Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-21
CHURCH CUP T|[TS
MARRIED BY RAIN
Doubtful II Philadelphia and
Boston Teams Will Meet at
Forest Hills Today
BY sPICK HALL
4 Side Tennis Club. Forest Hills,

West Side Tennis Club. Forest Hills,
MAY 21 A hard rain this morn
ino made the start of the Church Cup
tnnnia matches here this afternoon
dombtful Even II 1t should clear later
In the day the courts probably will be
Zoo wet for play. Philadelphia and
BOSTON are scheduled to meet in the
FIRST tilts and the winner will play New
York, which now holds the trophy.
The result Of the match between
Wallace +. johnson. Of Philadelphia,
and Dick Harte, of Boston, may decide
the fourth member of the American
Davis CUP team that will sail for Eng
land. May 20.
Uarte and Johnston meet on cham
pionship court No. . in the second
match. These experts are playing No.
on their teams, Bill Tilden and X.
\. Williams, I'd performing as No. 1
men.
The match between Tilden and Will
liams will be an extremely interesting
affair, particularly as no one seems to
know Just how far Williams has been
able to advance his game this season.
Harte who is teammate Of Williams,
saws that the former champion appears
to be going well, but Williams was SO
prratic last season after apparently
hnN1nR CUlut DdNhs thut pItuV-
tions on his form are always out of
order.
The Big Match
Still the johnson .Harte match
Is the one that all tennis fans will fol-
low the closest of any in the series for
the Church cup. Harte has been going
cxcellently all spring in spite Of the
fact that there has been a lot Of rain
in Boston. However, he hasn't had
any the worse of IL on that score be-
cause II has rained just as much. if
not more, in Philadelphia so that John
son has not been able to get out as
much as he would have desired.
Another point in favor OF Uarte as
far as early condition is concerned is
that he has been playing with good men
when he did play, while Wallace John
son has not had the practice against
players in the ranking class. Still this
disadvantage to johnson may Offset to
a certain extent because Harte is suffer
ing from a large boil over his right
eye He said today that it did not in
tcrfcrc with his sight. but did make him
feel rather spring feverish.
Johnson and Harte nave met Only
once before. That was five years ago
in an interclub match in Philadelphia.
At that time Harte was doing other
athletics and wasn't nearly in the ten
mis- form that he is today, but at that
he took the first set from Johnson and
carried the final one to o.. In order
for either man to show the committee
that he is the best available one
win decisively. A toss up match will
mean very little, particularly if John
son wins.
And then there is Chuck Garland to
be- considered. 1t is possible that he
may be chosen over both the Bostonian
and the Philadelphia. but it is the be-
lief among many of the experts that
Garland is the weakest one Of the trio
OF aspirants.
All of the Boston team arrived in
New York last night. hut several of the
Philadclphiaps did not get over until
today.
Bill Tilden and Wallace Johnson
played in matches in Philadelphia yes
tcrday. but they got late train last
evening. The other Philadelphians who
are here to play either on the first or
second teams are Craig Biddlc. G. G.
Schaffer. a. ID. Thayer, DR.. p. Il.
Hawk, Stanley Pearson. Carl Fischer.
who is captain of the Pennsylvania ten
mis- team; Rowland Evans. Jr.. +. II.
Dixon, +. NJ. Edwards. J. r. Vail. Jr.,
and l.. c. Wister. Paul Gibbons came
over last night to see the matches and
BiL Rowland arrived this morning.
Nine Matches In All
Play for the Church cup consists Of
six singles and three doubles matches.
The trophy was donated by George NJ.
Church, of Tenahy. y. j.. to stimulate
an intcrcity tennis rivalry between
New York, Boston and Philadelphia
Ih" event began two years ago. the
hr>t match taking place in Philadelphia.
Church was at one time captain Of
the Princeton tennis team and, besides
mary other titles. he won the inter-
collegiate crown while member OF the
Tigers team. When he retired from
the game as the war began he was well
up in the first ten and was considered
more than a possibility for future ma
iloutl singles honors. He had bad
Jolt during the war while in the aviation
corps and has not played since.