New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-05
ennis Meet
Is at Critical
Stage To-day
Semi-F inals in Singles and
Doubles Will Be
Played
By Fred Hawthorne

This afternoon will mark the critical
stage in the annual mems national in
door lawn tennis championship singles
and doubles on the courts of the 18th
Regiment Armory, for the semi-fnal
rounds in both divisions will be played,
with the championship round set for
tom orrow afternoon
William T. Tilden, Cd. of Philadel-
phia, and Frederick B. Alexander the
internationalist, will meet in the upper
half Of the draw in the singles, and S.
Howard Voshell, playing through
champion, and King Smith will play
in the lower half, the winners contest
ing for the championship.
In the doubles, the teams that will
strive for victory this afternoon are
Arthur S. Cragin and W. Dickson Gun
ningham, reglmental champions. and
King Smith and Carl Shafer in the
upper half. and Cecil Donaldson and
Illden against Alexander and Or
William Rosenbaum, present national
champions, in the lower brackets
Only Two Matches Yesterday
Only two matches were played yes
terday afternoon, both in the doubles
with Cragin and Cunningham defeating
Charles Chambers and c. A. Anderson
by score Of 6-3, 81, and Smith and
Shafer eliminating H. H.. Manchester
and Herbert L. Bowman at GO. 6-1
These matches brought the winners
into the semi-fnal round.
The results in these matches came as
no surprise, both Cragin and Cunning
ham and Smith and Shafer outclassing
their respective opponents As in
their first round match, Cragin and his
partner unleashed a violent battery Of
driving, smashing and volleying shots,
with Cragn doing particularly good
work overhead.
Some of his kills of lobs bordered
on the spectacular. and his backhand
drives across deep court earned MANY
points. Cunningham was an adept at
working inside the service court line
tor sharp volleying to the corners. This
team should put UP Il real battle
against the more methodical Smith and
Shafer
The latter pair have teamed I'D in
many tournament in years gone BY
and are one of the steadest combinn-
tons in the East. Both have d ten
dency to play the back-court game and
are past masters at handling smashes
AS for the other doubles match. ordi-
narlly, Alexander and Rosenbaum. the
title holders, would be the logical
choice against Donaldson and Tilden
but the fact that Alexander suffered a
severe strain of a ligament in his left
leg on Wednesday may prove the I'M
doing Of the champions. The old Davis
Cup star was treated yesterday by an
osteopath and Will take the courts this
afternoon, but whether he will be able
to bring his real strength to bear in
both singles and doubles is problemati-
cal.
Donaldson Is Just Is
Tilden, of course, is one of t.. headi-
est and hardest hitting doubles players
IN the country, terror at the net
position and the possessor of the fast
est service of any man on the court
to-day. Little Donaldson is only tif-
teen years old, but has been one OF
the sensations of the game for the last
two or three years, and is d volleyel
Of exceptional merit for one of his
years.
Alexander and Tilden will meet in
the singles at 1880 o'clock this after
noon, with Voshell and Smith takino
the court in The other singles match
about the same time The two doubles
matches Will start Immediately after
the finish Of the singles. Ar admission
fee will be charged at the gate and al.
receipts turned over to the training
camp activities fund.