New-York tribune., 1919-03-01
.Tilden Beats
YoungR Richards
In Tennis Final
Master of Game Proves
Too Much for Pupil
i'm a Stubborn Match

master against pupil this afternoon
when William T. Tilden. Cd. of Phila-
delphia, met Vincent Richards, of New
York, in the final round of the Mid
die States covered court lawn tennis
tournament, and the master won by a
score of 4-6, 6-3, 81, 60, 7-5.
Tilden's victory came only after five
hard-fought sets, and for every moment
that the match lasted the national CLAW
court champion was extended to the
limit of his ability to win his points.
Defeated though he was, the sixteen
year-old Richards gained new laurels
to-day by his remarkable showing
against the man bracketed at the No. 1
position In the national ranking list
with Robert Lindley Murray, national
champion.
Boy Coming Fast
1t was Tilden, who, some two years
ago, began careful and consistent
development of young Richards's
game The boy. was only fourteen
years old then, but already remark
ably advanced in the technique of the
game. Under the coaching Of Tildcn
ne made tremendous strides, winning
the national boys championship last
September at Forest Hills, L. l., and
the national doubles title at tongwood.
playing with Tildon as his partner
Rlchards's sensational defeats of
lchiya Kumagae, of Japan, and Wal
lace f. johnson, of Philadelphia, two
OF o. the foremost players in the United
States, last week, in the fourth and
semi. Anal rounds Of this tournament.
presaged a bitter struggle this after,
noon, when the Yonkers marvel faced
the spectacular Tilden.
The largest crowd that has attended
the tourney on any single day since
its start was gathered about the court,
on the roof of the Wanamaker Build
ing. when the mon began practica
the weather was extremely mild, there
was an almost total absence of wind.
and thc sun wns mostly hidden behind
clouds during the playing of the
match, 80 that conditions for fast play
we're very favorable
N the nrst part Of tho match Rich
ards was clearly tho superior, and
tho spectators Wcrc amazed to geo
tho clonn-cut manner in which the
slendcr youth finished off his points.
1ildon has always been slow start
or, hence 1T was not much Of sur
prise when Richards took the opening
set at Cd, vollcying with splendid
accuracy from close to the net as
Tildcn attempted to force him back
by fierce deep-court driving down the
side lines.
The boy champion used almost flaw
less judgment at this stage Of the
contest, going in TO the net only when
nrri it1fr uh n
the court had paved the way for a
successful sally.
Gradually Tuning Up
Tilden was gradually tuning up his
game and gaining control Of his shots,
and in the second set he began to
rush the net with his customary
spcctacularly ms he came His great
reach was big asset when it came
TO cutting Off the boys attempted
passing shots, and at getting around
his court Tilden was wonderfully eff
factive. He brought the match even by
winning the second set at 6-3.
Instead Of becoming discouraged
Richards only fought harder in the
third session and a beautiful struggle
FOR the points resulted. The PLAYERS
were so evenly matched that neither
was HD4C W gam long leaQ at any
time in this session, the games alter
rating. When 5-all had been reached
however, Richards thrilled the crowd
by breaking through his opponents SER
vice by series of dazzling vollevs at
sharp angles across the court and took
the set at IS.
The usual seven minute rest period
came then, and when he players re-
sumed the match Hlden seemed to
have derived the most benefit from the
cessation of play. He started at a
whlrlwind pace in the fourth set and
had soon run up commanding lead
on games, winning the set at GO and
once more squaring the match.
by this time Tilden was going at an
unbeatable pace, smashing with terrific
power when the ball came to him over
head and driving low and hard for the
side lines. His volleying. too, was al
ways sensational, and taking great
chances as he charged for the net the
national clay court champion battered
away at Richards's defence without
mercy.
In the face of this tremendous as
sault, the boy champion played with
the GOODNESS of a veteran. Sometimes
he took the ball on the half volley
near the service court line as Tilden
played his returns to his opponents
teet as Vincent came IN. At other
times he anchored himself at the bar
rier and fenced with Tlden in volley
ing duels that aroused waves of ap-
~