New-York tribune., 1918-05-17
Tlden to Meet
Bassford in
Tennis Final
Former Also Wins to Final
Doubles in Harlem
Tourney

William T. Tildcn, I'd, OF Philadel
Mount Pleasant Tennis Club, will meet
in the final round of the Harlem Ten
mis- Clubs annual open singles tourna-
ment tomorrow afternoon. at 2:30
o'clock. Tildcn. by virtue of two vic
tories, over Anton f. Won Bernuth, at
Cd. Cd, in the fourth round, and
over Vincent Richards, national boy
champion. at 6-1, 6-3. in the semi
final bracket, won his final round stand
ing.
Bassford came through in the upper
half through his defeat of Harrison R.
Hathaway, the one-armed sensation, by
ii score of 3-6, GO, 6-1. 1t was the
formers splendid dccp-court driving
down the side lines that sent Hatha-
way down to defeat. Bassford kept his
opponent on the run continually, and
the one-armed PLAYER was forced many
times to make his strokes while out of
position. In the opening set, however.
he was very effective in getting into
position for the volley quickly, and
this enabled him to score placement
aces before Bassford could move far
from the base line.
While Tilden has attained more
prominence on the courts than Bass
Philadelphia will have to steady down
tomorrow if he hopes to win the final
round match. Bassford, driving with
the deadly accuracy and splendid
depth that he showed yesterday, may
make things decidedly unpleasant for
his opponent With Tilden playing his
regular, dashing, hard-hitting game,
however, he should register another
victory.
After disposing of Won Bernuth and
Richards in the singles Tilden teamed
UP with little Cecil Donaldson, his
partner in the final round of the ma
tonal indoor doubles last month, and
won two more matches. Louis Bry
and B. Landau were their first victims.
yielding by a score of 6-2, 6-3, and
in the second round Tilden and his
partner defeated the O'Boyle brothers
at 6--3, 6--1. 1t is planned to play the
final round of the doubles Immediately
after the singles title has been settled
tomorrow afternoon.
The steadiness of Won Bernuth and
his many clever gets" of we'll placed
shots forced Tlden to travel at
good clip from the start to finish, and
the match was closer than many ex-
pected it to be. When it was neces-
sary, however, to gain the deciding
games. the Philadelphia star was al
Ways tHeie WIFI lHc uHlSHlIS SINUS.
Even taking into account his teadi-
ness and his great court covering Won
Bernuth found it dis cult to get by
Tilden once the visiting player sue
ceded in going into forecourt. The
latter's great reach brought down many
ball that looked good for a place
mcnt, and overhead Tilden was spec
tacuiar at lines, smashing with terrific
force.
Young Richards was far easier
proposition for the man from Philadel-
phia. In the first place, Tilden knew
too much tennis for the ffteen-year-
old boy, and then, too. his hard hitting
of the ball and the lightning speed Of
his shots placed the youthful star on
the defensive throughout The man
ner in which Tilden sent his terrific
service cannonading through Richards's
court gave the gallery thrill and, al
though the result was forecast in the
first few games, the match held the
centre of the stage until the final point
was played.
Paired with the tow-headed Donald
son, about half his height, Tilden de-
lighted the spectators by his playing
IN the doubles, and Cecil was only a
bit behind his noted partner in the
brilliant execution Of shots. This team
looks as though it would go far in its
quest for the doubles honors.
The summaries follow:
Harlem Ten Tennis Clubs Open Singles tFour.h
Won Bernuh. 6-4 81 -e' <A'''o' r
=, Semi final Round Henry H. Bassford defeated
n. H. Hathaway, S. 6-2, 6-l. Tildeu de
feated Vincent Richards. 6-i. SIS
Doubles lFirst Round)-Martn and Mersereau
ards and Fischer won from Nehring and partner
ny default. J. S. and II. 3. O'Boyle won from
w. j.. COLON and II. Kirk by deIault TYlden
and Cecil Donaldson defeated L. Bry and Ian
Second Round-Tilden and Donaldson defeated
j. S. and II. u. OBoyle, 6--3. S--l.