New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31
Johnston and StraChan
Seem Most Dangerous
Rivals for 1917
By FRED HAWTHORNE

By FRED HAWTHORNt
The season Of 1916 saw Richard Nor
ri. Williams. I'd, Of Philadelphia en-
throned for the second time as national
lawn tennis champion, a place which ne
/, eninently fitted 70 III both in point
OF skill and by temperament
williams fought his way 70 the TOP
nv vanquishing the most formidable
list Of opponents that could be brought
assinst him, and in winning the blue
,ibbon fixture OF the courts in this
country he amply fulfilled the
prophecies that certain experts had
made as long ago ~ 1919, when the
Philadelphisn began TO amaze the lawn
tennis world with occasional flashes O.
super-tsnnis.
what will 1917 mean in the fortunes
of Williams as a player Will he be
able 20 maintain his proud position al
N. TOP or will he have 10 yield 10
sam. other contender, either one Ike
William NJ. Johnston. who has already
held the crown. or some younger and
as vet unhesrd Of player. perhaps rom
N. shores Of the Pacific, perhaps from
the East?
FILLED With Uncertainties
n 4 game so filed with uncertain
tee ss lawn tennis. where q single "on
dsv' nay lose match and cham
,iorshin. II is diffcult to forecast Just
what may happen next September Then
the clans gather again to struggle TOT
the national tide.
Rut APPLYING the same rule TO all the
leading oontenders. IT seems 70 'he
writer hat no other player IN the iand
has quite as good a chance as NllllaihS
80 Gaming the championship IN the
wear about 20 dawn.
Il a true that the present chalhP'o'
i. erratic in the extreme a. times anu
4hat mer who have no right 10 DC
cIsss,d with him take his measure dur
ing a season OF playing. II was SO IN
1of6 v.ben Clarence J. Griffin. OF Can
fornis. defeated Williams tV1ee ms
only two setbacks OF the season INC.
d.ntallvl and when George Church al
mos took me fhiiade4 ph+aI '"N'
in the Ssabright tourney -
In several other tournaments he
nan who now holds the title seemed 10
he Jar from his best and only pIayeo
well enough 20 just beat out ms oppo-
rents. Even IN the nat ionai hEtuTe on
the courts OF the West Side Tennis
club If Forest Hills. last Septem'
hor. Williams foundered through ms
matches. and he had the easy hall OF
the draw, 10 wade through. Yet when
he faced Griffin in the seminal he
raised his game sufficiently 10 WIN ~
e-3, 6-3. 6-3.
Griffin Big Obstacle
Psvchologically Griffin had all the
advantage when he and Williams met
~ Forest Hills. TIE chunky little
californian had always proved severe
obstacle in the champions path and
had defeated him in the only Two
matches they had played previous 10
tn. national meeting knowing al.
this Williams never showed trace o.
nervousness and vsnouished Grlrhn
with minimum OF enort' ana SO go ~
that the match held little interest TOT
the spectators. -
Then came the battle with Johnston,
the champion. in the final round ano
here arsin Williams showed ms superb
co1fdsrre he felt that his strokes
we're going right and ne knew ms
nhvsicsl condition was taultless, sho
~ was al he needed. Without being
erotis.ical. the Philsdelphian has the
mos absolute faith in his own aoiilty.
When he and Johnston retred al the
end OF the third set the Callfornlah
led by two sets 10 one ano hau nv
erallv crushed Williams IN the tnlid
session. winning at 60. but the Ior-
mer Harvard player showed not traCe
AZ worry as they started the fourth SCI.
". took all kinds OF chances on ms
,ervice no matter how often the hrs1
hall was fault, and he stroked every
rs.urn with all the strength ana speeu
Of which he rs master.
Although those watching did not re
slize il. Johnston was beginning 70 lAl
ter under Williams's extremely agg
i've attack. The fastener TOOK the
fonrth set a. GO, and kept right on IN
IN, 18th. always shooting straight TOT
the lines and hitting them more oIteh
than he missed. Johnston battled oes-
p,rztelv when he saw his crown SIP,
ping. and By whirlwind play iorgea
into a lead o. 80 on games bu.
Williams was imperturbsble, and kept
srhting his foemsn back, bringing tne
Games 70 3-all, then 20 - ana %
in his favor.
Some Miracle Shots
II seemed like the swift finish for
Johnston then, but by wonderful ell
Tor, he wou the ninth game, making ~
IA for Williams. This hnal ehort
mad robbed him Of his last remaining
ounce Of strength, however, and VIII
ANS. Keeling of miracle shot AFTER
miracle shot, took the last game ana
The match al 4-6, "a, GO, O.
ga.
Johnston will undoubtedly come
back for another try at the champion
ship, and probably others OF the CAN
fornians will travel East on the same
quest. including Johnny Strachan. re-
garded by many as the greatest play
err developed on the Pacific Slope since
the DAYS of Maurice Mclaughlin.
We do not believe the once IN
yineibl. Comet" will ever wear the
laurel wreath OF national champion
again. although, remembering his com
paratiye youth, his former tremendous
speed and irresistible attack. IT seems
hard 10 reconcile ones self with the
fact that the great Californian has
passed.
The ranking list OF 1916 saw several
new names among the first ten and