The sun., 1919-02-27
RICHARDS CONQUERS
WALLACE JOHNSON
Yonkers Youth 0utplays
Noted Veteran in Covered
Court Tennis Tourney.
Special Despatch 10 THE sur.

Special Despatch TO THE sur.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 26.-Vincent
Richards, that amazing sixteen-year-old
youngster from Yonkers. eliminated
Wallace F. johnson, the Merton Cricket
Club star, from the Middle Atlantic
Covered court tennis tournament to-
day in straight sets at rs 6-3.
Richards, pronounced by critics as
the tennis marvel OF the age, outplayed
and outguessed johnson and clearly
demonstrated his superiority over the
crafty local veteran.
More than seven hundred enthusiastic
tennis fans damned the roof OF the
Wanamaker store 10 capacity and ap-
plause was almost continuous through
out the struggle
Tho match itself was a tennis epic.
johnson tried every trick his long ex-
perience has taught him. He changed
his style of game several times in an
effort to find some system that Richards
would be unable to solve. He covered
the court with wonderful effectiveness.
volleyed as well, IL not better, than he
has ever done before but all in vain. lie
could not find a weak point in the flaw
less play OF this astounding New York
lad.
johnson got the jump on Richards at
to three beore Richards settled down 70
real work. In two OF the games won by
Johnson, Richards did not get a point
while In two others the younsster only
tailed a single ace. johnson was going
at top speed during this period and was
passing Richards repeatedly as the boy
dashed to the net.
Richards Shifts Tactics.
IT,. .s, At ...Ss,,, ...r ,htftsd
his tactics. He began to volley every
thing. High or low, fast or slow. he
took them as they came. always keeping
the ball inside the court but cutting the
corners and the side lines with machine
like regularity. Four games in row
he reeled of. johnson only scoring five
points and being shut out in one. II
was almost flawless tennis and the crowd
went wild.
Johnson shifted his tactics at the start
OF the second set. resorted to soft, chop
ping lobs over Richardss head and won
the opening game handily. the youngster
tallying only a single ace. But Richards
also shifted to meet Johnson's move and
began TO jump in the air and smash
those low lobs. like Maurice McLough-
lin. the famous California meteor was
wont to do when In his prime.
Smashing. volleying. cutting the ball
cross court at angles impossible for
Johnson TO get the youth won two
when johnson made game but rallied
and grabbed off two more, dropped an
other. then won two more and the set
and the match.
For the final point he leaped a foot
or more from the court floor and killed
lob with a shot that no one on earth
could have returned. The big crowd
gave the youngster a great ovation as
he left the court
Richards vs.. Tiiden Likely.
Unless Fred Alexander OF New York
Unexpectedly RECEIVERS from his abscessed
tooth and gets over here to-day or to-
morrow, which is doubtful, he will have
to forfeit his semi-fnal match with w. T.
Tilden I'd OF the Germantown Cricket
Club and the latter will have the doubt
ful privilege of meeting young Richards
In the final struggle for the Middle At
lantic championship. And the way
Richards Is going now Tilden will have
to be at his best 10 win.
Following the singles match between
Richards and Johnson the latter took
the court again and paired with Craig
Biddle. also OF the Merton Cricket Club
easily defeated Ralph Hothersall and
80 - -Aa' VI fbcbllclu score %, ID,
After this doubles class was over. and
II was wound UP very quickly, young
Richards came back to the court and
won a rapid fire Junior singles contest
from Charles Settler. captain of the
Frankford High School tennis team.
Settler managed to win two games in
the frst set. but after that Richards
opened up the throttle and II was soon
all over Score 6-2, Go.
The summary;
Point score OF the Richards johnson
match:
First set
J Observation-Disclosures!
Second set
SSSsaa',::..:.:.t EsssGs
Senior Singles-Semi-hnal round-Vin-
cent Richards. New York. defeated Wal
lace 2. Johnson. Merton Cricket Club.
Senior Douhlee-seminnai round-Craix
Biddle and Wallace F. johnson, Merton
Cricket Club. defeated Ralph Hothersali
and II. T. Marlin, Belneld, 6-a Ga
Junior SinEles-First round-Jack Rem,
Penn Charter, defeated c. f. Stove. Ger
mantown High School, Ia. e-2. Ga;
c. e. UnterberEer. Temple. won from ]. T.
Lyons, Germantown High. by default
Second Round-Vincent Richards New
York, defeated Charles Settler. Frankford
High School. ca. 60.