New-York tribune., 1920-08-30
Title Tourney
Starts TODAY
AT Forest Hills
Johnston, Tilden, Richards
and Williams Strong Con-
tenders for Tennis Title
BY Fred Hawthorne

The grand finale of the lawn tennis
season in this country begins at
o'clock this afternoon, when the mems
annual national singles championship
tournament starts on the turf courts
of the West Side Tennis Club at For
est Hills.
The eyes of the tennis players and
followers of the game will be centered
on two men this week, William M
Johnston, of California. the present
national champion, and William T.
| Tilden I'd, of Philadelphia, the worlds
champion.
1t is the prevailing opinion among
game closely that either one Of these
players will come through the great
field of 12S that will begin the Cruel
ing struggle for the title now held by
little Johnston, and that Tilden and
the national champion are almost in a
class by themselves among the players
of the world.
Others Have Chance
While believe that these two men
should be the outstanding contenders
by reason of past performances, have
more or less settled conviction that
there are one or two others in the field
who must be given serious considera-
ton.
Tilden won the so-called "world's
singles championship" on grass at
Wimbledon this summer, truly
notable performance when the high and
representative quality Of the field is
taken into account. Here were gath
cred the greatest players in all the
world-Johnston, Norris, Williams, j.
Cecil Patke, zenzo Shimidzu, Colbert,
Deargis and Gerald Patterson, of Aus
Williams went out early in the fray;
Johnston, Americas greatest hope, was
downed by the mighty veteran Parke,
who, in turn, was humbled by Tilden,
as was Shmidzu, the great little Jap
anese, until finally Tilden faced Pat
terson in the challenge round and de-
feated him with ease.
Before the tournament Johnston had
beaten Tilden in the final round Of
the London championship at the
Queens Club, and later, at Norwood,
Johnston vanquished Parke in the semi
final round, only to yield to Williams
in the final brackets.
Tilden has played no tournament
singles since his return to this country,
about three weeks ago. In the doubles
paired with Charles S. Garland of
Pittsburgh, he has not been very sue
cessful. After winning at Newport Til
den and Garland were defeated in the
semi-final round of the national
doubles championship at Longwood by
Willis Davis and Roland Roberts, and
last Saturday, at Southampton, were
beaten in five furious sets by young
Vincent Richards and Ralph Burdick, a
scrub combination thAES had never
played as team before last week.
1t is true that the fault for these de-
feats rested almost wholly upon Gar
land, whose work failed to measure up
to Davis Cup standards, but even So,
Tllden's tennis has not been so con-
vlnclng as we have a right to expect
bilities.
Garland at Fault
The luck of the draw has placed Til
den in the easy half. He will not be
beset by nearly as many pitfalls as
Will 1all to Johnston's lot in the second
quarter. Vincent Richards, the seven
teen-year-old winner of the singles and
doubles at the Meadow Clubs South
ampton tournament on Saturday, and
Roland. Roberts are the only opponents
1llden has to fear on his way to the
final round.
And it is this same Richards whom
regard as one of the real contenders
for the championship of 1920
This amazing young player gave
proof at Southampton last weeN, if any
were needed that he must be seriously
considered in any company. 1t had
l, been thought, until the final round Of
the Meadow Club doubles match, that
Richards could not stand up under ex-
treme speed and hard hitting. Rich
ards exploded that theory by the cool,
efficient way in which he handled Til
den's terrific "bullet" service
This prodigy of American tennis,
after period of comparative mediocre
success last season, followed by several
months absence from tournament play
this summer, during which time he was
developing strength and putting on
weight on an Iowa farm, has come back
to the game with added confidence and
new ambition, and he must not be
taken lightly by any other man in the
great tourney that begins to-day.
Johnston Faces Task
Johnston has mighty task on his
hands if he is to shoulder his way
blocks his path to the final bracket
Rarely has a champion faced so many
dangerous seekers after his laurels.
In this second quarter are, besides
the little champion, Williams, Davis
and Griffin, a mighty host. Even
, supposing Johnston were to fight
his way through the ranks of. these
rivals, would not the racking strain on
nerves and physical stamina have him
in poor shape for his supreme test in
the final round?
Much depends upon Johnston's con-
dition when he starts the long strug-
gle this afternoon.
When | saw Johnston at Longwood,
just after he had won the national
doubles title with Clarence j. Grit
fin, he told me that he would not go
to Southampton because he believed he
was just about in his best physical
condition then.
II feel" said the champion, "that I
can play perfect tennis, that is, as per-
feet as | ever can play it, at any time
am called upon now, so what is the
use of going to Southampton and play
ing through the week? | can GO down
to Forest Hills and fool around there
just enough to keep on edge, and
York"
That is a comfortable way for a
champion about to defend his title, to
feel, and, having seen Johnston's flaw
less tennis when he and Griffin won
the doubles title that day, l could not
but completely agree with him.
Johnston is certain to make a mighty
bid to retain his championship, and he