Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-19
AS MAY HIT, BUT SCORING RECORDS FAIL TO SHOW RESULTS
KUMAGAE LEARNING
AMERICAN NET GAME
Far fastener, However, Is Still
Weak on Low Volley
Balls
LOSES AGAIN TO TIL0EN

Evcu though he was defeated in
straight sets by William T. ridden, I'd.
yesterday afternoon in an exhibition
/ match at the Germantown Cricket
Club, Ichiya kumagaC. the Far East
crncr. showed that he has at last sue
cccdcd in gaining some of the hnc
points Of tho American net game.
On several occasions in yesterday :
match kumagaC came to the net
against Tildcn and returned vollcy
shots. lie still. however. has some
things to learn. Ono weakness is his
inability to return balls close to the
ground--pickups in baseball.
On balls above his waist his playing
is fine. but let the ball como in around
! his feet and Kumaga" finds it impossi
I bic to make rroditnblc return. If he
can perfect this before tn" lending
Journeys this summer hr will bear as
much watching ms he did in 1916.
! Moro than 1000 watched tn" mntchcS
yesterday hctwcCu Tildcn. knmagac.
Richards. Hail. Fiddle. Iohuson and
Taylor and BcalS Wright
Wonderful Back Court Game
In 1916. when kumagac made his
first invasion of this country. he SGT a
4 wonderful record against tho leading
stars. lie had virtually nothing but n
back court game to pit against the net
| playing, vollCying game of the American
players
But il was II remarkable back court
game strengthened by the most wonder
ful accuracy of placement and most
tirclCSs covering of the court sccu at
American clubs for many seasons.
The ordinary strong net game was not
sufficient TO defeat the star from Japan.
II required men like Norris Williams,
Lindlcy Murray. George Church and
feat Kumaguc
Rarely Came to Net
Rarely it ever did kumagae attempt
to como to the net duri"" his campaign
of 1916. lie was so steady from the
/ back of the court. and his forcing shots
carried such pace that he did not find
it necessary to forsakc his base line in
order to win his points.
Woe bctidc the net player who faced
the Japanese when his net attack was
not going at its best. Johnston faltcred
Just trhc in the match at the New
port Casino. and Kumagac, driving
with beautiful accuracy, passed the
Californian repeatedly for the points.
In 1917 the man from the Far Fast
returned to his native land. and il
was not until last year that he returned
to this country. He won the New
York state championship singles at the
Yahnundasis Golf Club. of lea. from
poor field. and tlat sSabout his
most important victory Thereafter ht
met with several defeats, and the rca
son was not far to seek
Learned American Game
! kumagac. during his absence from
the United States, had evidently deter
mined to learn the American net game.
and when he made his rcappearancc it
was with a style of game that was
neither fish, flesh nor fowl"
lie had lost much of his deadly ac-
curacy from the back of the court he
did not make use of his battling 'loop''
drive so frequently. and his strokes did
not seem to carry the same sting that
they formerly did.
I 1t had become evident. by the end of
the 1913 season, that Kumagac would
either have to acquire the American
net rushing style of play or fall back
upon his original deep driving attack
if he hoped to meet with his former
Successes on our courts.