New-York tribune., 1919-04-17
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One of the most famous and pow
erful mems doubles combinations that
ever won the national doubles title,
William NJ. Johnston and Clarence ].
Griffin of California, will be in the
field again this season and attempt
to regain the title
Johnston and Griffin, according to
reports just received from California,
met in San Francisco a few days ago
and arranged to team up again They
will begin practice within the next
week or two, and intend competing in
all the tournaments they an, right up
to the playing of the championship
doubles tournament at Longwood, Au-
gust II.
Providing they can get into the form
they held in 1915 and 1916, when they
were national doubles champions,
there does not seem to be another
pair in this country able to prevent
the Californlans from taking the
honors back to the Coast.
do not recall a doubles team in
this country in several years. since
the days Of Frederick B. Alexander
and Harold H. Hackett. from 1907 to
1910, when they were the champions,
that has compared in smoothness Of
team work and rcsourcefulness with
these two California midgets. John
sron was the aggressive, hard-hitting
member Of the team, with a forehand
drive that ripped through the opposing
court with terrific speed, and mis- over
hand volleylng, as he came racing in
for the net position, was deadly Grif-
fin was ! wonderful defensive player,
and an ideal partner for Johnston He
was the deadliest and craftiest Of lob
bers, and when he and Johnston moved
toward the net, like one man, it was
almost impossible to drive them back
They won the national title at Forest
Hills in 1915 by defeating McLough-
lin and Bundy in the challenge round
after q fveset struggle, and success
fully defended their honors the fol-
lowing year
No Titles in 1917
In 1917 the champions did not play,
both entering the service, Johnston in
they were overseas when the title was
won by William T. T.lden, Cd, and Vim
cent Richards at Longwood last year.
There continue to be reports that
Mclaughlin and Bundy are going to
enter the lists once more. both in
singles and doubles, and in that case
they will undoubtedly clash with John
ston and Griffin in the sectional
doubles on the Coast. The winners
of ali these preliminary tournaments
will meet at Longwood in August,
eleven teams in all, to fight it out for
the supreme honors, and, taking it for
granted that Johnston and Griffin are
as good as they we're three years ago, |
expect to see them crowned national
champions for the third time.
Although Tilden and Richards won
the title in a brilliantly played match
from Alexander and Bcals Wright last
year, and have continued to improve
IN their team work since, it does not
seem possible that they can cope suc-
cessfully with the flawlcss play OF
/ turn to the courts Of all the great
stars from the Coast, however, will
mean a season resplcndent with brill
liant lawn tennis, and rather expect
70 see the veterans uphold their end
against the younger set
The University Heights Tennis Club
will open the tournament season in the
Metropolitan district this Saturday
WHtH hH open CouDlcS tournament Tor
men will begin on the clubs excellent
clay courts, on the banks OF the Har-
lem River, at Fordham Road
Entries may be mailed or tclcphoncd
10 Jones w. Mersereau, at the Butter
lex Building, on Fourth Avenue, Spring
1000, up to 10 o'clock Saturday morn
ing They may also be made in person
at the courts, not later than 9 o'clock
in the afternoon. All players will be
expected to play ut least three matchcn
over the Weekend
Some Of the best teams in tho Ems,
have already sent in their entrics, in
cluding Tildcn and Richards, national
outdoor and indoor champions; Ichiya
Kumagae and Harold l.. Taylor; Frank
and Fred Anderson, Jr, Allan Behr and
Seiichlro ksshio; Elliott Binzen and
Embree Henderson; ii. Ii. Manchester