The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-11
WEST LEADS IN
DUAL TENNIS TILT
Score 2 to 1 on Opening Day
National Doubles Champions
Are Defeated.
Special D,spotcA 10 THr Sow.

comment heard around tennis circles
recently there were great many fol-
lowers of lawn tennis who felt that
the Eastern team would have a fairly
easy time winning the sectional team
championship tournament which started
here to-day. There was quite a we'll
defined idea to the effect that the play
ers representing the West were not up
to the standard of other Western
racquet wielders who had made con-
siderable trouble for Eastern players
In other days.
Those who thought that the West
would not be very far up In the fight
are due for severe shock, for with
the first days play, consisting of two
singles and a doubles completed, the
score stands: West. 2; East. 1. And
more shocking still is the fact that Will
lam T. Tilden I'd and Vincent Richards,
holders Of the national doubles title and
looked on as sure point winners for
the East, went down In defeat before
William NJ. Johnston of California,
former national champion at singles and
doubles. and Samuel Hardy Of Chicago.
national clay courts doubles champion.
The Western team took tho match three
sets 70 one at Eli. 60, Ga, IS.
Ichiya Kumagae, East, scored In the
singles over Ralph Burdick. Chicago. at
rs, e.. Ga, while Robert Kinsey.
California, defeated S. H. Voshell, New
York, 81. 6--1, 60.
Result . Big Surprise.
There can be no doubt but that even
to the most ardent cohorts OF the West
ern players the outcome of the doubles
match was a big surprise. The team OF
Tilden and Richards had won the ma
tional championship last year at Boston
purely on it's merits. Even X the team
had done nothing else in last years
tournament, the fact that II defeated
Frederick B. Alexander and Beals G.
Wright, both former internationalists
and two of the most crafty doubles
players that ever played on Anne rtcan
courts, in the final OF that tourney would
have been sufficient to gain 1t the fear
and respect of doubles teams through
out the country.
Furthermore, the national doubles
champions had this in their favor They
were going into the East-West matches
as a seasoned team-a team of two
players, each of whom we'll knew the
strength End the shortcomings of his
partner and how to make the most OF
the strength and gloss over the weak
ness. The West really had nothing to
offer against such strength. That Ia.
tn, West on paper had nothing to offer.
At best II seemed that the West would
have to put a doubles team In the lists.
depending only on individual brilliance
and strength II Is we'll known to the
follower Of tennis that the individual
play Is more apt to hamper than to en-
hance the doubles game. This team
would have to be a makeshift. but the
West did its best in picking out two
such men as Johnston and Hardy to
pit against the champions.
That the men had never played as
partners, from a Western viewpoint was
unfortunate. but they had to make the
best OF II. Johnston and Hardy had
practically no time to practice together,
but they came out in to-day's match
and played as II they had teamed to-
gether for years. Their cohesion was
truly remarkable, considering the fact
that they had not worked together be-
fore. The makeshift team made good.
Strong After First Set.
It was only In the first set that the
Western team showed any signs of
weakness at all. Their weakness then
was only lack OF teamwork and 1t was
quickly overcome. In spite OF their
slipups In teamwork. Johnston and
Hardy stepped out and forced the ma
tional champions to play twenty games
before the latter won the opening set
at ll-9. In the second set the West
erners really got going and fairly
swamped the champions They ran
| through the set in six straight games
During the second set and those that
followed Johnston showed much OF the
! old time snap. vim and bounce which
won him the national crown when he
| was only 90 years old. His service
had all OF the old power and his drive,
were strong and accurate. He was good
on the ground and overhead as we'll. and
| as in the old days worked his way
over the court and up to the net with
| all the old smoothness which made II
appear that he could not waste a mo-
tlon even II he tried.
In the third set the champions worked
hard to regain the lost ground. but
could not cope with the terrific attack
and stonewall defence OF the Western.
ers. Johnston and Hardy took an early
| lead and held, the pace until they hac
bagged the set at 6-3. In the fourth
and what proved to be the final sci
Of the match the champions, with over.
| whelming defeat staring them in the
| face, made desperate hght
1t was their last stand. Tilden ant
Richards went after everything and con
tested every inch of the way bitterly
I They held the Westerners to a see-sav
battle for the first ten games and tn,
score stood even at all. II was tbs
only time in the set that deuce had e
| be cai1ed for in the next two games
the titleholders wavered. while Johnston
and Hardy pressed their attack stub
| bornly and held the pace until they haC
| the match won
VosheIl's Defeat Surprises.
The defeat of S. Howard VosheI. met.
ropolitan and Bronx county champion
by Robert kinsey. the young Californian
came as another surprise. Voshell started
OF with rush In this match and had
the lead at al in the opening set Al
this stage of the game Voshell was out,
playing the young Californian without
| much difficulty and seemed we'll on tht