The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-20
Brenton Reef Cup Race Results tn Another Victory for Katoma
is JOHNSTON TO BE PUT
FIRST IN TENNIS RATING?
Ranking Committee Must Consider Hard Problem,
With Williams's Claims and Last Years
Precedent Among the Obstacles.

by three second raters, Niles, pell and
Byford.
One cannot help feeling, however, that
his wonderful showing in the champion
ships in beating all fou OF his closest
rivals In succession would entitle him
to premier honors. and IL he had stopped
there l should unquestionably favor
placing him first on the list. At that
point of the proceedings he had broken
even with both of his most dangerous
competitors.
But the East versus West matches,
just five days after he had beaten Will
iams for the championship. furnished a
fresh defeat by Williams ON the same
court II under exactly the same cham
pionship condition. To my mind this
more than anything else throws some
doubt on his title to the first place.
Neither Williams nor Mclaughlin lost
a match to M other player during the
season. except to each other or to Behr.
who was considered absolutely first class.
But Williams not only did break his
record in this way but lost three such
matches.
II Johnston Is not rated first. then It
seems fairly clear that Williams should
be entitled to the honor, but, II he Is,
then Williams will probably get second
place. His comparison against the
champion is better than McLougriin's.
both for the season n In the champion
ship tournament. n as between the
two Williams's record is slightly better
han the Comets. They met three times,
at San Francisco. Longwood ana New
port. and the Westerner won two OF the
matches. But the most convincing OF
the three was that at Newport, whea
Williams was the vic, or in -four sets. and
ln nIlAI 80 tlta AftNaYa.f GtItapInFit 4
hy beating BChr at Seahright the ddy
after Behr had beaten Mclaughlin.
Despite his final defeat, however. |
believe that the champion is entitled to
first place OF the seasons honor roll.
The championship should always he
considered the greatest test OF the sea
son. and such consistent tennis as he
played during that tournament deserves
the greatest possible reward.
Williams seems entitled to the second
position, and Mclaughlin the third.
There can bc no question OF this. since
his only serious challenger for II would
he Behr, based on his victory at Sea-
bright. Mclaughlin earned his revenge
for this defeat in the Elst-West matches
after the championship.
Next In order unquestionably comes
Behr, but the other positions in the FIRST
ten are less certain. There are six
places to All in the mystic circle. and
the men who have earned the best right
to these positions are Griffin. Alexander,
pell. Washhurn. Church. Niles. Hall.
Leroy and Mathcy, or these | should
be inclined to place Griffin NTH, Alex
ander sixth, pell seventh, Washburn
eighth. Niles ninth and Church tenth.
Last year. after the season had
closed. there were two distinct camps
among the followers OF the game-those
who sided with Mclaughlin and those
who believed hat Williams should he
rated first. The struggle was carried
to the ranking committee. n finally
over their heads to the L. $. y. l.. T. \.
open meeting. but the men who believed
that the champion should he ranked FIRST
simply because he was the champion
were finally turned down, and the be-
lief Of the ranking committee that the
record for the whole season should gov
ern the award prevailed.
Now the committee, which is made VI
of precisely the same men again this
year, must either eat their words OF
not give Johnston tirst place. 1t Is a
| curious situation, and those who follow
the game closest are much interested "a
see how the committee Will Justify the
stand of last year.