Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-31
WILLIAMS SUPREME
IN TENNIS RANKS
Philadelphia Tops National
Ranking List After Five
Years of Striving.
JAPANESE MAKES SHOWING

In the field OF tennis this has been
a noteworthy year, in which the vic
tory OF Richard Norris Williams, 3D.
of Philadelphia, stands out as a clear
beam of light. Competing in less
tournaments than year ago he yet
gained honors which he never won be-
fore, and now he rests secure as lead
er Of the first ten after vainly knocking
at the door during four previous
years.
Williams victory over Johnston in
the national singles championship, the
second which he scored over the title
holder of year ago, was an impress
sive exhibition of the heights which
championship tennis can attain
Stamina and skill were on the side
of the Philadelphia, and more than
all else stamina contributed to his
triumph. In point of skill there was
not much to choose, but Williams
was able to last through five severe
sets, while Johnston weakened near
the end.
Among the women Miss Molla
Bjurstedt still reigns supreme, and
her list of titles is so long as to bar
mention. At any rate she was de-
feated only once during the season
of scheduled events, an accomplish
ment which might be termed phe-
nomenal In the mems doubles the
names of William M. Johnston and
Clarence ]. Griffin stand above all
others. for they won the national
championship, defending their title
successfully against Maurice E. Nc
Loughlin and Ward Dawson.
The season was not at all serene.
Surprises occurred on every hand,
and some OF the most astonishing
were credited to the little Japanese
player, lchiya Kumagae, who was
placed fifth in the national ranking
His victory over Johnston at New
port was gained in wonderful five
set match that was fought at greater
length than the final in any other
tournament. A finished baseline
player, Kumagae forced Johnston, a
forecourt player, to stand at the base
line and sometimes behind it. 1t
eventually came to be struggle of
endurance, and in this Kumagae was
superior and won.
1t was the Newport tournament
which almost wrecked the hopes Of
Champion Williams. In this event
he slipped while playing Roland Rob-
erts and wrenched his ankle so badly
that it was feared it would handicap
him in the national championship.
Williams withdrew from the South
ampton tournament to save his ankle,
and there was much doubt of his con-
dition when it came to the nationals.
His play in the early rounds was not
such as to indicate one way or the
other. Fortunately, he was in the
easier half of the draw, and when he
opposed Johnston in the final round
he flashed for only the second time
during the season the full strength of
his play Strangely, both of his best
performances were against Johnston,
the first having been in the cast
against west matches, Other than
the nationals, the only outdoor tour
nament which Williams won was the
challenge round at Sesbright when
he defeated George N. Church in five
sets.
The year probably sees the passing
of Maurice L. Mclaughlin as one Of
the contenders for the championship.
The Count" is in the sporting goods
business, and if the United States Ma
tional Lawn Tennis association rules
against a man engaged in this line,
Mclaughlin will probably have bid
den goodby to amateur tennis. This
question of amateurism has been one
Of the big issues throughout the sea-
son. The Pacific coast men have not
attempted to disguise their antagon-
ism to any rule which will bar Nc
Loughlin, and there are said to be
many in the east who will support
them. A split in the tennis associa-
ton has even been predicted if the
proposed amateur rule is made a law.