The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-03
TILDEN TOYS WITH
JAP TENNIS RIVAL
, Philadelphian 0utclasses Ku-
magae and Enters Final
Round WithNMurray.
4 GAMES FOR ORIENTAL
American Scores at 6-2, 60,
60, and Takes Only ~
Minutes to Do 1t.
4 GAMES FOR ORIENTAL
ny FREDERICK G. LIEB.

THUS yesterday. IL could be seen as far
away as the slopes Of Fujiyama. the
sacred mount of the domain of the
Mikado. Ichiya Kumagae came to grief
In the semi-hnals Of the thirty seventh
national championship singles, when he
was swept of his feet and out by WILL
lam T. Tiiden I'd OF the German town
Cricket Club Of Philadelphia. humble
private in the Signal Corps. Tilden dis
posed of the japanese in forty-four min
utes, which Is believed to be record time
Tor a semi-nnal match, winning at GO,
Ga. 60
To-day Tilden will meet Robert Lind
ley Murray for the national singles
championship. Murray, winner of last
years national title-less tournament. is
ambitious to win a real championship
should make tennis history.
Tho Tiiden- Murray match will be
started At 4:15 p. NJ. to-day.
The weak opposition put up by ku-
'inagae took a lot Of zip out Of the Labor
Day programme. While Tilden was a
warm favorite 1t was figured that the
match would be close one, in which
''Ichy' would make Tilden hustle every
moment for the decision. especially after
Walter Merrill Hall had carried Tilden
into five sets. But Kumagae was out
classed by such a wide margin that mere
words or point score can tell only the
half. In no place was the story Of
komagae's helplessness written as fully
as in the sad eyes Of his fellow Orientals.
Ttlden Too strong.
Asked what was the trouble in his
match Kumagae replied, "Oh he simply
was too strong for me-" undoubtedly
meaning that Tilden's physical strength
was tn OrrSaf n handtcan for fha lftla
fellow to overcome. As long as Ku-
magae wins over less capable opponents
one loses sight OF his diminutive size
and slight build. but yesterday 1t looked
like a big lanky young giant beating
a small lad into submission, and there
was feeling Of sympathy for the Jap.
Most of the onlookers were glad when
not recall q national tournament match
that was completed In such quick time
George Church beat Kumasae in 1916
in IS minutes.
Despite Kumagae's apparent helpless
ness. ono must not underate the brand
of tennis developed by Tilden. The Phil
adelphian played super-tennts. 1t was
hard to realize that 1t was the same
KumaEae who two years ego dazzled
Billy Johnston, then national champion
twice. KumaSae that year was ranked
NTH among American tennis players.
ct have Boen q lot of tennis, but that
fellow Tilden played the greatest game
to-day I ever saw" said the veteran
Fred Anderson.
Strangely enough Tilden did not play
his usual net game, but remained in
back-court. and sent his vicious chops
and slices back at Ichiya in such a way
that he could do absolutely nothing with
10 =,
took some Of the wind out of Kumagaes
sails. he did II by beating him at the
net and passing him repeatedly with
high powered volleys.
Tilden permitted Kumagae to beat
himself. During the three set match
Tilden earned only twelve points, four in
each match and put over only two serv-
ice aces. the pair coming together for
the soldiers winning points in the last
game OF the second set
Jap Nets Frequently.
Especially did "Ichy' give the net
horrible bombafdment. or the SO points
compiled by Tilden. 80 were balls which
Ichiya whacked into the net. while 28
others were acquired on the Japs outs
When Kumagae FIRST came to the United
State. his middle name was Accuracy"
Furthermore. he earned Il honestly. as
his ability to keep the ball just within
the court was almost uncanny
While 1t must be granted that the
Kumagae of yesterday did not resemble
the Kumagae Of 1915. much Of the Orr
entails frequent erring was due to the
machine gun drives which Tilden fired
at him. Not since the Mclaughlin of
1918 has tennis player hereabouts
driven harder than did Tilden yesterday.
on -
ball that 1t took practically no bounce
To get his looping drive into working
order Kumagae must be able to get under
the ball. He couldn't do It yesterday,
and when he tried to get under the low,
fast bound he invariably Melted.
Kuniagae showed a few flashes, but
they were sandwiched between long
periods Of mediocrity. He started on by
winning the first game after losing the
first two points. but after that made few
rallies. During the three sets only three
deuce games were played. All of them
were won by Tilden. with two successive
points after the score had become deuce
KumaEae's service, which always was
weak. was easy picking for Tilden, who
broke through II time after time OF
the four games won by the Japanese
three were on his own service. Only
once did he succeed in breaking through
Tfiden's cannon ball service smashes.
A freak feature of the match was that
the second set was practically a dupli-
cate Of the first In each set the game
score and point score were the same,
s-a and 29-1s. In the first set the
Jan won the FIRST and seventh games
and In the second he won the second and
seventh games.
In the third set Tilden refused to give
KumaEae a moment of rest and rushed
hin, on his feet Realizing his opponent
vas fsitering he speeded up and clinched
The match as quickly as possible All
through the match TiIden gave one the
impression that the match he was on the
brink of losing to Hall had frightened
rim. He did not relish the idea OF rum
ming into another affair, which might
depend on one point. and from the time
The first ball was served gave Kumagae
no mercy.
Murray brushed up in a distant court
with Harold Taylor for his big match
With ridden to-day. He has had two
gsmes rest, while Tilden won so quickly
ana 40 easily yesterday that II was little
more than a practice sallop for him.
After yesterdays brilliant perform
.nce rilden became n strong favorite for
ths championship and Philadelphia got
me old Liberty Bell ready to peal out
,hs rad tidings this evening.
0ILHO0LEY IN sHIPYARD.
.ro,. mo. Ohio. Sept. Frank Gill
,,ooiey. outfieider Of the New york
a.,..ricans. to-day signed a contract to
Sssr.x ~. ha seha m cIuh of the Toledo