New-York tribune., 1919-08-31
Tiden Victor
Over BrOokes
In Four Sets
Australian Veteran of Court
Loses After Taking Lead;
Johnson Conquers Hall
By Fred Hawthorne

flnlSn In the great national cham
pionship lawn tennis tournament on
the turf courts of the West Side
Tennis Club, at Forest Hills, when
the final and championship match is
played on Tuesday afternoon. Aus
tralia sent her mightiest knights of
the courts, Brookes and Patterson
and they have not proved quite good
enough to stay the rush of the na-
tive born.
Brookes, the lone survivor fror,
the land of the Anzac, was elimi-
mated yesterday afternoon in tho
fifth round of the tourney bv Will
lam 7. Tilden, I'd, of Philadelphia
the sets going at 3-6, Cd, IS
6-3. In the three other matchae
for the championship, William NJ
Johnston, champion in 1915, con-
quered Robert Lindley Murray, tn,
playing through title holder, by
score of So, Il, 6-2, Ga: Rich
ard Norris Williams, Cd, champio.
in 1914 and 1916, crushed the once
invlncible California Comet" Mau-
rice E. Mclaughlin, by a score of
Go, 6-3, 6-2, and Wallace F.
Johnson, of Philadelphia, master of
the chop stroke, overwhelmed Walter
Merrill Hall, by a score of Ga
Go, 60.
This leaves the stage cleared for the
two great semi-final round battles to-
morrow afternoon, with Johnston fac
ing Johnson on the No. l court at 4
O'Clock, and Tilden clashing with Will
hams at o'clock on the No. 2 court.
Last Monday, in these columns, I
picked Johnston and Tilden to meet in
the final round, and, viewing the results
to date, it looks like very good choice.
and am almost persuaded to stick to
that selection, made two days before
the tournament had begun.
Expert Favors Williams
But during the week just completed.
Williams's game has undergone a re-
markable Improvement. Against Willis
Davis on Wednesday, Williams i'm
pressed ne as the greatest player in
the world on that particular occasion.
IN the two following days, PLAYING
against Thomas of Australia and yes
terday, in his cyclonic defeat of Nc
Loughlln, Williams was not going at
the superb pace, yet he was only
shade below his best. and therefore I
am going to pick the former Champion
TO lower the great Tilden's colors to-
morrow.
The slightest letdown in Williams's
game will be sufficient to send him
down to defeat, provided Tilden is at
the height of his brilliance, SO closely
are the two matched. I am relying
upon Williams to hold his form, and
even then it looks almost like a toss
up. victory either way would not
surprise me.
favorite over Johnson, and | am con-
hdent the little Californian will come
through splendidly,. yet it should not
be forgotten that the Philadelphian is
playing the strongest game he has
shown IN several years, and on damp.
heavy courts he viii be even more
formidable.
4Here was one unfortunate incident
IN the Tilden Brookes match yester-
day and II came, more's the pity, on
the final point of the struggle. In the
minds of some, it must have raised a
Goubt as to the absolute clearness of
1iden's victory, but | cannot believe
that the final result was changed one
lota, for Brookes was a beaten man
when the thing happened, with the
games at SIS and the points 1870
against him.
A Regrettable Incident
This is what took place: TiIden.
whose mighty service had been his
most powerful and effective weapon all
the way through the match, held the
service IN the final game. and with the
points at 1870, he sent one of his
bullet deliveries shooting over the net
and a. lightning speed for Brookes's
court. The great Victorian was stand
bali
In the opinion of great majority
o. the spectators who could watch the
ball in It's fight, it landed good two
inches out of the service court.
brookes. believing it out, swished his
racquet through the air as the ball
~nizzed by him, and waited for the
second service. Tiden, not certain,
The llnesman had said nothing. and
tnen 4. c. Conliu. the umpire, turned
IN his chair and asked the linesman
whether the ball was "in" or tout"
After moment of hesitation the lines
man called it "in." and Conlin then
announced: Game, set and match for
MT Illdeni" and this marked the exit
oi the wonderful Brookes from the
tournament.
The Australian made motion with
nus hands as OF resignation, as though
ne knew IL was hopeless to question
what most certainly looked like a bad
decision, but the next instant ne
showed his fine craftsmanship. He
LOOK Off his cloth cap and went march
ing toward The net where the tall and
peamlng Tllden was waiting to shake
ms hand a slow smile spread over
brookes grim face and he and his
conqueror girpped hands ana walked
on the court and toward the club house.
Pay Tribute to Loser
The thousands in the stands. who had
waited there through rain and through
aown to defeat. paid the vanquished
mighty tribute, and it must have
soothed the pangs OF regret in the Aus
'raiian veterans heart at the loss of
the match to hear the plaudits in his
ears and to see the seat cushions,
nung into the air by the spectators, fall
on the court around him, as flowers
strewing the path of the victor.
Although the interest of the crowd
was plainly concentrated on this pictur-