New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-19
Net and Racket DevOteeS
Eager to See Western
Lad RecOnquer.
COMET" SAID TO BE
OLD SELF ONCE MORE
Still Young and Strong Enough
o. Vanquish All His
AdverSaries.
u, JAMES :. O'NEALE.

oi American tennis. come bac@ this
year?
That is the question worrying many
tennis follower. Rcd Mac, beloved
all over tho country. an idol whose de-
feat caused women 20 weep in public,
was ranked third las, year. Ahead of
him were William " Johnston. ma
tional champion a3d 10. !. and OK
Champion K. Norris Williams. The
Comet. placed first in 1912, 1918 and
1919. was ANONYMOUSLY preceded by
men whom he had many times de-
feated
After what was agreed by William
4. Larned. Frederick B. Alexander and
other famous veterans 70 have been the
greatest tennis ever seen, Mclaughlin
defeated Norman i. Brookes and the
late Anthony Wilding in the 1914 Davis
Gun matches NRurie was then ac-
claimed quite universally the best ten
mis- PLAYER IN the world.
Then. in the all-comers AZ Newport.
Mac lost TO Williams, who showed SUI
perlative tennis for the day. Since
that memorable match Mclaughlin I'M
deniablv has not been The deshing
Comet OF old. He came East last year,
determined 70 win back his laurels. He
failed.
Maurie will probably manage TO come
East again this Summer. II he comes
IL will be with the courage OF lion.
He will fight 70 win back his way 20
world premiership. No tennis player,
soldier or gladiator ever had more
courage than the fiery Native Son.
The heart and the brain will be there.
Yet many tennis followers assert that
the great Comet has burned himself
out. and point 20 the fact that ms game
did not last summer hold the terrlhc
speed Of old
But there is no physical reason why
Maurie should not again electrify the
world. He is only twenty-six. he has
still the powerful. agile body. with
marvellous endurance. He never smokes
or drinks and takes the best care OF
himself in every respect. Beyond
light stomach trouble at times last
year, he was, as ever. physically per
tcct.
Bars to the Comets return are
psychological. He was worried last
ear. and. despite himself, he could not
lold his mind on the game. An ardent,
.rholc-souled nature, such as McLough-
Inns gives itself fully in every expert
nee. and those who know felt sorry
that the fiery Comet, master on the
court. let other things worry MN 20 SO
,-reat an extent that. even in the midst
Of match. his thoughts were not al
ways ON the play. You could often see
tho WEAKNESS in his face.
IL the Comet is carefree this sum
mer he should regain his place. ~ he
tIil no tho same
story again of lions heart trying u
force itself to win by sheer courage
i'm spite of worries that. the more
fought against the more affect, sub
consciously.
MANY thought that the Comets rec
ord last wear entitled him 10 at least
tie for the number one position, but
the committee gave Johnston the hrst
place because OF his wonderful feat OF
overcoming Behr, Williams and Nc
Loughin in succession at Forest Hllls.
I'm the other tournaments Johnston's
performances were not a. all impress
sive. As for Williams, many tennis
followers think yet that McLoughhn
was the better player last year
The Comet lost only three matches
10 Behr. William and Johnston. john
sion dropped six, TO Mclaughlin, Niles,
Rvford. Williams ~ and Pen. Will
iams lost four. two to Mclaughlin and
one each TO Griffin and Johnston. In
addition 10 his two defeats OF Will
Jams and the one of Johnston, Maurie
won from c. r. Gardner. Strachan, Ma
nan. Vosheu. Throekmorton. Behr,
Alexander. Mathey, Beekman. ". r;
Johnson and twice each from Peil ano
Niles. who defeated Johnston.
Rehr was the first 70 dim the blaze
of the Comet last year. AT Seaoright,
August u, Behr went 10 the net
agsinst Mclaughlin and won the final
round in a terrific match. SO. 10, 10.
The dav was one Of the muggiest and
hottest Of the summer. From the hrst
u was seen that the Comet did not
have the snap and the speed always
associated with his name.
In The second set Maurie began 20
hang out signs Of distress. Even dur
inS the first set he had not played the
spectacular. forcing, net-rushing game
OF which nc is capable. In The second
and laird he stayed back in the court
more than ever, and was quite con-
tent 20 stop between points 70 mop
with a towel. Fe WAS not the Maurie
Of old.
Ills service lacked the tremendous
pace His errors mounted up with
distressing frequency. His confidence
app,sred 10 the spectators 20 be lack
nc. vet despite this he fought gamely
and held on rather more through his
courage than through his play. His
play was of the in-snd-out order, with
poradic brilliant periods.
4 week later az the Newport invi-
fation, Williams won from the Comet
on perfect day. o., Ga. 6-3. So.
The Comet was plainly disturbed IN
L q. L. faa 80 fA q q
were not going we'll. He won the iirst
set on his opponents errors, and
throughout the match exhibited the
ramc lack Of FIRE and net play he
showed in the Behr match.
Mauries third defeat came IN the
erals az Forest Hills. Johnston won.
&. 60. Z 8. 10 9. The Comet
burned brightly in the first set in his
daazilng manner. Then he relapsed
mo .iightly better form than he
slowed against Behr and Williams
jyhnston's speedy drives and deep vol
ewing gave him the championship.
in the last set Mac was brilliant az
INES. but the old FIRE was not there
Worn by worry. Maurie was all in"
and sought chair between PLAYS NTH
"a fOriorn air that, despite the coura-
Ge0vs fight he was making against a
tOungcr man, drew forth the sympathy
~ the crowd
Almost every man and woman o. the
thousands present wished 20 see the
Comet victorious. and when net cord
afroke enabled Johnston 20 make the
last Kill there was profound sorrow.
iesp and unconcealed. All the while
eyery one had been hoping against hope.
not believing that when the final test
came The idOlizcd Maurie could lose.
Girls TODD up while The tears rolled
GoWn their cheeks. and mems eyes were