New-York tribune., 1919-02-18

AOA tAtStl plONtSS OH lIc courts.
= The tournament might we'll be
termed one for "the championship Of
the Clouds or the sky title" for the
canvas covered courts are situated
twelve stories above the street level
and are open to the free sweep of the
winter winds, only huge wire cages in
closing the playing areas.
In spite of the chilling conditions
to-day several hundred persons made
their way TO the roof and watched the
matches. Rarely do courts command
more extensive or unusual view, for
spectators obtain a birds s-eye view Of
Philadelphia and its suburbs for miles
around. with the Schuylkill in the dis
tance.
William Penn Frowns
To the left of the court the stern
countenance of the William Penn
statue, on top of the City Hall, gazes
directly down on the players as though
the stout old Quaker wished to rebuke
these grown men who romp over tho
rooftops.
Johnson and Voshell did not play in
the singles this afternoon. getting
their opening matches by default, but
Tilden and Alexander took the courts
and eliminated their opponents in
straight sets Tilden, as has been the
case many times, took things so easily
in the first set of his match with Rod
ney NJ. Beck. the local junior champion,
that before he awoke to the situation
Beck held his great foeman trailing at
l-b on games and 1910 on points The
clever Junior only needed one point
to give HIM the set, and nobody watch
ing the match would have given much
FOR Illden's chances of staving off de
feat at this stage.
But the spectacular Philadelphian
then proceeded to give one of those
dazzling exhibitions that have thrilled
lawn tennis galleries on many courts.
Where before he had been lying back
, In his court, content to exchange drives
with young Beck and rarely venturing
to the net position, Tilden suddenly
took the bit in his teeth and started
out at pace that the junior champion
was utterly powerless TO hold
The tall Philadelphian's service was
shooting over the net and into Beck $
court with such tremendous amount
OF pace that the youngster could not
handle 1t with any degree of con
| fidence, and even when he did sue
ceed IN making the return Tilden fol
lowed the ball in for the net so swift
ly that he finished off the points with
flashing volleys or powerful smashes.
Game after game went to the ma
tlonal clay court title holder. while
the spectators wondered at his peed
and skill of placement. Taking the
next seven games without slightest
letting up in his winning pace, Tilden
won that set and then continued on
into the second, winning up to 80
on games before Beck could score
again. The next three sessions went
to Tildcn, giving him the second set
at o-l and the match at 7-5, 6-1.
Winner Meets Dornheim
Tomorrow the winner is scheduled
to play II. I. Dornheim, another of
the younger players.
Alexander, playing with that consum
mate mastery that has made him
noted on the courts for many years,
had far easier time in dlsposing Of
| the veteran A. Ii. Seuery, local club
man, by score of 6-1, Go. The
weather was so cold on the roof tops
that the internationalist donned 2
leather hunting jacket before going
on the court, but it did not impede
his stroking to any perceptible degree
and he simply toyed with his oppo-
nent, volleying so deftly for the corners
and driving SO unerringly down the
side lines that Savery must have been
well satisfied TO get the one game that
tell to his lot Right now Alexander
/ looks like the logical favorite for the
title
Kumagae gained his match against
Gerald Donaldson, jr., by default to-
day, thus taking his place in the upper
half of the draw with Voshell, Johnson
and Vincent Richards. TiIden, Alexan-
der, Harold Taylor, Craig Biddle and
Paul "Cardinap Gibbons are the out
standing figures in the lower section.
The sixteen -year-old Richards played
one match this morning, winning from
W. ii. Rowland at 81, 6-3 The
schooboy marvel held command of his
veteran opponent at every stage of the
match and his ability to volley from
mldcourt' coupled with his deadly
placement shots, surprised the Pbila.
delphia gallery
There was little activity among the
juniors in their title tourney to.aav
bat tomorrow they will put in bus,
session, and nothing but blizzarC
VIII stay their progress as long as oav
light holds. AS a fitting climax to
day of fast play, the tournament cor,
mlttee put on special eXhibitio,
double match between Fred Alexan o.
and Voshell and Biddle and Johnson
the former pair winninn at 6-4, e.
The defeated team showed lack o
practice, and while showing Brilliant,
at times the pair could not maintain
fast enough pace to hold their ow,
against Alexander and his partner.
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