New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-07
Champion Conceded One
of the Best Tennis Play
erS of All Time.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

g., Richard Norris Williams, 2d, OF
Philadelphia, won more than the ma
tional lawn tennis championship when
he defeated William NJ. Johnston. the
title holder, in the final round match
at Forest Hills. on Tuesday. Not only
did he establish his right to the No. l
position in the ranking list this year,
but he also proved his game sound and
equal, if not better, than the best OF
other years.
There is only one man in the country
who has defeated the new champion
this season. Clarence J. Griffin, OF Cali
fornia. and Williams partly atoned for
the double victory registered by Peck
when he eliminated the player from
the Coast on the West Side Tennis
Clubs courts in the semi-final round
last Saturday. Williams won in
straight sets and Griffin never had
chance, being outplayed all the way.
When Williams won the national title
for the first time by overcoming the
great Mclaughlin in the final round at
Newport in 1914 there were those who
declared the present champions strokes
unsound. his footwork execrable. MOI
withstanding these structures on his
game Williams managed to do fairly
we'll last year, being placed at No. ,
in the ranking list and reaching the
semi-fnals in the national, losing in
that round TO Johnston.
Great Despite Flaws.
His victory in the national on Tues
DAY would indicate that the Phila-
delphian is doing fairly we'll for man
whose game is wrong in several de-
partments. There is no doubt that
some Of the strokes used by Williams
would be extremely difficult, if not inn
possible. for another man TO emulate
successfully. His backhand, made with
an excess of body motion. requires per-
feet timing in the execution, but il is
one of the champions most effective
strokes when he is going right.
As for Williams's footwork, the way
in which he covered his court in the
match against Johnston. particularly
IN the last two sets, left little 10 be
desired 1t was the Californian who
faltered, lost his speed and was UNI
able 10 cover up his court against
Williams's persistent attack
No. the new champion is we'll quail
fed to hold his high place among the
players of this country and the world.
and he is no freak champion either.
ANY man who can come through such
field as the national championship
tourney brings together is worthy Of
the highest consideration. When he
does this twice, as Williams has done,
il can mean only one thing-that the
man is a great player in every way
and that Williams is.
Sympathy for Johnston.
Yet there must be widespread regret
at the failure OF game little Johnston
10 gain second leg on the famous
championship cup. Never was
sounder game developed on the courts
than that of the man who lost his
title on Tuesday. There is not a stroke
IN JohnSton's assortment that is not
founded on the soundest of basic prin-
ciples, and his footwork is superb
Only the lack of more rubust con
stitution stands between Johnston and
the ability 10 break even in his tus-
sizes with Williams. Weighing around
100 pounds when he entered the ma
tlonal tournament at Forest Hills last
week, the Californian dropped four or
nys pounds in the rouraa of IN. w.eL