New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-27
His Defeat of Niles Stamps
Him Best Player on
Courts To-day
By Fred Hawthorne

down in the lawn tennis histories the
name Of Robert Lindley Murray, for
merly Of California, but now of Mag
ara Falls. n. Y, is certain to be placed
before that of every other player Muir
ray clearly earned this honor by his
decisive defeat of Nathaniel W. Niles,
of Boston. in the final round OF the ma
tional Red Cross singles at the west
Side Tennis Club on Saturday.
Before this the Meteor had given evil
dence earlier in the season that he was
playing in better form than ever before
in his career. The Californian has
rounded out his game appreciably since
that time, in 1914, when he hrst
astounded the East by his spectacular
style of play and earned ranking at
the No. position among the FIRST ten.
In those days Murray was the en-
bodiment of Pacific Coast tennis. as eX-
emplifcd first by the great Mclaughlin.
With him il was q case OF terrlhc ser
vice, crowd the net and then smash or
yolley--mostly smash. II was sensa-
tional tennis to watch, but it entailed
tremendous waste of physical energy,
and when pitted against a game Ike
that Of Richard Norris Williams, I'd,
present national champion, II could not
prevail.
Wild Speed Curbed
But since then the Californian has
curbed his wild and undirected speed
and has brought to his aid repertory
of ground strokes that, while not OF
the soundness possessed by some
others among the top notchers, never.
theless are sufficient to help him out OF
tight situations and bolster up ais net
attack.
Murray can now afford to wait in the
hack of his court until an opening pre-
sents itself and then rush to the net 70
finish off his points. His volleying has
also undergone a marked change Tor
tho better. Some of his low volleys
curing the week of play at Forest HIS
were remarkably sharp and decisive
and these did their part IN encompass
ing the downfall of Niles.
The Californian is still prone 70 ex-
rend too much energy in gong after
almost unreturnable shots, but even
here he has put check on hlmseit'
with the result that he can survive the
ripors Of a hard five-set match lar pet
ter than was the case before he learned
caution and conservation.
1t is a pity that William NJ. johnston.
national champion of 1915 and one Oh
the soundst players who ever trod a
court. could not remain IN the East
LONG enough to take part In the tour
new at Forest Hills. This little man
with the mighty forehand drive and
the deadly overhead volleying game
was lust reaching the heights IN MS
game last month when ne was sum
moned back to his native California 10
accent a commission in the navy.
II is true that Murray had taken ms
measure in a three-set match on the
CLAW courts of the Yahnundasis COLI
Club, of Utica. in the latter part OF
July. but Johnston had barely stepped
off the transcontinental tram at thaC
time and had not yet worked the Kinks
out of his muscles.
Bows to Throckmorton
Harold Throckmorton had also de-
feated him in the same tournament
but at Plainfield two days later johns,
ton turned the tables on the national
Junior champion. and at Greenwich, on
The turf. the following week the ior-
rler national title holder gave evidence
that few more days OF play "ou'o
find him at the top Of his game
Murray and Johnston have met on a
rruber of occasions in the last TWO
o. three years, and the advantage has
always rested with Johnston until the
meeting at Utica. Had these two
Native Sons met in the final round at
Fcres. Hills last Saturday the matcn
would have been memorable one anu
vc are inclined TO believe that JOINS
ton would again have been the victor.
BIZ. that is a question that must ever
remain unanswered. -,
hut these facts stand out with com,
melting directness: Murray started
nut in a field of sixty-four competitors
a. Forest Hills, among whom were
some of the greatest players on me
courts to-day, and he travelled an
fcult path to the final round. william
T Tiiden, jr, slashlng, orilllanC
nIaver. was the first serious obstacle
in the Meteor's path, and Murray came
through safely by score OF 80 o.
Craig Biddle, Of Philadelphia. who
seems TO have drunk deeply OF the
fountain Of youth this season, was
Murray's next opponent. He played
the greatest tennis he has shown IN
several years, but here again Murray
was triumphant, winning at as, 81,
Ga, As, GO. o.;
John r. Strachan, another Cali
fornian. attempted to stop Murrays
nrogress toward the final round on the
following day, but the meteor moved
This opponent down by score OF IS,
"a. 6L3. 6-1, and thus earned the
right to face Niles in the final bracket.
There will be no official ranking list