New-York tribune., 1919-07-16
Champion Near
Final for Title;
Richards Wins
Quaker and Yonkers Lads
Score Easy Victories in
Chicago Tournament
By Fred Hawthorne

By Fred Hawthorne
den, I'd, Of Philadelphia. the playing
xhrough champion, and Vincent Rich
erds, the sixteen year old national in
4oor champion, reached the round be-
FORE the semi-tinals this afternoon in
fhe annual national clay court cham
pionship lawn tennis tournament on
the courts of the South Side Tennis
Club. They are furthest advanced Of
the big field toward the final brackets.
Tilden and Richards are in opposite
sides of the draw, and while the former
seems almost certain to gain his place
Sn his section Richards has far more
perilous road to travel before he can
hope to become the other finalist.
William NJ. Johnston, former national
champion; Howard Voshell, former
national indoor title holder; Heath
Byford, the star of the Western con-
tingent, and Walter I. Hayes, the To-
cal veteran, are all in Richards's side
of the draw. He will indeed have to
play sterling tennis to come through
Euch a field.
On Tilden's side the men most likely
20 give him trouble are Ralph Bur
dick, Harold M. Kinsey and Cedric A.
Major, but provided the champion
plays the same kind of tennis he
showed to-day against Samuel R.
Hardy his\way should not be beset
with great difficulties.
Champion Crushes Rival
In the fifth round this afternoon the
defending champion crushed Hardy by
a score of 6--1, 6--1, never allowing
his veteran opponent chance to work
into his game. Since this same. Hardy
fought Lindley Murray through q, five
set match at Cincinnati last week, an
idea OF the pace at which Tilden was
travelling this afternoon may be had.
Summed up completely and briefly,
the factor that sent Hardy down in
swift defeat was "speed." Tilden was
like a streak of lightning on the court.
Here, there, everywhere the tall Phila-
delphian Fitted, striking out with
rapier-like thrusts of his racquet as
he launched an invincible attack at
the net now to cut off a low drive
with backhand full volley then to
Skill" lob with deadly finality.
Hardy was never able to get into
position for his own returns in time
to meet the cannon ball shots from
Tilden's racquet. Against Murray last
week Hardy had managed to work his
way to the net position and from there
bring off his splendid volleying shots,
but he found this impossible against
Tilden, who knew no restraining hand
to-day.
The wonderful versatility Of the
champions service was exemplified in
this match. First it would be straight
~railroad" service that would send the
ball catapulting into court, and on the
next bali Tilden would employ wicked
reverse twist that sent the sphere
careening up in crazy bounds as high
IS Hardy's shoulder.
The two games in the match that did
fall to Hardy were largely the result
Of Tilden's own errors as he tried out
every stroke at his command. The
Philadelphia looked a great champion
to-day, and the man who tears the
laurel wreath from his head this week
will we'll earn the honors.
Easy Prey for Richards
While Tilden was settling matters
with Hardy, young Richards, his part
ner. in the holding Of the national
doubles title, was working through his
match with G. j. O'Connell, local
youth. Richards simply ran away with
his opponent, winning by score Of
50, 81, and then followed this up
BY vanishing A. P. Hubbell, one of
Hubbell, tail, awkard, but a deter
mined "getter," went after everything
that came into his court, and his sheer
energy in this respect enabled him to
gican four games, while Richards was
gradually gaining full control Of his
shots. In the second set, however, it
was far different story. Richards,
voileying with the greatest deftness Of
ran Hubbell off his feet as the latter
attempted to meet his attack.
The boy wonder varied his pace with
such battling skill, too, that HubbeN
never knew where to expect the next
shot. We're he on the base line, pre-
pared to exchange on swift. deep drives,
Richards dropped the ball tantalizingly
Just over the net. Again, when he had
drawn his opponent in close to the net,
Richards would toss a lob over Hub,
bells head, to land the ball close to
the base line, or else he would edge a
cross-court volley past his rival as the
latter attempted to crowd the net.
Another outstanding favorite to come
through this test successfully to-day
was Johnston, Of California. The for
mer national champion had a genuine
struggle on his hands to dispose Of
Eucien Williams, junior from Hill
Schooi. Penn, who sprang sensation
BY leading the doughty Johnston at
S-a on game in the opening set and
Keeping un stiff pace throughout.
Johnston always looked the winner.
toI nc Always gave the impression Of
naving power in reserve, to be re-
leased should the. call come, but he
sa sslil shows the lack of practice, and it
may be two or three weeks vet before
ne begins to hit his real pace.
His forehand drive is gradually re-
gaming its tremendous speed and
pace, but it was only occasionallv
mat ne met the ball squarely. His net
pay ls likewise gaining in efficiency
every day, but tomorrow he will prob,
soIy De put to real test when his
opponent should be Voshell in the fifth