New-York tribune., 1920-08-15
Griffin Winner
After Thrilling
Five-Set Match
Holder of Tennis Title
Misses Several Chances:
6-3, 40, 20, Oh, 6-3

Clarence ! Griffin, of California by
8 score OF 6-3, As, rs, 6-4. 6-2.
In the inal round Of the annual invi-
ta..on tournament on the championship
turf court of the Newport Casino Lawn
Tennis Association.
Mr.. Griffin was ranked <t No 80 by
the committee at the U. S. L. T. A.
last year. yet to-day he leaped over
the heads Of thirty-two stars and tri-
umphed over Johnston. the Mighty
Atom - Of the courts, in one of the
greatest invitation tournaments of the
season
How did Griffin bring about this
seeming miracle? The question is not
e&sv 70 answer. Certain it is that
Johnston was rot himself to-day. and
vet 10 say that would be unfair to
Griffin. who played really remarkable
tennis al the way through the match.
"peck" lured the champion into play
irc the same soft-strokinS game that
bs himself employed, and that, o.
course meant defeat for Johnston. for
the title holder is at his best in a
furious hitting game.
Johnston Abandons Forte
do rot believe that Johnston
-st-o&ed' tire ball dozen times dur
ing the entire FIVE sets. His dreaded
kird n the came. seemed to be COM
pleselv fettered by Gritfin's crafty tao
tics. and the champions usually sharp,
severe volieying from inside the service
court lines lacked its strength and
erispness. And so the national champion
vent down to defeat under unusual
circumstances.
In the lsst Two games Of the match
bota men We're griDnins broadly, John
ston as though realizing that ne was
approaching dangerous, close to defeat
st the hands of his doubles partner and
his closest friend, and G-l!hn as though
amused over the idee OF triumphing
over the mar who always has beaten
him.
Griffin Won he eighth game IN ~iove."
his placement OF a passing shot down
thes,de line and two "outs" and a
net by tie champion. accounting for
the reur points Then came the ninth
and dnai game. Johnston. serving. lost
the Hrst three points net out" and
"net of Grithn's beautifully placed
returns.
ithin Point of Defeat
One point only stood between the
cnamp.on and defeat as he took his
, acc ae the base line to begin service
for tae fourth point AS Johnston
ra.se- Lis head, preparatory to throw
ing the cal N the air, he looked across
tha ne, at the chubby little Griffin.
Sow V. but widely a grin rippled over
Peel s" perspiring face, and asathough
IN answer. iohnstons usually deter
mined court" expression softened into
similar grin. The great gallery was
cuick 20 see. anda little gale of laughter
came from the stands
But the end was not to be quite
then. Cor Griffin made two outs and
net II three driving rallies from
deep court. and the score stood
deuce Again the smiling foemen
stood to serve and TO receive. This
time. following an exchange OF drives,
Johnston, racing after the ball that
Griffin had sent within two inches Of
the iae and baseline, sent his return
in.o the net
Advantage" striker. and the final
p n I'D the match TO come
Johnston ser- over service of me-
divM eece and back the ball came from
Gr-las racclet. at a sharp angle
across johnston's fore court. The lit
tie champion came racing in from his
base line and took the bali on his back
Rand from very poor bound. But
there was ror enouch force in his re-
turn 10 END the ba. over the net. 1t
sIruc1 about the center and dropped
~easl + into Jonnston's court again.
Griffin haa Won.
Johnston Of His Game
Sech were The outstanding features
OF .his most surprising match. the
winning ol .,hich ave Griffin his first
-eg on tne Casino Challenge Cup AS
the winner came of tne court on his
way 70 the locker room all erins and
Precipitation me said to me: BILLY was
blt Of to-day and then he added:
rs funny thing, but there were
thl-ty--vo players in the tournament;
was ranked al No 50 last year. and
NJ thirty TWO years old. | was lucky
today Things we're going right for me,
rvery ti-l l hit the ball on my back
hand shut my eyes and said a prayer"
Johnston was not IN the least down
east oy MS defeat. On the contrary,
ne was frankly pleased that Griffin
should oe me man to vanquish him,
and lie was enthusiastic in praise Of
FecA s timely Judged court tactics.
The sky was overcast when the match
began, With rain apparently imminent
az any moment, but the grandstand
seats we're we'll filed when the players
began warming up" Frederick, the
nono1s Die, Mansfield, OF Boston, hoisted
himself into the umpire's chair, got out
MS score card and pencil and they
were off
Champion On the Run
Almost from the start Johnston
seemed to fall into the Griffin trap of
soft "stroMng' from the back of the
court Peck was keeping the cham
pion continually on the run with beau
uiuiiy placed deep court drives down
either side Of the court, with now and
then tricky little short return down
lae center that had Johnston lunging
after the ball
Griffin had started the service and
each won alternately up to the fourth
game, when Griffin broke through as
the TILE holder netted three times and
SecA' took the fourth point on net
cord shot. Griffin broke through again
N the sixth game, scoring three daz-
~lng Placement aces as he passed his
nval at the net
Johnston then came back with
meeting fash and broke through Grit
ms service, the latter making sew
era errorse under the lash of the
SShamplon's temporary lease of hard
hl,'ng. Johnston took the next game
AZ love" as Griffin lost control, but
taan Peck" won the ninth game and
.ne set, Johnston netting three times
and Griffin taking the final point on
moderate but wonderfully placed
smash
The second set found Johnston still
ptay.ng the soft-hitting game that
Srit'n relished, but he won this time
because his opponent had long