Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-29
CHURCH BETTER
TENNIS PLAYER
THAN MURRAY
Tilden Ayers That Hard
Luck Deprived Former
Tiger of Honors
BEATEN ONLY FOUR TIMES
By WILLIAM t. TILDEN, I'D

When we turn TO George NJ. Church and
look into his seasons record we find that
he has the greatest string OF victories over
prominent players OF any man in the rank
ing list. But for two pieces of hard luck
sprained ankle at Seabrlght and his un-
expected and excusable defeat by Murray
In the national--Church would have been
placed either No. 1 or No. for 1915 in
stead OF No. 4.
Like Murray, he has met four defeats,
but unlike Murray, he has played continu-
ousy all season. Personally, I feel that
Church is a greater player than Lindley
Murray but Murray's defeat of him In the
national championship must relegate Church
TO NO. 4. while Murray is placed No. 3.
Challenges Williams
Church successfully defended his Della
ware State title by defeating easily Joseph
J. Armstrong. He also defended success
lully against Heath Byford in the western
title event. He won the Seabrlght tourna-
ment by defeating Fred Inman, go. 6-3,
Ted" Whitney, 6-3, 6-s, 6-2, Howard Vo-
shell, 6-2. 1913, Willis Davis, 60, Ga and
in the finals crushed Murray at 6-4 go. 6-4
He challenged Williams for the Achilles
Cup and was defeated only at sd. 6-S, 6-3
4-6. SO. after most thrilling match
Church not only sprained his ankle during
the second set, but was taken with a severe
case Of cramps which, in the opinion Of
many critics, cost him the match
Church easily defeated Clarence J. Griffin
in the East and West match in straight
sets. Ga. Ga. 6-4. Early I'm the season he
suffered an unexpected and totally inexcusa-
BILE defeat by Connie Doyle IN the national
clay court championship, while but few
weeks previously he had been defeated in
five sets in the final of the Sleepy Hollow
tournament by Willis E. Davis. He won
the Metropolitan tournament.
Crushing Net Attack
mi. fSl,. t. Nl,o urGa
quarter of the entire draw, and his bid for
stellar honors was so strong that following
his triumph over Mclaughlin he freely was
picked to come through his side. He played
his first great match in the second round,
when by al crushing net attack, In which
he volleyed as no man has ever volleyed
before, he swamped the famous Japanese,
Kumagae, In straight sets, 6-3. 6-3, 6-l.
lie then defeated Eugene Warren, one Of
the California contingent, and followed this
by blasting the titular hopes of the famous
Mclaughlin by getting to him In four sets.
Then came the memorable match with
Murray, in which the latter came from be-
hind in a great rush and snatched victory
from the jaws OF what appeared to be GER
tain defeat.
Church this season has defeated Arm
strong Mathey, Pell Washburn. Davis
(twlce) Beekman, +. p. Larned, Rosen-
baum, Griffin, Murray, Whitney. Voshell
Inman, Byford, Kumagae, Warren and Nc
Loughlin, and has lost only to Williams.
Doyle, Davis and Murray.
Ground Game Reliable
His game is a pure net attack, based on
a powerful twist service. His stop volleys
carry more angle than those of any other
player. Up to this season Church has been
weak off the ground but he studied under
George Agutter for several months last
winter, and this season his ground game is
severe and reliable. His overhead is the
greatest now seen in America, as he can
kill with both pace and placement from
any part of the court.
There is no other player in America who
is the close student of the relation between
twist of the ball and angle of the shot than
George Church. He never smashes a shot
that has not deliberate spin to the ball
He is past master of racquet technique.
My next article will be on Ichiya
Kumagae, the japanese sensation of 1915