New-York tribune., 1920-08-31
Johnston Carried to Long
Deuce Battle by Junior
From Phila adelphia

The thirty-ninth annual mems ma
t;onal singles lawn tennis champion
ship tournament that began yester-
day afternoon at l o'clock, on the
turf courts of the West Side Tennis
Club, of Forest Hills, moved through
the entire first round, a total of
sixty-four matches, without any
startling upsets developing in the
results, although, in several cases,
the top-ranking men of the country
we're forced to their limit to come
through with the victory.
OF the 12S men that began play yes
..rday, only sixty-six were still left
in the running when the last match
hsd been chalked up by George Towns
end Adee the official referee, and his
board of assistants. Sixty-three match
es were completed and one, that be-
tween Frederick B. Alexander and DIR.
William Rosenbaum, was left uncom-
peted, with Alexander leading at
ell. So, 6-2. They will finish this
sfternoon, starting at l o'clock
The one great surprise of the day
was the unexpectedly bitter struggle
put up by Francis 7. Hunter, Eastern
New York and North Side champion,
against Richard Norris Williams. 2nd.,
Of Boston, national title holder of 1914
sad 1916, and member of this year's
Dovis Cup team. Hunter was defeated
BY score Of SIS, 3 &C, 60, lO-~8,
and Williams. slow to get started, he'd
to put forth his best efforts to win
the honors.
/ Opening Set Close
IN the first set Hunter was no less
than seven times within point Of
winning, and it was only by using the
utmost care in placing his returns that
Williams was able to take the opener
Had Hunter won this set, it might have
gene hard for Williams, for the local
man was hitting the ball with tremen-
dOus speed throughout, winning the
second set easily at 6-3.
Letting down in the third session,
Hunter came strong again in the
fourth and forced the games to Sail
bis toes, could break through and win
.ne iose I"o games 1oi the SCI dt
| lO-S, and the match.
William NJ Johnston, national
champion, defeated young Carl Fisher,
Of Philadelphia, by a score of 6-2,
ls-3. 10--8. the junior finishing so
strongly that the little California
whirlwind was compelled to unleash
some of his stiffest forehand drives
and overland volleys to take the final
set
VII am T Tilden I'd, of Philadel-
phia, the worlds singles turf court
champion and regar(e ed as Johnston's
most form dable rival, defeated Law
renee B. Rice, of Harvard University,
lby score of 6-4. s.. 60, while
Vincent Richards, the seyenteen-year-
old marvel who won the singles and
doubles in the great Meadow Club invi-
tatlon tournament at SOUTHAMPTON last
SATURDAY., vanquished Henry S. Parker,
Of Cedarhurst, by a score of 6-2,
ia, 2-6, 60.
Thus did the four strongest con-
tenders for the title no. held by John
ston come through their first day of
the trying ordeal that will not end un-
u next week. In no one instance were
these men forced to the limit, all ex-
cept Williams being we'll satisfied TO
take matters as easily as possible and
conserve their strength for the strus-
giles that will daily become more bitter
as the final round brackets are ap-
preached
Williams Hard Pressed
Williams, | am convinced. was taken
BY surprise by Hunters furious driv-
Tag and overland volleying attack, and
stnough ne always seemed supremely
confident of the final result he was
pressed so hard in the first and
fourth sets that he could never afford
70 loaf. The match should do him
good, for the Boston star can stand a
week of hard work and benefit by the
experience.
I Some of the lesser lights of the ten
Ills world were also extended before
they could finally dispose of their op-
Enents Willis Davis, the hard hitting
{ ztalIfornian, for example, was able to
aefeat Theodore Roosevelt Pell only af-
Ter the sets had gone to 4-6, 60, 4-6.
al, 6-1; Harold Throckmorton, New
Jersey champion, had many difficult
moments III his match with the veteran
base liner, Robert lie Roy, before he
tnder, as l have said, had long
iiought-out struggle with DR.. Rosen-
baum, with the issue still undecided.
4 Considered from the viewpoint of
relative ranking, the defeat Walter
II. Hayes. of Chicago, one of the fine
l DID veterans Of the game, by young G.
Oolket Gamer, of Boston, was in the
nature of an upset, since Hayes was
placed in the first ten" last season,
1 While Gamer was far below him.
But in reality I do not consider