South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-03
DAVIS TROPHY TO
STAY IN AMERICA
William johnson, National
Tennis Champion, Defeats
Kumage in Play.

FOREST HILLS, n. Y, Sept. q
Possible prospects that the Davis
cup. emblematic of the worlds tennis
championship, might travel to Japan
this fall received a decided setback
on the courts OF the West Side club
here Friday afternoon when Ameri-
can defending players won two
straight matches from their Japa-
nese challengers.
William NJ. Johnston, OF San Fran
cisco, national champion in 1915 and
1919, defeated Ichiya Kumagae at
singles, 6-2. Ga, So. William TIL
den. I'd, OF Philadelphia. present
American titleholder, had a far more
difficult task in subduing Zenso Shi-
midzu by ST.. As, Us. 60. 6-1.
Saturday. Watson NJ. Washburn,
OF New York. and r. Norris Will
bles team, will play the same Japa-
nese players in the third match OF
the challenge round. A victory for
the American pair void mean the
retention of the cup, won in New
Zealand last winter, as three victo-
ries out OF five matches are all that
are required under the rules.
Perfect Tennis.
Johnston's defeat Of Kumagae was
the result of far more perfect and
convincing tennis than that shown
by the present champion against Shi-
midzu. The 1.-the Californian com
pletely dominated the play in the
first match and raced away to vic
tory as II DESTROYS of escaping as
soon as possible from the torrid at
mosphere which hung over the
courts. There was a speed and con-
troll TO all. his strokes particularly
those constantly driven 10 Kuma-
gae's back. hand, which caused the
japanese veteran to Pile up repeated
errors. The form OF attack. coupled
with Johnston's ability TO drive
through an ungettable placement
shot when the occasion required.
kept him IN complete control OF the
play.
Johnston. IN winning with a loss
Of three games in six sets, actually
earned but five more points than his
opponent II was in the % errors
that Kumagae piled up. particularly
at the net, which gave Johnston his
wide winning margin. While the
nets and outs went as errors in the
Japanese stroke analysis. many Of
them might have been termed earned
points for Johnston. They were due
TO the almost impossible returning
attempts OF Kumagae in his efforts
20 block or drive back the smashes
or placement strokes which the Cali
fornian drove down the side lines "a
the japanese players feet. or lobbed
over his head. when Kumagae. in
sheer desperation. attempted TO play
net game. a most unusual situa-
, ton for him.
Lack OF Thrills.
II the very finality OF Johnston's
game prevented a lack of thrills in
! his game against Kumagae, the Til
den-Shimidzu battle more than made
up for this lack OF spectacular play
in the opening contest. The present
American champion opened in a
most impressive fashion against his
japanese opponent. imported from
India especially for the Davis cup
play. TIden opened with an exhi-
bitiou OF his racquet wizardry. which
always appealed 10 the gallery, and
after winning the first three games.
two OF which went TO deuce by speed
and placements, Tilden o-ected TO
bring into play a change Of pace and
chop strokes. This sOftening OF his
game. with most OF the strokes be-
| ing made from deep court. fitted in
| exactly with Shimidzu's idea OF a
tennis campaign. on his own base
line the japanese player was steadi-
ness persOnified. returning almost