Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-27
RICHARDS REAL
NET TOPNOTCHER
Youth Must Be Considered
in Mems Championships
This Year
ENTERS FINAL ROUND
Advances by Beating Veteran
Wallace johnson in Middle
States Tourney
ENTERS FINAL ROUND
By ROBERT T. PAUL

n,HAT Vincent Richards, the national
i boys champion. must be considered
in the mems championship tournaments
as well as those of the Juniors was
proven without a doubt yesterday after
noon when he defeated Wallace John
son. OF this city. IN the semifinal round
OF the Middle States covered tourney on
the Wanamaker Store roof.
Richards is admitted TO be the best
boy player In the country and consid'
cred one of the leading IL not the top
most junior player. This Is as far as
the majority of the critics cared to go
most all rTeferring to wait before form
ing an opinion as to how he would fare
In the senior events.
His victory over Ichiya Kumagage or
the department store roof last week was
considered a huge surprise to many anc
served TO open their eyes n wee bit. In
terest began to be formed In his playing
and each day they expected to read In
the papers where he had been defeated
and thus have n chance to say Ills vic
tory was only flash in the PAN"
Is Star Net Player
But all doubts were swept aside by hi;
clean cut win over johnson. The specta
tors were astonished by the easy manner
In which the slim youth. not yet sixteen
years old. handled Johnson's famout
chop stroke and his extreme coolness ir
his work at the net. Time and timC
agair he would work his way to the ne
TO return Johnson's offerings and ther
smash an overhead stroke beyond tn,
local stars reach.
Hosmer Hanna, president of the Phil
adelph!a Suburban Tennis League Pau
W. Gibbons. president of the Phiiladcl
! phia and District Lawn Tennis Associa-
tion: Percy Osborne. A. J. Batty and
Bill Tilden were forcible in their praise
OF Richards, 'One of the greatest play.
ers in the country today" Was the con
sensus of opinion.
johnson did not go down to defea
easily. He played whirlwind sort o.
game and his volleying was well Nigh
perfect considering the weather condi
tons and the covering over the court.
Richa rds will meet the winner of the
Fred Alexander-Bill Tilden match fol-
the championship and trophy. II Is moi
known definitely when the Alexander.
Tilden contest will take place. owing &c
the New Yorker being indisposed by q
face Infection
Final Doubles Today
Even though the tournament may moi
be completely finished until the Fourth
Of July or possibly later, the first of tho
fna' round matches VIII be ~taged today
when Craig Biddle and Wallace John.
son tackle Ell Tilden and Vincent
Richards in the last Of the mems dou.
bles.
Biddle and Johnson advanced to tn,
Anal by disposing of Hothersol and Mar
tin Yesterday and receiving a default
from Fred Alexander and Howard
Voshell The match today. which will
start promptly at noon. should be "a fin,
cne with Tilden and Richards the pres
ent national champion, the favorites
After this match Craig Biddle will leav,
for Palm Beach 20 participate In tn,
resorts affair.
The Junior will get more of a chanc.
to occupy the sunlight today. Sever
events are caIded and spirited bout.
are locked tor c. Il. Unterburger, O
Textile. who admits he is the interscho
lastic champion of New York. will pla,
Carl Fischer, Of Lower Merton. Th.
duel between G.. V. Boggs, of Chelten
ham High and Andrew Morgan, of Ger
mantown High, should be close.