New-York tribune., 1920-09-05

I'M On Astounding onoSo ~ ~ eeeme0
= suit his fancy.
Thus, after q week Of play, during
vhieh the greatest players from coast
a. courts, Johnston and Tilden, with
~ doubt the two premier players Of
ID world to-day, face each other in
~ Anal test, as they did last year on
tksse same courts, when Johnston won
3 straight sets at Ga, Ga, 6-3.
To-day, on the eve Of the grand
Ansia Of the tennis year among the
men, there is great diversity Of
epinion among followers Of the game
= % who will win tomorrow. John
steu has come through terrific ordeal
q playing. for he was CHARTERED in
the most dificult half, whereas Tildsn,
q the lower section, has gone along
Ay easy stAges to the final round, Vim
cent Richards and Wallace johnson
hing the only matches In which he
faced dangerous opponents.
The worlds title holder finished
yvune Richards of without trouble,
iad hs always held the upper hand
akainst Johnson yesterday, and after
tks first set showed the ability to gain
Biz points pretty much as he wished.
jshntton, on the contrary, found Wat
soh n. Washburn a worthy opponent.
~ was Nathaniel W. Niles earlier and
Gamer yesterday.
Jehnston on His Game
Wsth the day Of rest that he will
ssioy, believe the little champion
vii take the court against Tilden pre-
pared to put up one of his typical cham
pionship exhibitions, and that Is all
that could be asked Of any player, for
Johnston, on his mettle, IS he always
b when the stakes are highest, is
vefth going miles to see.
You could hardly find two games
msre distinctly different in character
eHd execution than were Johnston's
and Tilden's yesterday. The champion
hfVught about the defeat Of Gamer by
straightforward, unadorned tennis,
ssnnis distinguished chiefly by terrific
t9ssd on every forcing shot. Gamer
DAyed the greatest game Of his career
against the Calofirnian, taking the aG-
gfessive continually until forced on
tie defensive by the sheer power of
Sehnston's tremendous attack.
Tilden, on the other hand, evidently
apremely confident of his ability to
htne Johnson, worked every variation
q ahot In his match, alternating chops,
ats and slices, with low, bullet drives
speetacuiar smashes and lightning-fast
voheys and half-volleys. He and his
ssponent formed striking contrast,
teo, In their court manners. Tildenlwss
always ready to bring off a circus shot
ief the edifcation Of the great crowd
sna at times, when Johnson would
seafs on q placement ace, following q
mricns rally at the net position, Tilden
wond stand still in his tracks and
!aash. and make playful remarks, to
Asmssf, to Johnson or to the gallery.
Johnson was quite different in his
behaviour. Realizing that defeat would
pfooably be his portion when he went
g the court, the chop-stroke expert
vent about his task with quiet air Of
eoaeentration. Whether he won q point
" iost 1t, there was no change in John
sons attitude. He was there for one
purpose, to play tennis. and that he did.
Gamer Battles Gamely
But for the very picture Of coneen-
1atsd purpose we had to look to
ssAtde Bill" Johnston, the champion.
tne slender Californian knew he was
70 fight shortly after he began his
mateh with Gamer, for the six.foot
hfse-ineh former Harvard athlete was
folng great guns, and trying fully as
Aafd as Johnston was.
DO not think that the champion
saa.ed us all he had in reserve. As !
Watched the match it seemed to me
ssss Johnston was content to make
~ openings by the aid Of his tremen-
soas ground strokes alone. There
~ no vild rushing in to the vollsy-
x position behind his service, but,
instead, a:s the champion stayed back un-
y certain his path had been blasted
sloesh the medium Of a great fore.
ssad drive, and then, when he had
ysesd Gamer on the defensive, John
s.oa vent charging in, taking his op-
saehts returns overhead on the vol.
perhaps, or with q wonderfully
low volley that usually earned
sst tomorrow I think We shall SCI
ainerent Johnston, . more deter.
saned, more resourceful, an even
80 severe anisher of points thar
tes case yesterday. There wsrt
ss, as ! have said, when Johnston
-. "eii content to hang back nea,
- psse line and rely upon his groun<
oses 70 earn the points. But whsr
faces IIlden you will not this dif
III s,esnss, that Johnston will be on th.
IKE hawk at every stage, Z
sae Of energy, q veritable engine 0.
HeAknsss.
i! !hden will find It we'll to disear.
sS..H .HIeiessness Of play and his pen
$ssns for taking daring chances whel
=. Meete the little champion. Win b,
y y and surely he has the equipmen
~ aeeoWpiiah a1moaf anvthin1 m IN,
~ but win he will not by any suel
= Is.irse tennis - he has shown u
HIS tournament.
Jshnsaon Starts Service
ssnsston and Gamer were the firs
ssert their match, "Colonel" FREE
B @sasasld, imported solely for the oc
sn, SraeinE the umptre's chair.
~ 80 en every line, and . foot-fault an
@o@gs completing the east.
sennston started the servics and wol
~ ms. and theirs was no break unit
~ 1earth session, when the ehampicr
~ tas aid Of furiously fast forshsn
ses. literally battered his VA
sgh. He won the nsxt on his ow
s.1 ~, giving him tbs 1ssA, st 4-1
esse ef battle from all over ID
~ ~ tes seysnth, CansF thp eighth. IN
ssss ~ champion Anfsked OF tie fri
rs endtnx WITH . treA1endeu
~ ehet that eeused the b&ll
httie cloud Of dust ~ tt richie
~ - the ground. Gamer made
~ les& dive Tor the bs1t, but eve
s 1is ersat Ess<h souid not meet ~
s3ehsy md the nexyise wiasn she ~,