Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-18
LOCAL TENNIS
MEN TO MEET
NEW WORKERS
Davis, Tilden, Shafer and
Church Will Be Seen in
the Courts
INTEREST IN MATCHES
By WILLIAM T. TILDEN. I'd

Philadelphia is shortly going to have
glimpse of two of New Yorks best tenni.
players. Some time during the first weel
| of May. G. Carlton Shafer, the New York
crack who held The national indoor cham.
pionship in doubles for several years, and
G. NJ. Church, holder of more titles thar
this column will contain, are going to
play an exhibition match at Germantown
Cricket Club Their opponents will be
Willis E. Davis, the Californian, who Is
at the University of Pennsylvania, and
William T. Tilden, I'd, of the home club,
Davis will meet George Church in singles,
while Shafer will play Tllden. Following
the singles, New York will meet Philadel-
phia in a doubles match, which should
| produce tennis of an interesting calibre
G.. Carlton Shafer is one of the finest
players among New York's first-strinP
men. He has in recent years defeated
such men as Touchard. Behr, Alexander,
etc. Mr.. Shafer during the last few
seasons has played little, owing TO an
injury to his leg. but this season he played
" several tournaments in the South and
II in excellent condition.
George NJ. Church. among America s
first 10 players, is we'll known around
Philadelphia. Two years ago he defeated
Richard Norris Williams, I'd, for the In
tercollegiate title. At that time Williams
was national champion. Since then Church
has had one continuous string Of victories,
winning title after title. His game Is
marked by one of the most wonderful net
attacks in American tennis. He Is a
most remarkable doubles player. The de-
Cisive manner in which Church easily de-
feated Joseph ]. Armstrong our Pennsyl-
vania State champion, In the challenge
round at Wilmington last year showed
what n wonderful player the Princeton
star Is.
This exhibition match is but step
toward the formation of intercity exhibit
tion matches with New York. 1t is hoped
now to arrange a four-man team match
for the end of May at Cynwyd Club
The New York team would include Church.
ShFfer and the other two would be picked
from Alexander, Murray, Behr, Pell or
Little.
The exact date of the Church-shafer-
Davis-Tilden match will be announced
shortly.
While Harvard was administering the
rather decided drubbing TO Philadelphia
Cricket Club tennis team, at St Martins,
yesterday afternoon, amid fair tennis
fans and thunder claps, Richard Norris
Williams. I'd. the best tennis player In
America today. defeated Willis +. Davis,
our indoor champion, with surprising ease,
SO, SO.
bo IL sdlu TOT baFls at once thAt he
was far off form. Never. since Davis has
been playing around Philadelphia. has he
seemed so bad. His service lacked punch,
while his ground game and volleying were
go" below his usual form.
But no matter how well Davis would
have played, Williams would have defeat
ed him yesterday. Williams showed the
same brand of tennis that has made him
the great artist OF the racquet. He was
magnificent. His placement shots from
back court were wonderful, while he vol
leyed with deadly accuracy.
The service of both men was way be-
low form. both serving many double faults.
Williams lacked speed on his serve, while
Davis had neither twist nor direction.
Davis retrieved himself In the doubles,
playing much better tennis. 1t must be
remembered that none OF the men had any
real practice, owing to the late season. 1t
was a great treat to see Richard Norris
Williams again playing on Philadelphia
courts.