New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-29
Champion of Courts 10 BE
Crowned at Forest
Hills.
M'LOUGHLIN AND
WILLIAMS TO FORE
Indications Point TO Their
Battling for the 1915
Title.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

lawn tennis CHAMP lonShiPS bS6 ~. Ni
the twcnty-four turf courts Of the west
Side Tennis Club, at Forest HIS Long
Island.
TO names. out OF the lbs entered in
the all-comcrs singles, are mentioned
most frequently when the question as
TO the winners of the title for 1918
arises. VIII ID be Maurice Evans Nc
Louchlin. Of California. or Richard Nor
ris Williams ID, Of Philadelphia, who
will wear the crown when the last
point in the final round match has been
won and lost?
To close followers Of the game it
would seem risky thing TO wager on:
So much can happen IN the course OF
a match. Condition, temperament psy-
choloCv and breaks Of the game play
so important apart when two men Of
practically equal ssill face one another
across the net that hardly any one IS
prepared 10 say definitely who viii win
the title next week.
1t is true that Mclaughlin and Will
Jams are generally considered as the
sole contenders for the final round. but
there are a number of men who might
upset all these calculations before the
finals are reached. Karl Behr, for one.
is fully capable Of eliminating either
one Of the favorites should he strike
one Of his brilliant streaks al the right
time William VI. Johnston. George
Myers Church, Clarence J. Griffin and
ons - two others are also possibilities
in ia great tournament
Accepting the general view that II
VIII - Mclaughlin and Williams IN the
final round. what are the chances OF
Williams repeating his triumph of 1914
at Newport The Quaker was defeated
by Mclaughlin IN San Francisco last
nzath. and also on the turf courts At
Lvlgwood, but partially atoned for this
by taking the measure Of the Comet
o. the Newport Casino courts week
ago yesterday.
Since making his appearance in the
East this summer Mclaughlin has Ger
tain!y not shown az his best. Karl Behr
won a brilliant match from him down at
Seabr.ght in the early part of this
month, only TO be defeated the next day
by Williams NcLoughlin's game and
all his court tactics have undergone a
decided change since last year, and he
10 longer storms the net in the manner
that made him ore or the most spectac-
ular figures on the courts, but instead
relies almost entirely on deep driving
and low wolfe from midceurt for his
FONTS
There have been various reasons
,iven FOR this remarkable transition in
ne Comets actions. Some well quail
~ critics assert that the great Cali
fornian is simply charging and round
ing out his assortment of strokes, and
is hereafter going 10 conserve his
strength by employing court craft in
place Of reckless speed and expenditure
of energy.
Others there are who profess 10 see
something more serious in the matter,
and these believe that Mclaughlin is
just beginning 20 show the result Of
the terrific strain his former style of
play eutaled upon his physical system.
No man, they maintain, can 90 on in
definitely along the path that Nc
/ Loughiln laid out for himself without
paying the peGa.ty, and the red-headed
Is marvel's lack ;of fire in a hard match,
his failure toibring of those spectacu-
lar smashes from all parts OF the court
and his inability 20 maintain the pace
toward the latter part of gruel!ing
struggle on the courts all point TO this
fact. according to those who believe the
Californian has lost his punch"
Probably nobody but Mclaughlin
himself can answer the question posi-
lively, and Maure is keeping his own
counsel and biding the time when he
faces Williams again. tt is known that
the man from the Coast has set his
heart upon wearing the national title
once again and viii leave no stone un-
turned in his efforts to do So
His failure 70 enter the tournament
at Southampton last week is taken as
an indication that Mclaughlin is put
ting on the finishing touches for the
test at Forest Hills, and his friends
say that the same old ripping, slam
ming, impetuous Mac VIII make his ap-
pearance when play begins, and that
nobody will be able 10 Withstand his
batteriug ram tactics at the net and
the added strength that polished
ground strokes and craft.er court gen
eralship viii bring TO his aid.
Perhaps this rs the truth OF the mat
ter. in which case 10 is certain that
Williams viii face a monumental task
in retaining his title, but even at that
he must be seriously considered. His
playing both at Seabright and at New
port was treat 10 watch, and his mar
vellous skill at placement has rarely II
ever been equahed on American courts.
Calm confidence in his own ability is
also an added asset of Williams this
year. and those who saw him defeat
Behr and Mclaughlin within q single
week, and do it after dropping the first
set TO the latter, are firm ia their be
lief that he will repeat next week
The national champion surprised
many at Newport by the remarkable
severity Of his service and his ability
70 place his delivery just where il
would be hardest for Mclaughlin TO re-
turn IT, lie scored more service aces
than the Comet" and impaired fully
as much speed on the ball, and IN max
ing shots for placement he far outshone
his great rival
Naturally, aiming always for the
lines no matter how large the opening
presented in McLoughlin's court, Will
Jams sent more balls out of court and
into the net. yet his total of earned
points was greater than the Califor-
mans and enabled him 10 gain the VIC
tory. When the Harvard man is in
full control of his strokes and his eye
Is working in full accord with the rest
of his game, he is armed with such a
battery Of earning shots that nobody
looks able 10 stop him. unless it be the
Mclaughlin Of the Davis Cup matches
last August.
Unless Mclaughlin has been playing
fox" and has been masking his new
found strength for the express purpose
of taking Williams by surprise on the
West Side Tennis Clubs courts next
week, 10 does not seem 10 the writer
that the Californian will be able TO
avenge himself for the defeat admins
tered by Williams last year at Newport,
provided the latter maintains his form
Of the last two weeks.
In the meantime everything waits
upon the gladiators. Julian S. Myrick,
president Of the club at Forest Hills,
and his corps of able assistants have