The New York herald., 1921-08-08
TENNIS SITUATION
GREATLY ALTERED
Defeats of Johnston, Williams
and Richards Scramble
Calculations.
BY SAMUEL !. BRooKMAN.

BY SAMUEL j. BROOK MAN.
One week has made startling differ
ence in the American tennis situation.
Before the stars OF the court moved on
to Newport for the annual invitation
tournament, the committee empowered
to select the Davis cup defence team had
Just about made up their minds that
only five men could be given serious
consideration for the squad. and that
In the order OF merit William 4. Tilden
I'd and William NJ. Johnston could be
rated practically even at the top. with
Vincent Richards in third place. r. Nor
ris Williams I'd, fourth. and Watson NJ.
Washburn.
There was nothing official about this
opinion. but 1t seemed to be a logical
one. Tilden and Johnston. Of course,
had to be considered before any one else
Their triumphs in the international
tournaments Of 1920 were too recent to
fail to carry most weight. Besides, Til
den had defended his British tennis
championship successfully. had won the
worlds hard court title and had over
whelmed Charles S. Garland. Watson
NJ. Washburn and others at Providence
Surely he had accomplished everything
a worlds champion could do. Johnston
had not been so active. but he had won
the Pacific coast championship from q
field that included such top ranking
players as Roland Il. Roberts, Willis e.
Davis and Clarence j. Griffin, and had
come on East to defeat r. Norris Will
Jams decisively in the challenge round
at Longwood. There seemed no ques-
tion but that big" Bill and Little" Bill
again were to shoulder the burden in
the Davis cup tournament.
A Doubtful Point.
One sensational upset had been re-
corded, however, that for a time had
tennis critics in doubt as to Tilden's
ability to repeat last years success. He
had gone down to decisive defeat at
the hands of nineteen-year-old Vincent
Richards in the Rhode Island final. The
upset gave rise to conflicting views.
Some pointed to it as a substantiation
of the reports that Tilden was over
tennised and needed rest badly. Others
gave Richards full credit for remark
able exhibition that lifted him at once
to q place among the tennis great. In
deed, the latter opinion seemed to be the
correct one, for had not Richards by a
triumph over r. Norris Williams I'd
the previous day. proved that his defeat
of Tilden was no mere fash in the pan?
Also, had not Tilden by trouncing Gar
land and Washburn proved that he was
not far from his best?
After the hasty conclusions had been
drawn, the conviction grew that Tilden
merely had had an off day. that Rich
ards had arrived" among the tennis
select. and that the former IL he fol-
lowed the advice OF critics and remained
cut of tournament play for several
weeks, would be as formidable as ever.
AS Washburn up to that time had been
playing more or less erratic tennis, the
order-Tilden. Johnston, Richards, Will
Jams and Washburn-appeared to be
justified by the returns
Then along comes the Newport tourna-
ment and all calculations are scrambled
beautifully Williams. playing as well
as ever in his career. turns the tables on
Richards and wins decisively. and
Washburn. who had been given merely
an outside consideration, asserts himself
with sensational victories over Johnston
and Williams.
Problem for Com mittee.
What is the committee, which has to
announce Its selections by Friday next.
to do now? Apparently Washburn has
taken Johnston's place behind Tilden
and williams has moved up ahead Of
Richards, for the Newport results being
more recent than the Rhode Island
championship results. should weigh more
heavily in the balance. Only the Sea-
bright tournament remains to affect the
ultimate standing. and the situation has
resolved itself into a question whether
Richards is to be included or excluded
in the selection. His work in the early
rounds at Seabright will furnish the an
swer.
Washburn, always slow TO reach his
best form, is going at top speed now and
IL will be hard to deprive him of a place
on the international team. while john
ston is likely to atone satisfactorily for
his erratic play at Newport.
With the defeat of both Mrs. May
Sutton Bundy and Mrs. Marion FINDER
stein Jessup at the hands of Mrs. Frank
lin /. Mallory. the list OF those who are
likely TO trouble Mile. Suzanne Lenglen
in the national championship has dwin-
died to three. They are Mrs. Mallory,
Miss Mary X. Browne and Miss Eleanor
Goss. The Seahright event this week
will toll which of this trio Is to be most
- cha