New-York tribune., 1918-08-30

AlexaS in the Metropolitan cham
plonship. but it is doubtful if any
or their previous meetings equalled
the match of Yesterday for spectacular
lawn tennis and for stirring moments
when the tide of battle ebbed and
flowed.
A Whirlwind CIih
Murray started the match at whirl-
wind clip and rapidly ran into a lead
of 4-1 on games. He was following
IN to the net after service with Won
dertul speed and shooting his returns
through Alexander's court by superb
volleylng. The Californian's service
was mighty weapon of offence and
Alexander could do little with the ball.
Slow to work into his best fighting
form, Alexander began to show his
mettle half way through the first set
ana gradually drew even with Murray
by dazzling low volleying and unerring
placement shots across the fore court
After series of terrific duels at the
net, the Davis Cup veteran broke
through Murray's cannon ball" ser
wee and took the set at Sc, and those
IN the gallery hailed the achievement
with storms of applause.
In the second set Alexander gained
an early lead, and Murray, whose own
volleylng had lost much of it's sting
and accuracy. was having ell kinds Of
trouole In meeting his opponents won
derful versatility of stroke and court
geheralshlp. Alexander was mixing IN
MS pace with rare cunning, lobbing
over Murray's head as the "Meteor,,
came naming down the court from his
oase line or softening his stroke with
beautiful block volleys that dropped
the ball just over the net when he had
Murray in back court
Yet the Californian seemed ever IN
nave something in reserve. some added
power to crash over tremendous ser
wee aces at critical moments or the
wonderful speed of foot and sharpness
OF full volley shot that rendered use
less AleXander's most skilfully placed
returns. Struggling nightly for the
points. the men gave all thew had in
the rallies, with Murray finally break
ing through and bringing the match
all square by taking the second set at
Sc az
There was no holding the Califor
man IN the third set, and Alexander
found 1t impossible to stand against
the sizzling brand of tennis Murray
was uncovering. Nothing appeared too
olfncult Tor M Murray to get, and he was
s1motherng his opponents returns by
lhe same superb, decisive overland
volleying that startled the East in 1914
1t seemed impossible for any PLAYER to
take love set from Alexander at the
pace the internationalist was going
yesterday, yet Murray accomplished
the feat, both in the third set and in
the fifth. Truly he was an impressive
figure as he charged the net and
l.eaped about his court with winged
feet to meet his opponents attack.
After the seven minute rest interval
alexander staged a wonderful rally in
the fourth session, after Murray was
leading at Al on games, and won the
set at Cd, by absolutely faultless play.
He was hitting the lines so regularly
that Murray was caught out If posi-
ton time and aga4n, and he was also
outgeneralling his Younger opponent.
But then came the fifth set, and with
1t Alexander's downfall, for Murray
simply would not be denied and strobe
straight through to victory
The feature matches for this after
noon are as follows: 230 o'clock. Wal
ter Merrill Hall vs. William T. Tjlden.
%; 3 p. M, Ichiya Kumagae VS.. Beals
{. Wright; 4:15 o. m. Robert Lindlew
Murray VS. Nathaniel w. Niles.