New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-28
Tlden-Richar'ds Team Wins
Title IN Doubles Match

Vincent Richards, the sixteen-year-ol
New York schoolboy, to defeat Craig
Biddle and Wallace Johnson, of Phila-
delphia, this afternoon, in the final
round Of doubles Of the Middle States
covered lawn tennis tournament, on the
roof Of the Wanamaker Building.
Tllden and Richards won by a score
OF 6-s, s-6, 81, 6-S, increasing the
power of their game as the match pro-
crossed. Riddle and Johnson did their
best work in the opening set, both vol
leying splendidly and forcing their
openings so cleverly that they were
usually able to finish of their points
when they went TO the net.
1t IS one of Tlden's court charac-
teristlcs to take matters easy at the
start of match, and this he was in
cllned to do to-day, as was Richards,
although not to the same extent. But
with the beginning of the second set
the national doubles champions be-
stirred themselves and gave an linking
OF what was to come by the tremend-
Gus pace they set
A Terrific Clip
Tilden's service got going at a ter
rife clip, and neither Johnson nor Bid
die could do much with his streight,
bullet" delivery. The national clay
court champion varied this with the
tremendous reverse twist that he uses
on occasion, and Biddle and his part
ner seemed TO have even more diff
Guilty in gauging the flight and bound
OF the ball under these conditions
RCb ,11- H.,
his place at the net and Tilden racing
in after service Johnson and Biddle
found it almost impossible to place
their returns safely. There were some
thrilling volleying duels between the
four, and the games aiternated up to
Gall before Tilden and his youthful
partner could break through and take
the last two games for the set at So,
bringing the match all square once
more
In the third set the champions swept
all before them, crashing back Jobs,
volleying at wonderfully sharp angles
and making what appeared almost i'm
possible gets" of placed shots. John
son, st this stage, tried frequent
change Of pace in the effort to trick
the opposing pair out Of position. Fol
lowing an exchange of deep court
drives he would suddenly shift his
tactics and chop the ball into fore
court. But Richards and Tilden were
up on their toes every moment and
usually managed to get their racquets
into position for making the return.
The set went to the national title
holders at 6-1, and they maintained
he relentless pace in the fourth and
nal session. Tilden scored some
pectacular kills" as he came rushing
rom his base line to take the ball
the full volley, and Richards
houlder-high volleying brought to
mind the sterling work of William
NJ. Johnston, of California, national
champion of 1915.
Opponents Too Aggressive
Biddle and Johnson fought hard
then, seeing impending defeat, but
they could not make much of stand
against the aggressive style of game
TO which they were opposed, and the
setwentto Tllden and Richards al 6-3,
giving them the match and the chief
honors in the doubles tournament.
1ilden Is scheduled TO meet Fred
erick B. Alexander in the semi-fnal
round of the singles tomorrow after
noon, but he may get the match by de-
fault, as Alexander has heen suXering
from badly liberated tooth and may
not come down from New York. On Sat
urday the final round match will be
played, with Richards meeting the
winner of the Tilden-Alexander match.