New-York tribune., 1920-09-07
Worlds Champion Gains
National HOnors by
Winning Match, 6-1,
10, Is, So, 6-33

sat in the umpires chair; Benjamin
NJ. Phillips acted as foot-fau!t judge;
Albert J. Gibney was the "let" UNI
every line. From the start Of the
termittenc showers of rain, and in the
, eleventh game OF the fourth set the
match had to be postponed for fifteen
minutes because of the downpour
The ball-boys who were on duty
during the match are worthy of
separate paragraph of praise. Trained
by George Agutter, the West Side
Tennis Club professional, these boys
were notable addition to the perfect
staging of wonderful match. l do
not know their names, but their re-
markao!y speedy, efficient "shagging"
OF balls did much to make the event
as we'll as spectacular standpoint.
Tilden Scores First Point
Tllden began the service at the
start of the match, scoring the first
point as Johnston sent his return Of
the terrific bullet service out Of
court from his backhand, and TiIden
won the opening game easily, Johnston
getting one point, and that on Tilden's
net.
AND after that it was all Tilden, the
tall Phllad delphian bringing off those
amazing shots and those awe-inspiring
services that were absolutely unbeat-
able. Six times in this first set the
worlds champion scored his points on
service aces that shot into Johnston's
court like rifle bullets. After winning
the nth game with three service aces
and then an out by Johnston. Tilden
: tod hn
sixth at "love" as Johnston volleyed
two perfect overland shots across
court and Tilden made net and out.
lhen the Phl.ade Dhian took the sew
enth game, giving him the set at 6-1,
to the amMement of the cro,vd.
But in the second set little John
ston absolutely reversed the situation.
ne seemed to come into his best game
like flash, and it was perfect tennis
ne played: Tilden, who had been the
picture of smiling confidence during
the first swift passages of the openine
set, had lost his smile now, while John
5ton was the same grim-visaged little
man who had started the defense of his
title. They formed striking contrast
IN personality.
Whitman edged closer to the edge
OF his chair during the last few games
OF the second set. Johnston was ree.-
ing on MS games with wonderfully
severe and accurate overland vol
leys. tie did not make false move on
the court at any time. His volleying
position is perfect said Whitman.
Little Do was not better but Tilden
is such a remarkable volleyer that you
can never tell what he's going to do.
Fortunes of Battle Vary
The match was all square and no man
could foretell the final result, so com
pletely had the fortunes of battle
varied in these two sets. Perhaps Til
den, after losing the first three or four
games of the second set deliberately
let down in his play with the idea of
catching Johnston off his guard. Only
he knows whether that is true or not,
but IL is certain that he tossed away
the last game, go that he would open
the third set with the service.
II was IN this set that the greatest
tennis ot the match was played. in my
cpl7ion. The last two sets developed
more spectacular situations; the gal
Iery was more wrought up; but IN the
third set you saw both men gong at
their very best pace. and a wonderful
iael of strokes it was.
They alternated in winning on serv-
ico up to 3-all. and then Johnston
broke through after Tilden had scored
a service ace for the first point. The
little Californian was coming in from
his base line with perfect position play
and smotherirg his opponents returns
BY superb volleying. 1t was in the fifth
g:.mc of This set that the aeroplane
fatality occurred. within plain sight of
the players. and it upset them both for
few minutes
But 1ilden took the next two games,
each going to deuce twice after bitter
fighting in the rallies The Californian
was Tagging just trfle in his rushes
for the volleying position and had to
take the ball at his feet as Tilden
reelod off dazzling volleying shots from
all over the court
Johnston won the tenth game at
"love.' playing perfect tennis, and
.hen Tilden won the eleventh game
with impressive ease, three ferocious
service aces his weapon of attack
The worlds champion won the set by
breaking through Johnston's service
in the twelfth game, scoring on amaz-
ing volleying shots across court as
Johnston came running in.
Johnston Wins Three in Row
They came out after the ten-minute
rest period, T!ldcn again smiling con-
tident, Johnston still grim and de-
ternlned Tiden won the opening
game and then Johnston, playing like
one inspired. ran off the next three in
a row, breaking through service in the
third. They alternatcd on games in
the next three sessions. and then Til
den won the seventh and eighth by
tremendous attack, and the ninth by
the sheer speed Of his service, giving
him the lead at 5-4.
In the tenth game Tilden was within
two points of taking the match at 30
love. The Californian was getting very
tired under the pace. Johnston is
weakening now. He must be very care
full" said Malcolm Whitman, half to
himself, as he watched the struggle.
And it was too true. little Bill" was
being caught out of position as Tilden
shot returns to his feet, half way be-
tween base and service court lines.
Then came the great moments Of the
match in this and the following game.
Three times did Tilden reach within
single point Of victory in the tenth
game, only to be fought off by the
little tiger Of the courts in furious rail-
lies. The Wimbledon winner appeared
to lose heart then, and lost the game
by dropping two easy returns into the
net. The games were 50-all.
In the eleventh game it began to
rain hard, and those in the stands
started to raise mbrellas and stir un-
easily. Both players were at high
nervous tension as Tilden began the
service. On the first point, as he was
making his return Of Johnston's drive,
seeing Conlin raise his hands as though