New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-05
Johnston and Williams Tennis Victors in SEMI Finals
For Title Over Murray and Griffin West Side Courts
within bis game when the occasion de-
mands.
Aims Close 10 Mark.

"llhlh ms game Nhen the OCCASION se-
mands.
Aims Close TO Mark.
Because he aims closer 20 the mark
and attempts shots that no other man
on the courts to-day could hope 10
execute successfully, Williams always
makes more errors than player OF ms
cali5re is expected 90 do. Notwlih-
standing this, he possesses so many
earning shots, wnen gong well, that
few men can cope with ham.
Il was so yesterday. Many times
Williams drove within inches Of &he
side lines or sent half and full volley
shots into the corners formed by the
court lines. Griffin, not believing Il
possible for man 20 accomplish such
sharp shooting more than once or twice
in the course Of a match, did not even
try for some Of these placed balls.
When he wrested the national cham
pionship from Maurice Mclaughlin a;
Newport. in 1914. Williams was the su-
perman OF lawn tennis. We have al
ways believed that on that day be could
have defeated any player IN the world.
he viii need 20 be IN the same condl-
ton this afternoon 4 ne is 20 prevail
over Johnston, but as matters stand We
feel inclined 70 give the slightest OF
preferences 20 the champion-on what
he mas shown and what Williams has
not
The courts were a splendid picture
Yesterday when the time arrived for
the last match Of the day During the
playing Of the Williams Griffin struggle
there were a few vacant patches IN
the stands, with people fling slowly
through the aisles that surround the
courts. But when Johnston and Muir
ray took the court everything IN the
seat line was occupied. Then the east
stand, seGtless, was filed UP by those
who were perfectly willing 20 stand
throughout the playing Of the match
Next u became necessary 20 carry out
several hundred chairs and place them
Just inside the enclosure on the preci-
Gus Forest Hills turf. These were
quickly Eoobled up, and out at the front
gates went ~ the Standing Room
Only" sign. No tickets could be bought
that would entitle the holder to seat
Wind Carries Away Awnings.
A stiff wind from the southwest blew
all afternoon, ripping some Of the can
vas awning from the top row Of seats
on the south stand, but the courts were
fairly well protected from the gusts
and the flight OF the ball was rarely in
terfered with
4 full set Of linesmen turned out for
the two matches Z. c. Conin, super
umpire. sat in the Official chair, and
William A Larned seven times ma
tional champion, fixed stern eye on
the base line. prepared 20 call the play
CT VINO transgressed the footfault rule.
Murray was ms principal victim.
Murray began the service. Johnston
starting with the sun n his eyes. but u
affected him not BIT. for he took the
first game, breaking through Murray's
service easily enough. On his first de-
livery the indoor champion earned the
point, the ball coming so hard that
Johnston could only stab wildly at il
FOR an out.
Murray stock the second point when
the champion Melted . backhand, but
then Johnston came into his own. A
driving rally ended with Murray criv-
ing far back OF the base line. On the
next point ne attempted 20 lob over
the champions head, but Johnston took
matters coolly and smashed clean for
an ace. The next point he won with a
beautiful soft volley. after drawing
Murray well out OF position, and then
ne won the game when MS opponent
drove out OF court.