New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-21
Feature
Tennis Play at
Yahnundasiis
Johnston Beaten by Throck-
morton-Church Falls Be-
fore Chuck Garland
BY FRED HAWTHORNE

Utica. July 2o.-Upsets of a most
sensational character ushered in the
opening day Of play in the mems Red
Cross round robin singles and doubles
lawn tennis tournament to-day on the
( clay courts Of the Yahnundasis Golf
Club.
As an instance Of the way things
went, It may be mentioned that Will
lam NJ. Johnston, national title holder
Of 1915 and ranked No. last year,
was defeated at 60, "a, by Harold
A. Throckmorton, national interschol-
sstic champion, a youth ranked only
in the second ten.
Almost paralleling this reversal of
form was the downfall Of George NJ.
Church, No. 8 in the national ranking
OF 1916, at the hands Of young Chuck
Garland. of Pittsburgh, player sew
eral degrees removed from the first
flight. Garland triumphed by a score
of 10-S. Ga.
If Johnston was unable TO uphold
the prestige of his native California,
Robert L. Murray, another son of the
Golden West, gave proof of his power
by winning the only singles match he
played to-day, defeating Throckmcrton
in brilliant three-set encounter by
score of 1t, Ga, 81. Murray, who
is now a resident of the East, did not
strike into his best pace until the last
game Of the first set. Then he flashed
to the fore, volleying splendidly from
forecourt, smashing with a world of
speed and viciousness and covering an
amazing amount of ground as he raced
about the court after Throckmorton's
placement shots. The California Me-
teors work reminded those who
watched of the days in 1914, when
Murray first sstonished the East by
his whirlwind style of play.
Alexander Beats Garland
Frederick B. Alexander, who was
playing championship tennis when
Johnston and Murray. Throckmorton
and Garland were still content to wear
knickerbockers, defeated Garland with
ease and dispatch at 81, 6-1, and,
paired with Throckmorton, vanquished
Murray and Johnston by a score of
he and his partner succumbed to the
speedy attack Of Church and Garland
by score of C-3, 10-S.
One thing the tournament to-day
seems to have proved, and that is that
training for war and training for ten
mis- are two separate and distinct prop
in hn
aviation service, has not swung a rae
quet for couple of months. He may
be able to loop the loop 5000 feet
above the earth and do the spiral glide
from 9 cloud bank, but he cannot con-
troll his volleying shots and he cannot
gauge the height of the net correctly
when making "killing" smash. Such
are the rewards of patriotism.
With Johnston it was q different
cause that robbed his usual sharp and
splendid game Of its effectiveness.
The 1.-THE little Californian stepped
from q transcontinental train TO the
courts and had not got rid Of his "sea-
legs" when called upon to face Throck-
morton in the singles.
The fame of Johnston's forehand
drive, the greatest stroke of its kind
in the world to-day, had of course pre-
ceded him to Utica, and the gallery
waited expectantly to see the former
champion cannonade the ball through
the court as he did against Maurice
Mclaughlin in the final round of the
National Championship at Forest Hills
in 1915. But in only three or four in
stances did the Californian succeed IN
bringing OF his favorite shot with the
old time sting. When he did. the gal
lery appIauded wildly and Threckmor-
ton made vain attempts to get his
racquet on the ball.
Johnston's Shots Uncertain
Far more often, however, Johnston
sent the ball far back Of the base
line or crashed it into the net. When
he is on his game, there is no player
on the courts to-day who can reach
into foreeourt with the speed ana
certainty of position that distinguish
the work of the star from the coast
Against Throckmorton, however, John-
ston was slaY in charging for the net
and even when there his overhead vol
Loving lacked the decisiveness that has
formerly made it q thing of beauty.
The first set was lost more on john
ston's surprising errors than on
Tbrockmorton brillisncy, although
the latter did occasionally execute full
volleys and spectacular smashes that
thrilled the spectators.
Murray, considering that he has done
very little playing this season, was
remarkably steady, both Of the ground
and overhead. His first service ball
Sbo, over the net with tremendous
mace" and the second, with hign,
twisting bound, WAS every whit as ell
fective. Once he had gained controi
~ his renertory Of shots, he made short
work of Throckmorton, outvolleying
the interscholastic champion from mid
court and outsteadying MN. In sheer
brilliance of stroke and court covering
Throckmorton could not surpassed pu'
he could not maintain control
Young Garland Helpless
Alexander gave an expressive eThi-
bition of his mastery Of the low voiley
in his PLAYING to-day. Young Garland
was helpless against the perfect maze
OF 'cross-court shots that the Davis
Gun veteran spun over the net. over
head too. Alexander ended the points
with q sharpness and fnality that de-
lighted the gallery. He and MURRAY
should come pretty close TO hghtihs IL
out for the premier honors TOMORROW
Miss Mary Browne, OF Caiiforhia;
farmer national woman champion, ala
moi reach Utica to-day, but she teie-
oranhed TO Edwin Fuller Torrey. sec
1etary Of the u. s. n. l.. I. A., that she
you'd arrive tomorrow morning. She
will meet Miss Molla Bjurstedt, pres
80 ch.mpion. In n special exhibition
CIV .L;. .houid proye the feat