The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-09
Ky j. PARNLY PNRET.

This is the fourth successive tenn'S
season In which chief interest has CEN
tired on the relative skill of Mclaughlin
and Williams. The very first year after
Williams returned TO America from
Europe he made a place for him
self at once at the top Of the experts
of the country close behind Mclaughlin,
and he has not lost 1t since. For these
four years. curiously enough. there has
not been any other ranking than Nc
Loughlin first and Williams second. and
hardly a single other player to threaten
the security of either. The rest of the
field has |. en- far behind. notwithstand-
ing the unexpected defeat OF Williams
by Church in the intercollegiate finals
last fall.
These two stars have now met eight
times, and only once has Williams been
the victor. The last meeting took place
only last week at Longwood in the chal-
lenge round, and before the tourney be-
gan 4, was freely predicted. and with
accuracy as events turned out. hat OF
the big field of lightweight players en-
tered for the Longwood cup Williams
would surely face Mclaughlin in the
challenge round again.
True to expectations. the Californian
won again. this time in our sets. re-
peating his victory scored in the East
against West intersectional matches out
at the Panama-Pacihc Exposition in
July. Because the scene had been
changed from asphalt to grass many o.
the Eastern contingent believed that
Williams would turn the tables on the
visitor from the far West. but the con
ditions were almost as badly against
the champion as the asphalt courts OF
california. 1t raincd nearly half of last
week in Boston and the LongwoId
Cricket Club courts we're soaked repeal
eddy until it seemed that they could
sponge up ne more moisture.
When the challenge round was reached
it had to be played in a mist. because
Williams himself was anxious to get
away and start for Chicago. where he Is
expected to begin play tomorrow in the
national sectional doubles with Wash
burn. The champion could have had a
rostponement at Longwood until Satur-
day If ne wanted il, and waited for a
better court to play on. but this delay
would ave jeopardized his chances at
Chicago this week in the doubles. and
he preferred to go on. eve. under the
unfavorable conditions.
McLoughlin's success emphasizes once
more his remarkable versatility and
ability to accommodate his game to diff
ficult conditions. The soft court made
Il difficult for either OF the men TO play
much at the net. but Mclaughlin won
chiefly from the base line. which is
certainly not his best point OF play.
Williams, on the other hand, must nave
the conditions to suit him II he is to
STOW his best ability.
He wants "a hay1 dr., rnurt pritb N
high bound to the ball and a bright.
sunny day. lie did not have what he
Nanted at San Francisco last month,
nor last week at Longwood. But he did
nave the conditions favorable at New
pert last year and that was the only
time he ever beat McLoughlin in a
match. Possibly the conditions will be
favorable again when they meet at
Forest Hills next month. but who can
tell what Williams will do? We know
Just about what to expect from Nc
'.oughlin. and he can be relied on to do
the expected, but Williams may be very
good, as he was at Newport last year.
or very bad rs he was in the interna-
tionals. Every tennis follower Is firmly
convinced. however, that the two must
meet again then before the tennis cham
pionship for 1915 can be decided.
1t is a curious thing that DESPITE all
this close rivalry on the court these two
men nave been the closest friends ever
since they met first on the court. While
AT l-ongwood last week Mclaughlin
roomed with Williams at the Harvard
cur in Boston, and when the champion
was out in California the two were to-
sether all the time, often seen arm in
arm. Whenever they are together there
' Is n constant good latured r"aillery 90
Ing on, but each has the highest respect
Tor the other, and each has a fixed de-
termination to beat the other AT each
and every opportunity. Friendship does
not interfere in any way with the desire