New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-15
Lawn Tennis Champion
Retains AcheliS Cup at
Seabright.
HARD FOUGHT MATCH
GOES TO FOUR SETS
Great Throng of Enthusiasts
Sees Masters of Game Clash in
Tournament Feature.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

Williams retained his hold on tho
Achelis Challenge Cup to-day by de-
feating Karl Il. benr, mis- challenger,
in a hard fought rour-set match, the
scores being IS, Ga, 3-6, GO.
The match was the feature event OF
the annual invitation lawn tennis tour
nament of the Seabright Lawn Tennis
and Cricket Club. and a crowd Of about
three thousand persons jammed It's way
into the stands and clustered on every
spot where a view of the court could
be obtained.
Williams we'll deserved his triumph.
He was within a shade Of being the
same marvel of the courts who had
wrested the national title from Maurice
l Mclaughlin at the Newport Casino last
September. Behr plainly showed that
the fine edge had been worn on his
game by the desperate match with Nc
Loughlin yesterday, in which he was
victorious, but it is more than doubt:
| full whether he could have vanquished
! Williams even had he been at his best.
The match was replete with thrilling
moments, and the gallery was about
/ equally divided IN its sympathy for
| the two men When Behr braced in the
third set and won it, the crowd was vo-
ciferous in its applause. Yet, when
Williams took the fourth set and the
match the enthusiasm was fully as
great. ,,.
By his victory to-day Williams
showed that he is prepared 70 give Nc
Loughlln the battle of his career should
the two meet at Forest Hills, Long
Island next month, where Williams
will be playing through in defence OF
his national title.
The stage had been we'll set for the
match. The court was as near perfect
as the most painstaking care could
make it, The turf was hard, firm and
wonderfully true-in fact, Mclaughlin
and Williams both declared that never
had they played on finer courts, not
even excepting the famous centre court
at Wimbledon, in England.
The tournament committee, consist
ing of George Carpenter, secretary OF
the club; Bernon S. Prentice, chair
man, and j. c. Hoagland, the club
treasurer, had worked out earlier the
final details attendant upon the match.
and there was not hitch in the pro-
gramme.
The court was amply protected from
encroachment by the spectators by
roped off inclosure twenty feet from
the side lines, and the space back OF
the courts was likewise barred, except
TO a favored few, consisting OF play
ers and linesmen.
The stands filled up early, and FIVE
minutes before the match began a sign
was stuck up in front Of the box Of
fee which read: "All sold out" Not
seat was to be had, and those who
came late, hoping 70 coax a seat coupon
out of the officials. were disappointed,
and had 20 take their chances on the
b lawn 70 the south.
Everybody settled down in their
seats when the word went around that
/ Williams and Behr were coming from
the clubhouse. Two motion picture
operators begged the two players 10
lust walk alongside of each other TO
the court until we can snap you" and
Karl and Dick obliged.
wait until | take off my glasses,
Dick" said Behr; 81 want TO look as
well as possible beside such a hand
some fellow as YOU" and then they
marched while the camera man ground
out the film and the crowd burst into
thunderous handclapping as the prin-
cipals in the match forced their way
through the gate to the court.
Stars Watch Match.
Williams started the service, and
Behr shot his return down the side line
to Williams's backhand for a clean ace.
On the next shot Behr's forehand drive
dropped at the national champions
feet and the latter sent his return out
az the side Of the court. The next two
points went 10 Behr and the game at
love when Williams served two double
faults.
William A. Larned, Mclaughlin and
other players of past and present fame
were sitting on the grass, their backs
- nat n NJ al
watching every point as II was won and
lost.
Behr took his own service game with
ease, Williams's strokes landing out OF
court twice and into the net once, while
Behr scored his fourth and winning
point with a slashing shot for place
ment across the fore court The third
and fourth games also fell 20 the
Middle States champion, although Will
Jams, gradually gaining control OF his
strokes, forced the points TO deuce
three times before yielding the fourth
game.
1t was 40 on games in Behr's favor,
and the thought ran through the stand
that Behr was TO sweep Williams be-
fore him as he had Mclaughlin on Fri
day. The national champion was TAX
ing things with perfect GOODNESS, how
ever, and played along as imperturba-
bly, as at the beginning.
Willams's shots began TO hit the
mark with remarkable accuracy, and
his service was terrific. He has the
knack Of getting his entire back
muscles into his service stroke, COM
ing down on the ball with a tremendous
leverage. Behr began 70 experience
trouble in handling his opponents ser
vice, and MS return shots were purely
Of a defensive character.
The fifth game saw Williams swing
ing into his full stride, and he began
10 shoot his forehand drives past Behr
by the thinnest Of margins. After
three or four such shots had eluded
the conqueror of Mclaughlin, look Of
incredibly stole over his face, as
though ne doubted It was possible for
Williams TO keep up such marvellous
accuracy.
i The national title holder swept on.
taking the next five games in a row
and holding his opponent well in the
back of the court throughout. His
game was steadily gaining IN It's ma
chine-like quality, and Behr was be-
ginning TO labor with every stroke.
/ When he had gained the vantage point
in the ninth game. Behr broke a string
in his racquet, and play ceased while
he went 10 his case and brought forth
q new one.