New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-10
BRILLIANT LAWN
TENNIS SEASON
DRAWS TOOOSE
Matches Between Eastern
and Western Teams a
Fitting Climax.
FIRST BATTLES SET
FOR THIS AFTERNOON
Williams viii Have Opportunity
TO Turn Tables on John
ston Tomorrow.
BY FRED HAWTHORNE.

What must be considered in many
respects the greatest and most success
full season in the history Of lawn ten
mis- in this country will draw to close
to-day and tomorrow on the turf
courts of the West Side Tennis Club at
Forest Hills. Long Island, when the
players from the Pacific Coast meet the
Eastern representatives in series Of
six matches four singles and two
doubles.
While the climax was reached on
Tuesday, when William NJ. Johnston,
Of California, won the national title in
that desperate struggle with Maurice E.
Mclaughlin, the approaching matches
will perhaps serve 10 give further
line on the abilities of the men who
figure in the top fight OF players this
year, and likewise they may provide
the opportunity for some Of those who
were defeated In the national tourney
to reverse results.
California will rely on four men
Johnston, Mclaughlin, Clarence ].
Griffin and Thomas c. Bundy-to up
hold the honor Of the Golden West,
and, between you and me, it seems
California will have nothing to worry
about In that respect. The East will
put forward five men R. Norris Will
Jams, I'd, lately deposed national cham
pion; Karl II. Behr, Theodore R. Pell,
Nathaniel W. Niles and Watson NJ.
Washburn.
Frederick B. Alexander, who was to
have been one Of the Eastern quintet
but was prevented from playing by an
injury, gives way TO Niles. the Long
go II Ill l,Tt In
one doubles match, when, paired with
Griffin at $3.50 o'clock this afternoon.
LAS o'clock, and will bring together
Kali Behr and Mclaughlin. This
should be struggle worth watching,
for Mclaughlin undoubtedly will leave
nothing undone in his efforts. to gain
against him in the Seabright tourna-
ment last month.
At the same hour Bundy and Pell
will take an adjoining court in the sec
ond Of the singles matches, the day
winding up with the Johnston Griffin
VS.. Williams ashburn doubles match.
Tomorrow afternoon, however, will
witness the real feature of the series.
Johnston, wearing his well earned ma
tional singles crown, will once again
take the court against Williams and
endeavor to repeat his sensational VIC
tory of Monday over the former cham
pion. Williams will have an even
stronger incentive TO win in this match,
for a victory would take some of the
sting out of the losing of his title to
the little California player and would
likewise leave him in a better position
when the ranking committee comes to
select the first ten men in the country.
This match and one between Griffin
and Niles are scheduled to begin at
1880 o'clock, and the series will be
completed with the meeting of Nc
Loughlin and Bundy, former national
doubles champions, and Behr and Pell,
former Eastern title holders, at $3.50
p. m.
o matter what the results OF these
matches, Johnston's position as the
leading figure on the courts this year
will not be affected, and his right to be
ranked as No. for 1915 will not and
can not be questioned. His work in
defeating Behr, Griffin, Williams and
Mclaughlin in successive matches on
his way to the championship consti-
tutes feat that has not been equalled
by any player in the land and marks
Johnston as the leader Of them all.
The juniors Of the East will get their
chance to shine in the spotlight on
Monday, when the second annual met
ropolitan championship tournament for
boys under eighteen years of age be
gins on the West Side Tennis Clubs
clay courts.
The cup has been donated by God
dard Saunders, one Of the rising Young
PLAYERS in this section OF the Bast,
and is a handsome trophy for any boy
70 win