New-York tribune., 1919-09-03

Of the question.
In view Of the Importance Of the>
scheduled match between William T.
Johnston. of California. and William
T. Tilden, Cd, Of PHILADELPHIA. who were
scheduled to meet Yesterday in the
final and championship rounds OF the
thirty eighth annual Nationa. singles
ehamWonSMp tournament. Julian S.
Myrlck, vice president OF the U. S. \.
L. l. A. and official referee of the
tournament, decided to postpone the
match until this afternoon at 1 o'clock
The schedule for the other final round
matches IN the junior boys father and
son and veterans national champion-
ship events also went over unchanged
until this afternoon.
Rest Aid to PLAYERS
Twenty-four hours rest will prob
ably have the effect of putting Tilden
and Johnston right at the very ton Of
their physical best, taking it for
granted that the week of Continuous
competition had dulled their fight
ing edge" a trife.
To-day We should see them prepared
to put up the greatest battle of their
brilliant careers on the courts. and
that should mean one of the greatest
matches FOR champ pionship honors ever
seen on any court. not even barring the
famed McLoug Brookes match of
1914.
A win over Johnston this afternoon
will put the seal Of true greatness
upon Tiden's game, if there are still
any who doubt his claim to be ranked
among the very mightiest players of
all time. When we look back upon this
dynamic Philadel lphian'S tournament
record Of the last two seasons, we cam
not bat marvel at such story Of con-
sistent briliance
have often referred to Tildcn as an
erratic player, given to superlatiVe
flights Of tennis one day and mediocritv
the next. and that is true But in one
respect the tail Philadelpllian is CON
sistent-he almost always comes
through with his greatest game when
hardest pressed, or facing dangerous
rival.
This is proved by his almost unparal-
lelled record of 1918, when he went
Through an entire season of tourna-
ment play, winning many titles in his
triumphant sweep right up to the final
round OF the national singles tourna-
ment, and there he fell before the bat
tering ram tactics Of Robert Lindley
Murray, who wen the championship of
1918 III that match.
Tilden's Lone Defeat
1t was Tilden's lone defeat of the
season, and he had previously taken
the measure OF Murray. Added to
this Tilden was suffering from most
painful wound in his heel when he
faced the former California "Meteor."
Only the finest kind of fighting
spirit enabled the Philadelphian to go
through with the match.
Let us glance at his record of big
matches this season. Early in the
year Tllden won the Middle Atlantic
maker Building in Philadelphia, de
feating Vincent Richards in the final
round, after Richards had him two
sets down, and was within stroke of
victory
Later, in the national indoor cham
pionship tournament at the 7th Regi-
ment Armory, 1ildcn was beaten in
the final round by this same Richards.
This was one Of his poor perform
ances. He played carelessly until
Richards had a great lead, and then,
when he tri to start d winning rally,
1t was TOO late.
With the opening Of the present out
door season, Tilden had series Of
triumphs. marked By only two defeats,
and both times at the hands of really
groat players, but both Of these he
later avenged. Kumagae defeated the
Phliadelphian on clay courts this sum
mer, and Tilden himself has told me
that on that particular occasion Kuma-
gae could have defeated any man in
the world-on clay courts. Last week
Illden conquered Kumagae at Forest
Hills.
In the East-West matches in Cincin-
nati last July, the Philadcl lphian de-
feated Johnston in straight sets, but
thls should not be taken too seriously
aoI the latter was scarcely rid OF his
sea legs at the time. A week later,
at Chicago, Johnston defeated Tildcn
IN decisive fashion, in the final round
OF the national clay court champion
ship.
Beat Williams Four Times
lllden obtained his revenge at New
Port last month, when he crushed John
ston IN the final round Of the invita-
uon tournament there Williams he
mas vanqulshcd four times this sea
son and ne also won the great Sea
orlSht tourney some weeks ago. and
now nc is about to come to grins with
'onnston again, and a victory to-day
would put him SO far ahead of ali
.oinpetitors that there could be no
question or his right to the No DO
1919. '''''s 4'S' Ao'
But the little Californian is the
most formidable obstacle in Tilden's
pam to-day, as he has been all season,
ana 1t may be that his splendidly
sound game. his terrific forcing ground
sS;fokes, both fore and backhand and
a aas severe volleying viii break up Til
ueA S wonderfully varied game. John
ssoA IS quick to adapt himself to cir
vui"s v'ni, oances. and once am opponent
hbe@"ens lhe 1ormer champion knows
ao" ;o" TO take advantage of the fact He
- relentless Adversary Whoever
,nt mtL"S' we are quite certain to be thrilled
.neA tne old battle Of the courts be-
'"eeh East and West is staged again
"forge N!ile', the head groundsman
al al the West side, gave the champion
o"tp court a special course Of treat
IiHe"l iHl Yesterday. The drenched tarpau-
@ aus were temporarily removed and a
eoVerlng of hay spread over the turf
~ ".0 me t4rpaulirs then replaced. in
nI rgse OIL ram to-day information as to
r.a"S th may be had by tclcphoning to
p t,le Office of the L. S. n L. T. A,
~ NSec'0r 3541; players headquarters at
ene Motel Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt ZOO,
70 Harry Parker Vanderbilt Ill.
.; rarker announced last night that
AIvAe's Ave's Tor the team match between
noslraila ma and America, beginning to-
AoiroW afternoon will he nlaced on