New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-06
TENNIS EXPERTS
PICK WILLIAMS
TO WIN CROWN
Harvard Man Has Speed
and Is Expected to
Attain Steadiness.
BY JAMES s. O'NEALE.

Dy JhtlLO % "
For years the American tennis pub
lie has expected each season that the
strongest player potentially in the
country would be able 10 write his
name Richard Norris Williams, "a,
first. Year after year since 1912, when
the youngster came from Switzerland
and his tennis tutor TO play IN his ma
tive land, Harvard Dick has been
ranked second in the national list.
Even in 1914, when he won the ma
tional championship from Maurice NC
Loughlin, he lost first place IN the
ranking because Maurie had played
probably the best tennis the world ever
saw in defeating Norman r. brookes
and the late Anthony Wilding in the
sensational Davis Cup matches at for-
est Hills.
There has been a feeling among the
tournament PLAYERS, the hardened ones
and the not 80 hardened, that this is
the year for Williams to land: The
Philadelphian "has everything lie
has not a weakness. His service is'ter,
rife, his volleying sound, his physical
condition perfect, his headwork good
enough His backhand and forehand
are the most effective in the country.
Williams plays the rising bound,
which means that he strokes the ball
before il reaches the height OF us
bounce. He stands two or three feet
inside the service line to receive ser
vice. playing the sphere on. what a
baseball player would term long
nick-un.v His eve, brain and muscle
coordination must therefore be light
ming fast. The risk Of error Is greater
bv far than that incurred in the regu-
lation stroke, but the advantage gained
is tremendous.
II is this advantage that makes Will
Jams potentially the best player in the
world for when he is fright" and his
error percentage Is reduced to . mini
mum an opponent who did not play the
rising bound also would have no
chance. There are no other rising
hound PLAYERS in the worlds tourna-
ment play of any consequence what
ever, save the veteran Brookes, now'en-
gagged in the war, who has seen his
| best days anyway.
The whole thing in a Williams match
rests with Williams. Winning or los
| ing, he always makes more ace drives
than his opponent. Vsctory or defeat
with him is simply matter of his
error column. II he Is steady enough
TO keep the error percentage down 10
reasonable figures he wins.
Il has been figured by the tennis ex-
perts that this year would see Will
! Jams steadier than ever before. He
played all winter on the Longwood
covered courts, and played intercol-
| legiate tennis all spring. He ought,
| therefore, TO be in great eye and mus
Gle practice. So many discouraging
reports have been received concerning
| the chances of McLoughiin's reaching
old-time form that it has been figured
that Williams has only Johnston to
reckon with. Even with Mclaughlin
at his best It Is thought that Will
Jams, provided he is at his best also,
| is tho better man.
Williams went away for a rest, in
stead Of defending his clay. court title,
and returned for LongwooA. Here he
was defeated in straight sets by Peck
Griffin, of San Francisco. much 70 the
disappointment of all New England
The defeat probably did cocky young
Williams good, for ten days later he
showed fire in. his eye against his old
rival, Johnson, and defeated him in
a great match at Forest Hills last Fri
day. R. n. Williams, I'd, has yet that
chance to write first" after his name.