New-York tribune., 1918-07-21
J1bnneSe Net Stars
Play for State Title
Kashio Gains Right to Meet
Kumagae by Defeat
ing Dawson
By Fred Hawthorne

UTICA, N. Y, July 2O-1t will be
Japan against Japan when the New
York State lawn tennis championship
in singles is decided on the clay courts
of the Yahnundass Golf Club, for
Seiichiro Kashio, the slender little
Japanese, defeated Ward Dawson, OF
California, by score Of Cd, 6-1
6-1, in the final round of the annual
noon.
1chiya Kumagae, the famous holder
Of the title, will defend his laurels
in the challenge round tomorrow
afternoon at $3.50 o'clock, making the
first time that two foreigners have
ever decided a championship between
themselves in any important tourna-
ment in this country.
The crushing defeat handed to Daw-
son by Kashio this afternoon came as
a great shock to the gallery, which had
looked to the Californian to uphold
Americas prestige on the courts to-
day and give battle to Kumagae to-
morrow. AS matter of cold fact,
however, Dawson never had more than
a fleeting chance against the little
man from Nippon, and was outplayed
in practically every department of the
game after the opening set, when he
made his fight, after Kashio had
worked into an early lead.
The doubles championship was won
by Irving Wright, of Boston, and T. C.
Fulton, of Seattle, who defeated Frank
I. Anderson and Harol6 L. Taylor. of
RrOnkIvn Of
match that was replete with sharp
rallies from midcourt, Wright's chop
stroke playing a leading part in the
victory.
kumagae Pleased at Result
Kumagae, who had arrived earlio.
IN the day, was openly delighted at
the triumph scored by his fellow coun-
tryman, but laughingly refused to pre-
dict the outcome of the challenge
round match on which his championship
depends.
The champion, who has been travel
ing continually since the last week Of
June, on the long journey from Japan.
went out on the courts this morning
and played a couple of practice sets
against Frederick G. Anderson, just to
work the kinks out of his legs and
arms. 10 those who remembered
kumagae's hard, we'll topped forehand d
drive, the stroke that carried him to
a high ranking position among Amer,
lca's greatest players in 1915. it ap-
peared just as formidable as ever. In
tact, the little Japanese seems to be
hitting the ball with more pace" than
ne showed two years ago, and his over
head game seems to have grown in
accuracy and severity
Anderson was greatly impressed by
humagae's playing to-day, and after
losing the two sets remarked upon the
wonderful amount of top" on the
champions ground strokes. Kumagae
himself declared he had been playing
quite lot of lawn tennis in Japan
early this season. but he was not quite
sure how his game would stand up
against kashio tomorrow, owing to
his trip half around the world. From
the glimpse that was caught of the
title holders game this morning. how
ever, the writer believes that Kashio
is doomed to defeat in his bid for
the championship.
kashio Began Service
Kashio began the service against
Dawson, and the interest in the meet
ing of East and West was shown by
the unusually large gallery that sat
ten deep about the court. with women
predominating. Edwin Fuller Torrey,
secretary Of the United States National
Lawn Tennis Association. presided in
the umpire's chair while Kumagae.
Paul Gibbons and other PLAYERS whose
fame had earned them that honor acter
as (inesmen.
kashio won the first three games
without the semblance 6f an effort,
slipping the ball gently past Dawson
Tor clean placement aces down the side
lines as the Californian tried to close
IN at the net. Several long rallies
marked the second game. the points
going twice to deuce, before Kashio
broke through the Americans service.
With the beginning of the fourth
game, Dawson suddenly changed his
tactics. and instead of trying to earn
his points by rushing the the net and
smashing, laid we'll back in the court
and met the Jap at the latter's own
game, easy, soft driving. varied by oc-
casional sallies to id-court, from
where he earned his points by some
very deft volleying to the corners. His
service, too, grew in severity and
kashlo did not seem able to handle
the ball with any degree of confidence.
There was distinct feeling of cheer
among the onlookers when Dawson took
the fourth fifth and sixth games and
squared the match. He had appar-
emily solved his opponents style and
seemed headed straight to victory. The
clever manner in which he mixed his
game, now driving deep and softly and
then ripping in a hard stroke to
Kashio's feet as the latter got half
way between his baseline and the net,
had the Japaneses a bit worried,
kashiO Shows at Rest
But this was practically the last bit
or hight that Dawson was to show. for
after the games had reached all.
kashio started in to score on really
wonderful passing shots. He seems
actually stronger on his backhand than
his forehand, and the way in which
he sent his returns through six-inch
openings in Dawson's court drew a
hearty tribute of applause from those
who saw Americas hopes being borne
down to defeat by the man from over