New-York tribune., 1919-09-02

ing 1t with his terrific forehand drive.
Graaually Johnston became less gun
shy and his shots gained in speed and
pace, and with this Improvement the
former national champion was en-
couraged to so for the net as he found
ms openings and from that position
bring off his deadly overland vollevs
Johnston slowly gathered speed as he
went along, while Johnson began to
make the errors
AS to who Will WIN the championship
TINS Afternoon. there are many things
to oc considered in making a choice.
Last Sunday wavered between Tildcn
and W llllams in the semi-tina round
and finally gave Williams the edge,
having Elsly picked Tildcn and
johnston as Inc men who would meet
in the final.
Weak Start by Williams
Williams made weak start against
Illden yesterday, and that was fatal to
his chances. 1t was simply a question
Of which man would be at the top Of
his game when they met Both could
not be, at the same time, when PLAYING
against each ether, and Iilden proved
himself in the white neat OF champion
snip competition BY bringing out his
/ most brilliant tennis Of a brilliant ca
recr.
Tiden defeated Johnston in the
EastW West matches last July, and
Johnston rntaliatcd week later by
taking Tilden's measure in the final
round Of the national clay court cham
plonship. winning that title. About
three weeks ago Tiden triumphed
again over the Californian by defeat
ing him IL the final round at Newport
Now they are TO clash 2paIu
If ! remember correctly, Tildcn has
met defeat only twice this season, once
at the hands of Ichiya Kumagae, of
japan, on clay courts and again by
Johnston, also on clay He has
avenged those defeats since, and to-
day MS tournament record is by far
the most brilliant in the country.
Perhaps it is the weight of this evi-
dencc that incincs ne toward Tilden
to-day when he plays Johnston for the
cham pionship, but | rather think it is
the memory of the Phiadelp phians tre-
mendous performance yesterday that
persuadcS me to name Tilden as the
next champion Of the United States
But he must play the same quality of
tennis to-day that he did yesterday if
ne is to win. Can he DO that?
Johnston Yesterday at the finish OF
his match with Wallace johnson, ex-
pressed his confidence as to the result
OF his match with Tilden. A confident
Johnston is a dangerous Johnston
Nearly l2,OC0 See Matches
little detail on both of Yesterdays
matches may serve to give those who
were not among the 10000 or 10000
who jammcd their way into every avail
able spot en- the West Side grounds an
idea OF how victory came TO Tilden and
Johnston.
Williams won the toss and began the
service but lost the game solely on his
errors. as he sent his returns twice
INTO the net and twice out of court
lllden won the second game, his can
non BALI service proving utterly un-
playable to Williams. but the Bostonan
broke into the winning column for the
first time by winning the third game
on his service. Once Williams scored
an ace with q tremendous smash Of a
short lob, another time with volley
across the court and the last time with
beautiful stop-Volley of Tildcn's ter
rife drive.
But those who expected to see real
battle as a result of this flash Of power
by Williams were doomed to disap-
polntment. Tildon took the next four
games for the set at 6-l. completely
outplaying his opponent. He was stick
4i!S SuOlt CNo!DSu UrlNtS SQuHrclN at
Walliams's feet as the latter came in
on the run, and the former champion
was piling up errors. Even his usually
lightning backhand drive was lacking
IN power and direction, and his ser
wee was very unreliable.
Tllden held the service IN the sec
ond set and Williams could only CLEAN
one point in the first game, and that
q placement by the aid of net-roll.
The Phlladelphian scored two aces
with beautiful backhand drives down
the side lines as Williams came in.
But Williams scored the second game,
aided by dazzling half-volley of Til
den's great drive, an "out" of a smash
by Tilden. and the final point on q
service ace.
When Williams took the second game
breaking through Tilden's service and
scoring aces on brilliant half-volleys,
it began to look as though the former
title holder was going to find himself
But Tilden squared the set, the fifth
and sixth games were split, and then
Tilden fairly stormed his way through
the next two games, leaving the score
at 5-3
In the seventh game, with Tilden
serving, Williams led at 30-40 on
points and seemed just on the verge
of starting determined uphill strug-
gle for victory. At this critical mo-
ment, however, the crowd on the West