
had vanquished Maurice f. Mclaughlin
in the Seabright tourney. Johnston
dropped the first set 20 Behr at IS,
hut iust when those watching the match
thought the youthful Californian was
doomed 70 defeat he stesdied down and
began playing with such speed and ae-
curscy Of placement that Behr was
overwhelmed and lost the next three
sets and the match to Johnston at
6-3, 90, Is.
The next day the 1.-THE youngster was
pitted against Clarence J. Grimm, ms
doubles partner, and won In five sets,
although hardly extended, "a his play
ing let down considerably after he had
gained a commanding lead. The fol
lowing day came the meeting with Will
iams, and here many expected 70 see
Johnston taste defeat, for Williams
had been going along smoothly in his
earlier matches.
The lawn tennis world received a
stunning shock, therefore, when the
man from the Coast defeated the cham
pion IN the semi-hnal round b. score
OF 81, 81, 81, SO, GO.
The pext day Johnston was called
upon 70 face Mclaughlin for the title,
and even after his defeat Of Williams
mere were thoTe who were still uncon-
vIneed OF the youths limits on the
court. The fact that Mclaughlin had
defeated Johnston in ali their pr.vious
meetings and had Billy's number 40
20 speak, caused the skeptical 10 see
only defeat for Macs opponent.
The morrow came, and with il a
thrilling victory for Johnston, who sent
the California Comet" down 20 defeat
By score OF Is. SO. 7-5, iO-s.
Superlatiye speed and remarkable con.