Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-04
Tilden, Johnson and Gamer,
Together With Johnston,
Win Way Into Tennis
Semifnal Round
GRIFFIN ELIMINATED
BY SPICK HALL
West Side Tennis Club

Forest tt1IIS. -. H., Stpi' H
THE field Of 12S players in the ma
| tional lawn tennis tournament was
norrowed down to three Philadelphians
and n Californian yesterday. The sur
living competitors from Billy Penn's
canitel city were William J.. Tilden,
od. Wallace +. johnson and G. Colket
Gamer. The native son to come through
wos william NJ. Johnston. national
champion. ,s,;
matches in which this quartet won
tboir way to the semifnals was almost
mregone conclusion, although there
werc n few who believed that Clarence
! Griffin, national doubles champion
With Johnston, would eliminate Wal
lace Johnson.
.Johnson's game against Griffin was
the acme of fine tennis generalship and
execution. Griffin always has been
noted for bis strategic ability. He pos
scsses nothing in the nature Of win :
ming stroke, but he uses his head and
yolicys with precision as rule. Yes
terday he was outguessed. from the
start BY hthe Philadelphian, who ran
through him at 6-1 In thc first set and
followed this up with n 6-3 victory.
At no time during these two sets
was Griffin able to fathom Johnson s
next move. Wallace kept him racing
from one side of the court to the other
and then up to the net by his tantaliz- :
ing short court shots. Griffin pulled
himself together and, aided by a mum
Der of errors by johnson, won the third
set. 90. but in so doing he played
himself completely out, wlrile johnson
was Just as fresh at the beginning of
the fourth set as he was at the start
Of the match.
johnson Leads
Having this physical advantage,
johnson proceeded to hop into the lead
at once and although Griffin made fine
struggle he was unable to stop John :
sons on rush, which resulted in a Ga
win in the final and deciding set. AZ
times Johnson went to the net and when
he did he gave fine exhibition of strong
overhead play. He smashed Griffin S
lobs for placement points time and
again and his volleying was almost per-
feet.
Griffin hasn't much in the way Of
service. and although Johnson : delivery
had good deal Of steam behind it, botl
were always able to put the ball in play
Johnson's accuracy yesterday showed
that his game is far better than 1t was
last year and that IL he is kept off of the
United States Davis Cup team that goes
to Australia it will be done through
craftsmanship and not merit Wallace
showed by coming through the semifna
round that he is still "a fine singles
PLAYER. and this coupled with his ability
10 play a great game in doubles should
cinch his ticket to the little southern
continent. So.
TiIden Eases Up
Tden's work against Walter West
brock. Of Detroit. the Michigan cham
pion. was not impressive ct all, because
the champion didn't extend himself tc
win single point. When he could wiz
without undue excrtion he did 80. but
there were countless times that he al
lowed his opponent to score points wher
ne could easily have stepped over ani
made a return.
Tldpn hit the balls just hard enough
to get over the net. He didn't try tc
win on his fast forLhand drives mol
on his speedy chop. He was content
10 send the ball into one corner and ther
back again as Westbrook raced fror
side to side. In this way. Westbrooi
was kept hot footing it back and forti
So constantly that his tongue was hang
Ing out at the finish and he was com
plptely played Ort.
Whenever Wcsbrook. by desperate
running and really good shot. woul'
win point Tilden would stop ant
laugh along with the gallery. Whethe
hc was laughing at Wesbrook' earnes
endcavors to win or, his own careles
pIaving is question that only he cal
answer, but it is true that both tn
spectators and Tilden seemed to enjo,
the Detroit left handlers futile efforts
to annihiate the champion.
Johnston, in his match with Wash