New-York tribune., 1918-04-07
shafer and Smith Win
Doubles in National
Indoor Tourney
By Fred Hawthorne

D.
svins over the battlefields of France
IN the service of the United States,
~on the national indoor lawn tennis
championship singles at the Seventh
Regiment Armory yesterday afternoon,
deseating Frederick B. Alexander, the
;nternationalist, in three straight sets
hv score Of rs, So, 8-6. 1t marked
the second year in succession that
yoshell had taken the title.
G. Carlton Shafer and Lieutenant
King Smith won the national doubles,
vauauishing young Cecil Donaldson,
the hfteen-year-old schoolboy, and
William T. Tilden, End. Of Philadel-
nhia. by a score of ia, 6-1, GA.
Voshells victory was won by con-
sistent yet brilliant lawn tennis. The
dominating factor throughout the
match was the champions terrific SER
vice. This enabled him to follow in
after his delivery with such speed that
he was generally in position to score
the "kill" at the net when Alexander
tossed up weak returns.
Breaks Through Only Once
Only once in the three sets was
Alexander able to break through his
opponents service, that happening in
the seventh game of the first set.
voshell, on the contrary, broke
through the veteran Davis Cup players
service five times in the match, an in
dicat:on of the big advantage he held
in this single department of the game.
The champion was a whirlwind of
speed yesterday in getting about his
court and was always forcing Alexan-
der to fight for the points, that is, the
internationalist had to EARN" a ma
jority Of his winning tallies, Voshell
making fewer errors.
Another factor in the indoor title
holders favor, was the excellent judg-
ment he showed in playing his "rail-
road" service far on Alexander's back
hand and also hammered his drives
down the side lines with much accur-
acy and usually on the challenger's
left side, The result was that even
when Alexander did manage to get his
racquet on the ball, he could make only
purely defensive return.
Those who watched the veterans
game struggle against the champion
were puzzled as to why Alexander did
not retaliate and play to Voshell's
backhand from the start. Certainly
this is not strong stroke as the title
holder plays it, and on the few oc-
casions in the final set when the inter
nationalist did send the ball to his
opponents right side the left-hander
never won point.
We have pointed out some of the
reasons why Voshell won yesterday 8
match and retained his title. Now we
must say a word or two as to why
Alexander lost, and lost in straight
setsEsomething he is not accustom ed
to do.
Injury Handicaps Alexander
Voshell was in the unfortunate posi-
ton Of playing a man who suffered
severely from an injured leg. Hence
the champion, winning or losing. could
not get the full measure of credit due
him. TO matter how we'll he played. It
is difficult to say just how much Alex
ander's injury initiated against MS
chances. There is no doubt that he
could not get to- well placed ball if
ii was mora than a foot or two distant
from him. He showed th;s time and
again in the match, particularly when
F0Snell CrOVe QOWn CNe SlOe lines, Wllu
his opponent in centre court.
Alexander was also handicapped by
his injury when he tried to handle
the champions service as he coulc
not step TO one side fast enough tc
catch the ball on his forehano. 1t was
enly when he succeeded in forcing
his way inside the service court lines
that the Davis Gun star was supreme.
From that point he thrilled the
large gallery by his masterful yolley-
ing Alexander has a wrist that Is
the marvel of the courts, and there
is no other player in the game to-day
difficult positions with the ease and
beauty OF stroke that are his. On
such occasions he looked invincible, bul
1t was not often that Voshel would
allow his famous adversary to get
within volleying range.
The champion began the service
scoring beautiful ace on his first
ball, and took the game on Alexander's
nets and outs. The veteran won his
own service a. love and then they
alsernased until the sixth game. wher
Veshell broke through, aided by splen-
did volleying. Alexander retaliatet
in the seventh, taxing Voshelps service
The eighth was perfect rain Of place
ment aces on the part OF both men
Alexander scoring FIVE and winning
the game. while Voshell made three:
They fought along evenly UP to o-
all, then Vosheil took his own scrvlc'
and broke through Alexander in tn
twelfth for the first set at 10
Forces Strong Attack
The champions success had givel
him confidence and he kept forcing tn
attack in the second. taking it quick,
at s-2 and running into a lead Of 3.
Or games in the third before Alexande
made his hnal bid for victory, and b,
dazzling work at the net held the cham
pton OFF until the games were e-ail
Voshell took the last two games, brea
ing through again IN the fourteenth
asd this gave him the match and tn
championship.
In the doubles match il was q case o
.wo tried and steady players, verse;
thoroughly in each others style 0
Play, opposed By Tilden, a spectacula
but erratic player, and young Donald
son, boy of most unusual promise
out not accustomed to the strain Of
championship match.
Smith and Shafer won most of thei
points A. the net position, SMASHING
evereiy and driving with great ac
ruraey. Tiiden, trying 70 do more thar
Nis snare Of court covering, made man
,setacular shotg, but his errors out
ramoered his earned points. Donald
son did almost ail that was asked o
slm, bat could not hope TO compete Of
equal tnrn4 with eueh court veteran