New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20

Of 5000 persons sat in the stands
as the men battled fiercely for the vi
Johnston was himself gain in this
match; the same wonderful little man
who came out of the West in 1915 and
stunned the East by moving down
Karl Behr, Norris Williams and Maur-
ice Mclaughlin on successive days in
the national tournament at Forest
Hills. The speed Of the CALIFORNIA;
attack, the tremendous pace he put into
his forehand drives, swept Tilden off
his feet in the first two sets. In the
third session the tall champion made
his most desperate fight to retain the
honors that he must have felt were
fast slipping from him.
Alden Makes Rally
For time, by sheer wizardry of
stroke and amazing gets" he managed
to stave off inevitable defeat, taking
the set at Is. Johnston, In the
meantime, had lost bit of the keen
edge off his game and the great ques-
ton WAS, as the men left the court for
the customary seven-minute rest, will
Johnston be able to hold to his Won
derful hitting, or is Tilden going
crazy and pull the match out by ono
Of his streaks of super-tennis ?"
Johnston settled all doubt soon after
the fourth set began. Both won on
their service up to 2-all, and then the
Californian, striking an understandable
for the set, match and championship.
His victory was hailed with wild tumult
by the crowd, although Tilden was the
popular favorite right up to the min
ute the championship passed out of
his keeping.
Later in the afternoon, paired with
Samuel Hardy, of Chicago, who al
ready with Johnston held the doubles
title, the new singles champion re-
tanned his title in this event by de-
feating Robert NJ. Kinsey and Axel
6-3, 81, 2-6, 6-3.
All in all, it was great day for
California, for Hardy originally
hailed from the Golden Gate, and hence
all the glory in the mems singles and
doubles went to the players from the
coast.
Kansas City Girl Wins
Miss Corinne Gould, Of Kansas City,
became the new woman champion by
defeating Miss Carrie B. Neeley, OF
Chicago, the defending titleholder, by
q score of "a, 60 in the final
round.
AS an illustration of sound yet
brilliant lawn tennis on the part of the
new champion, the meeting between
Johnston and Tilden deserves a place
in the classics of American courts. 1t
was hard to find single weakness in
Johnston's game this afternoon. His
ground strokes were little short of
perfection, both as to execution and
results His footwork was, as always,
hawless, and his work from inside the
service court line, when he went into
finish off the points by volleying, was
that Tilden got very few chances.
The undefeated champion was ap-
parently taken unprepared by the in
sstantaneous and savage attack that
began the instant Johnston returned
the first ball, with Tilden serving.
The little Californian was keyed up to
the lighting pitch and went at his work
with grim determination.
Undoubtedly the memory Of the
easy manner in which Tilden had de-
feated him in the East-West matches
at Cincinnati last week still remained
with Johnston, and~he was out to
avenge that, as we'll as to tear the
crown from his rivals head. He did
both these things, and in such con-
Vincing manner as to. leave no doub.
as to the comparative merits Of he
two players to-day.
Play Sensational Game
Only in the third set and In the
frst half of the fourth was Tilden
going at his best, and then a notable |
struggle took place. The Philadel- |
phiSn WAL letting himself out with
out reserve at that stage Of the
match, realizing that IL must be then
or never with him.
lowed, both men playing at wonder
full angles az they tried to score the
winning points. Some Of Tilden's
shots we're almost unbelievably brill
liant, and his service grew in power,
SO that Johnston had great trouble in
handling the high bounding ball. Com
ing from behind at "a on games,
Tilden won the set by taking the last
four games.
> It was an aroused Tilden who faced
Johnston champion with his back
to the wall-and for a spell he held
his opponent in check. But it was
TO be only temporary halt in the
Californian's triumphal march. Tilden
was not able to sustain his top form
IN the face of the battering to which
Johnston subjected him, and after the
first four games in the final set he
gradually gave way before the new
champions sp1endidly aggressive as
suit.
The match began with Tilden serv-
ing and with the suns rays shining
directly in his face. Wilbur Jackson
sat in the umpire's chair, and there was
lnesman for every line. There was
not seat to be had in the stands when
the men took the court. Harry Walsh,
Of Chicago, acted as Judge Of foot
faults.
Johnston Shows Great Speed
johnston walked away with the first
TWO sets In guch easy fashion that 1t
d,d not seem possible 1t was Tilden,
the defending champion, who was his
opponent. But there WAS nothing
!!!uky about the Californian's success.
ne was on the ball like hawk every
second, and his anticipation Of Tilden's |
returns was remarkable.
many times Johnston crashed the |
pail into Tilden's court with fore |
Hahd drives that had such tremendous
amount OF speed that the champion |
."1ia not control his own returns, and |
- zen. the ball far back Of the base line |
ne ne ericd 70 curb its flight.
Iilden deliberately threw away the
.ast game Of the first set with Johns-
. .1h serving, With the evident inten-
.son OF starting the second set with
s1e advantage Of service for himself.
a.. ne mad begun TO realize that IL was
ssme 70 get started In the struggle.
az sha when ne won the first game of