New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-22
Struggle Between Murray
and Tilden Big Feature
of Days Play
BY FRED HAWTHORNE

By FRED HAWTHORNE
In the course OF a day that was no.
table for stirring matches between thu
leading players of the country the big
field in the national Red Cross singles
lawn tennis tournament was narrowed
down TO nine contenders yesterday on
the turf courts of the West Side Ten
mis- Club at Forest Hills, Long Island.
Those who came through the fire of
competition TO reach the round before
the semi-fnal were: Robert Lindley
Murray, the spectacular California
Meteor; John R. Strachan, another
speedy player from the Pacific Coast;
Charles S. Garland, the seventeen-year-
old Pittsburgh schoo.boy; Nathaniel
w. Niles, Of Boston, who came through
at the expense Of the veteran Hol-
combe Ward; Clarence j. Griffin, of
California, national doubles champion
with William u. Johnston; Harold A.
Throckmorton, national iLtcrscholastic
champion, and Richard Norris Williams,
I'd, present holder of the national
championship.
The only match during the day that
had to remain unfinished was that in
which Craig Biddle, of Philadelphia,
the veteran internationalist, opposed
Dean Mathey, No. 10 in the ranking list,
Three Furious Sets
The men battled furiously through
three sets, with Biddle leading at e.,
12-14, 6-3, when darkness and threat
ened rain forced a postponement until
this morning. All yesterdays matches
were the best three out of five sets,
and this procedure will continue for
the rest Of the tournament.
This afternoon should produce sew
era particularly fine matches. for in
addition 70 the four events scheduled
in the mems tourney Miss Molla Blur
stedt. nation woman champion. who
has defeated Miss Mary X. Browne, of
California. in their last two meetings,
will face her rival again in an exhibit
tion match.
In addition, the only championship
tournaments TO be awarded by the u.
6. y. L. r. A. this season will be started
when the national junior and boys
tournaments get under way.
For dazzling speed. tremendous hit
ting. sensation shots and the keenest
Of fighting spirit. the match between
Murray and william T. Tilden, jr., of
Philadelphia. was easily the feature OF
the day. Murray won at 3-6, Ga,
G-3. 6-3. but il was not until after
a bitter struggle for the points.
Probably next in interest to the spec
tators was the meeting between Will
Jams. holder of the highest honors on
the courts. and Leonard Beekman, a
former national interscholastic cham
pion. Williams won at 6-s. "a. 81,
6-5. delightiing the crowd by his dis
play of amazing court skill when the
mood seized him. and at other times
seeming content TO see Beekman clear
ly outp.ay him.
Young Garland. whose defeats of
LYLE Mahan and Karl Behr on Monday
indicated that another star is rapidly
rising in the lawn tennis world. kept
up his winning streak yesterday by
taking the measure of Douglas 5. Wat
ters. the New Orleans expert, at Cd,
4-6, 81, 6-3.
Schoolboy Proves Steady
Throckmorton swept through I'M
pressively against Watson NJ. Wash
burn. taking the match at IS, g.
"a. "a. In the opening set the
schoolboy was not in full command OF
his epcedy strokes, but thereafter he
steadied admirably and played Wash
burn off his feet
II remained for Niles TO stay the
progress of Holcombe Ward, the Bos-
tonian, winning at IS, %, 81
CO. The champion OF 1904, follow,
ing his victory over s. Howard Voshell
on Monday, was regarded as likely
winner over Niles before the natcn
started. but the latter knew trick or
two himself and kept speeding deep
drives down the side lines, on alternate
sides of the court. Ward had not the
speed of foot necessary to go after
these shots and Niles was careful not
10 give the veteran many opportunities
for volleying.
Ward could give Mr.. Hoover lessons
in conservation that would open the
food patriots eyes. The old master IS
not so young as he once was not as
agile, and he saved himself every un-
necessary pHNsiNdl talNAN
match. Slowly and methodically he
walked to the base line when about TO
start service. His every movement was
the personifcation of elaboration, and
as a result he had hardly worked up a
gentle perspiration when the match was
over.
Griffin, lieutenant in the regular
army. went cover the toy in one-two-
three order against young r. NJ. Beck,
Of Philadelphia, taking the enemy into
camp by score of 81, Go, 90.
As smiling and debonGir as ever, Peck
seems to be gradually working up his
game for a supreme effort later in the
week.
Strachan did not have much Of a
fight on his hands 70 dispose Of A. W.
Macpherson, the young Seotch-Russian,
by a score Of e. Sc, 60, IS.
The Californian took the sting out OF
his opponents strong forehard drives
By closing in at the net quickly and
smothering the ball, but Garland
should make lots Of trouble for S,ra-
chan this afternoon. As a matter of
fact. the schoolboy is quite capable OF
working another upset here.
Bddle Plays Well
Biddle played a remarkable game
A. ! Ia