New-York tribune., 1919-07-12

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and Wallace Johnson, at IS 6-8 6-1
| IS 6-3.
Tomorrow afternoon William T.
| Tilden, I'd, of Philadelphia. meets Will
lam M. Johnston, of CALIFORNIA;; Vim
cent Richards, Of New York, faces
Iraven, and lchiyia Kumagae and Muir
ray OF New York, meet A. L. Green
and Ralph Burdick. Of Chicago.
In the Johnson-G Green match to-day
the Easterner received the worst OF
several bad line DECISIONS. several
times at critical points. and also in
the doubles the East suffered in the
same way
The veteran Hardy threw a great
scare into the Eastern team in his
struggle with Murray. For a time it
looked as though he might pull the
thing out, for he was breaking up
ting game completely in the third and
fourth sets, and was volleying SO we'll
that the national champion did not
seem able to steady down suffic emily
to take the net himself
Yet it was expecting too much of
Hardy that he should take the meas
ure OF man some twenty years
younger, and that man the national
champion. He did wonderfully we'll
to carry Murray to five sets, and this
he accomplished by very sound ten
mis-, coming from behind at the start
OF the third set and gradually working
his game up until he was holding COM
mand at the net, with Murray, the
net stormer, clnging to back court, a
most unusual position for him.
1t was only when the match had
been drought all square that the ma
tional title holder bestirred himself to
- i
the net altar service, in his old and
winning style. This attack, coming
after four stiff sets under very hot
sun, proved the turning point, for
Hardy gradually gave ground before
the California "Meteor's" tremendous
net assaults.
Once he had gained the net position
to bring mis- aggressive volleying into
play, backed up by those spectacular
smashes that first thrilled the East in
1914, Murray held the match in the
hollow of his hand
Murray Jumps Into Lead
The champion began the service in
this match and rapidly ran into a
lead of Il on games in the sopening
set. He was leaping into the service
court after service with great speed
and although his low volcys were not
going any too we'll at this stage. his
forcing tactics compelled Hardy to
hug the base line. The latter took the
second and sixth games, and then Muir
ray annexed the last two for the set
at 6-2.
They alternated on the service up
TO 3-aIl in the second set, with
Hardy fighting hard for the points.
M me veteran was slowly tuning up his
strokes and working his way toward
the net position. Murray won the last
three games in blaze of smashing
and sharp -angled volleying, giving
him the set at 6-3.
1t looked like a quick finish for
Hardy But the Chicago man upset
all calculations by starting a rally in
the third set that found Murray com
pletely off his guard. Hardy took the
hrst three games, breaking through his
opponent in the second, after deuce
had been called. The champion won
the fourth on his own service, after
the points had gone to deuce twice.
but that was his only game in the
set, Hardy taking the last three. the
hnai game at "love'
~ was startling change in the tide
OF battle. but the reason was not far
20 seek HARDY was playing very crafty
ennis: .al1 ne kept tricking Murray with
aaggravatng little short line drives
down the centre of the service courr.
with the champion far out of position
on his base line. When Murray ex-
asperated, attempted to storm the rct
and take command, Hardy lobbed deftly
over the Californian's head.
Veteran Outguesses Murray
The same thing happened in the
fourth set, Murray vainl ytrvinp to
scttle down into his accustomed eame
but really playing directly into his op-
ponent's hands. Hardy was running
INTO the net position himself now, and
with conspicuous success. The cham
plons ground strokes were very
ragged. and when he did succeed in
keeping them under control Hardy han
died them mercilessly, cutting them Off
short at the net by brilliant volleving.
murray could win only the first and
the seventh games before Hardy had
the set at 6-2, squaring the match.
Could Murray settle down and get
PACK PACK INTO ms winning stride and could
nardy MAINTAIN the pace he had set
In the last half of the match? Those
we're the questions that ran throuch
the gallery. Billy Johnston, of Cali
foSrnia, who was sitting next to me in
the press box, saw visions Of West-
ern victory and kept punching me in
the RIBS and giving other evidences of
unrest as the men began the fifth and
last set. ''A
But Murray soon showed that he was
out to finish the match without further
halting and he threw caution aside and
brought into play all his superb dash
and brilliance, being convinced that
the waiting game was not for him.
Hardy fought doggedly in the first two
games, carrying the points to deuce"
three times in each as he engaged in
volleying duels with the champion at
the net.
But he found an aroused and more
dangerous Murray this time. for the
champion was cannonading the ball
tt.hfrf0ougih, his opponents court as he
KILLED" lobs, and he raked Hardy's
defence with strong, low volcys that
searched out the openings His
ground strokes also improved, and he
marched through to victory in short
order, only the fifth game falling to
Hardy. The match provided Murray
with just the kind Of practice he
needs in preparation for the national
title test next month.
johnson gave the gallery q treat In
his match with Green, but only in the
last set was he seen at his best. The
Phlladelphian, master Of the chop
stroke, played very streaky tennis. He
seemed 10th to cxpend any more energy
than absolutely necessary. but when
the call came, particularly in the
fourth set, he responded brilliantly.
Green was troublesome chiefly be-