The Washington herald., 1921-05-07
U. S. TENNIS STARS
PLAYFOR HARDING
: AT WHITE HOUSE
President, Mrs. Harding
And High Officials See
Stars in Action.
nv n. G. SHANn.

William T. Tilden. r. Norris Will
iams, Watson NJ. Washburn and
wallace Johnson. representing the
cream Of Americas lawn tennis
stars, were President Harding's
guests on the White House courts
yesterday afternoon. All that was
needed to make the party complete
was the presence of William John
ston. Tilden's partner In the Davis
Cup matches, but the little Califor-
nian was unable to make the trip.
Gathered around President and
Mrs. Harding were representatives
from nearly every branch of official
Washington, and the gold braid of
foreign uniforms lent a touch Of
color to what was otherwise a
rather drab picture. Only at inter-
walls did the sun put in an appear
ance, and for the most part the
matches were played under leaden
skies which held a continued threat
Of rain. Play was made possible
only by burning gasoline on the
courts and by a liberal sprinking
Of sand on the surface.
williams and Tilden took the
courts shortly after 3 o'clock. the
games alternated with service until
the count was 7-S in Tilden's
favor. In the fourteenth game. with
William leading 4o-15. the national
champion broke through and cap
tured four straight points for the
game and set.
Tilden showed himself the more
versatile player, mixing up his
strokes and changing pace with be-
wiIdering rapidity, but the ease with
which williams returned shot after
shot, apparently unplayable. brought
him rounds of applause Occasion
ally Williams would rush to the net
to finish of a rally, but for the most
part, both players relied on a back
court game. williams, in particular,
suffered from the treacherous con-
dition of the court. and dropped sew
eral points by losing his footing on
the muddy surface. The point score:
Tilden-
4143S S4424 4455 SIS
Williams
14l5 60415 IS SIS
The doubles matches between
Williams and Washburn and Tilden
and Johnson were pie for the Har-
ward pair. Displaying superior
teamwork and centering their at
tack on Johnson, they romped to a
victory in two sets, during which
the Philadelphians captured but
four games. The scores were 81.
e3. The contests were featured by
any number of fierce rallies. with
all four players lined up but a few
feet from the net. Inevitably the
winning pair would outgeneral their
opponents and break through with
a scoring shot.
Partners were then switched,
Williams pairing of with Tilden and
Washburn playing with johnson.
This contest was productive OF the
best tennis of the day. At the start
Washburn and Johnson played the
more famous pair on their fest,
Johnson's chop strokes being par
ticularly effective on the soft court.
But Williams and Tilden were hot
to be denied, and, speeding up their
game, finally registered an SIS VIC
tory, after several nerve jsrring
rallies in which each player made
almost superhuman recoveries.
Earlier in the day the four play
ers. together with ]. S. Myrick.
president of the National Lawn Ten
mis- Association; Samuel Hardy, cap
tain of the American team: Dwight
F. Davis. donor of the famous Da-
Wis Cup, and A. Y. Leech, jr., vice.
president of the Columbia Country
Club. called at the White House
and were introduced to President
Harding.
Later they visited the War De-
partment and there met Gen. Per-
shing and Gen. March. Last night
they dined at the Army and Navy
Club.
Today they will be guests at
luncheon at the Columbia Country
Club, together with Gen. March. Gen.
Pershing and Sir Auckland Geddes,
British Ambassador, after which
yesterdays contests will be- re-
sumed.