New-York tribune., 1920-12-31
By Fred Hawthorne

The fact that Tiden scored over the
veteran Brookes. al 10-e, 6-4, IL,
6-4. for a total Of % games to %,
while Johnston fairly crushed the stall
wart Patterson a. IS, 81, b-l, IN
dicates, think. that Johnston is play
ing in his top form, which means
superlativelv fine tennis. Nothing less
.han that could account for the over
whelming score. tae most oae-slded
ever recorded in the challenge round
OF Davis Cup match.
As for Tlden's match with Brookes,
it seems as though the great Victorian
must nave played wonderfully good and
courageous tennis against younger,
faster man. The cable reports, meager
as to detail, indicate that 1llden's
tremendous first service ball actually
turned the tide for MIN against all OF
the Australasian's skill and court craft.
This is not difficult 20 believe when We
recall the terrific aggressive attack that
the worlds champion brought to bear
with his service in the final round OF
the national singles tourney at Forest
Hills when he won the national title
rom Johnston.
Tilden's Service Unequalled
have been watching championship
tennis for a number OF years tennis
In which all the greatest players IN the
world have competed-and never have
| seen q service that eoualled Tllden 5
for sheer speed and pace, combined
with most battling break 20 right or
to left. as the Pniladelphian desires.
NcLoughlin Murray Dick Hartee,
Roland Roberts and willis DAVIS, all
have impressed ne at various tines
with the speed Of their deliveries, ou'
none Of these has approached the
deadliness OF TNden's bullet service.
Many Of the balls that the worlds
CHAMPION crashed over the net IN
his struggle with Johnston we're abso-
utelv unreturnable; hence it Is not
difficult 20 believe that Tilden battered
down Brookcs's last line Of defense
through the power Of his service. The
wonder 70 ne "a that the Australaslan
was able 10 play our champion such
bitterly close match
Brookes's yolleying skill is probably
the greatest Of any player in the world, ,
even to-day. when he is vel over the
for.y-year mark. He IS essentially
finger" volleyeE-that is, he grasps
.he racquet loosely in his fingers,
twiriing the handle about as ne waits
his opponents return. In this way he
IS always prepared TO turn the ball IN
any direction al an instant's notice, de-
pending upon his rivals position IN
court
Tilden himself told me last summer
tha. ne regards Broohes as the best
volleyer in the world, and the cable re
por,s yesterday stated that Tilden was
obviously puzzled by the Australians
splendid vo.ieying. The pace Of the
match vas very severe BroOkes ap-
parent? trylng % w.n before his
strsngta began 70 wane, and that ne
came extremely close 20 taking the first
sst Is SHOWN By the score.
Brookes Is Forced Back
Afer trailing in the latter stages Of
this st Iildeu raised the speed and
seYer;ty of his own game, and gradu-
ally forced his opponent into the back
u ne court through the terrific force
o. the foreaand drives that he ripped
over the net and down the s!dehnes.
brookeg yainiy tried % uncover a
weakness On Tilden's oacknand, but the
wos.d 3 champion amazed the gallery
o. fYVO persons by whipping his re
,<Ias across court wish almost as much
speee AZ tnJrYn taking the pail or his
<'fenand. Inc games reached deuce
your tines before Tilden wag able 10
Dfea< through and win the seventeenth
@hG eighteenth games, for the get.
IneIs waS 10 letting down in the
pace during the second set, Brookos
=
Gems terrific onslaught II drive and
.mzsa and service. Many times the
american was caught &eYc raj feet short
oi tne vo.ieysnY position inside the
ssfYice court !.ne4 as the Australian
cropped hls retgrns short oyer the net.
0at once more Tildcn called upon his
fezfr7s strengto and non the pin,h and
'sntn gafnss for the ret a. "a.
me son bsat dom p!tilessly on the
eenrt, whien was heavy from previous
fa'ns, and brookes must nave been Sc
'sfs1y taxed by the condition., yet he
sNgsd uonderfpi rally. Tor, after
cropping the opening game of the third
ss' ne ran N the nett siz games in
.rw for tne sct n, /.
n evident that Tildsn. with two-
~, isad and youth in his favor. de-
ssssa ~ rent ~ during tne playing u
shs tnifd session, confident Of nis aDii-
w - come Ds<l and win the fourth
~ ana believing that Brookes would
"sx'h u weaken. This IL Just what