The New York herald., 1921-09-25
TENNIS GAINING BY
LEAPS AND BOUNDS
Greatest Season in Histoi
About to Close-Dayis Cup
Seems Secure.
ny SAMUEL J. BRooKMAN.

\ brings to ones attention so many inter
esting facts upon which to base conclu-
sions or prophecies that It is difficult to
\ know which to mention first. One might
begin by dwelling on the established
| supremacy Of America In the interna-
tional field Of competition, or on the re-
markable growth OF the sport as evil
denced by the fact that nearly 150. 900
I attended four chamionship tournaments
| in the closing weeks of the season. Or
one might introduce the subject with a
review of the startling upsets that
| crowded into the title matches OF the
passing Of one or more veteran title con-
tenders and Of the sensational rise of
several comparative newcomers. Each is
a topic in itself that will be taken UP in
/ detail in later articles.
/ That the sport Is gaining popular
favor by leaps and bounds is Ger.
| tainty Fifteen years ago international
matches were viewed by few hundre
spectators seated on club house veran-
das or on collapsible chairs that thiniy
| bordered the court area. Now huge
! stands-almost stadiums In size--ara
| constructed to accommodate the en-
| thusiasts. It was with some misgivinss
that the national association last spring
consented to an expenditure for the con-
struction OF the unprecedented number
of $4,000 seats for this years Davis
cup challenge round. Now the tennis
powers that be are figuring on $4,000 10
| 10000 seats for next season.
| In three days at Forest Hills the
Davis cup attendance touched $4,000
| in a week, at Longwood 10000, in eight
days at Philadelphia $4,000, while tho
women's national championship, of COM
paratively little interest in the pasc.
| drew at least 900.
Undoubtedly the international element
In tennis has had a great deal to do with
| its rapidly growing popularity. With
twelve nations challenging for tennis
| trophy held by the United States, and
with six OF the foreign teams playing
their preliminaries in this country. In
| terest was bound to be unprecedented.
And there Is every reason for believing
that the attention the game attracted
| this year win be sustained if not sur
passed In 1922 and thereafter. The
| sport has Just as strong hold In a
dozen foreign countries as It has here,
nations will continue to challenge for the
international cup and the coming of the
| challengers will have its usual appeal.
Besides. the sport purely on It's merits
rs a healthful outdoor pastime Is gain
| Ing devotees at startling rate Schools,
colleges, municipal and industrial or
ganizations and clubs are rapidly recog
nizing 1t as one of the major sports of
the country. and tennis courts are get
ting 70 be as plentiful as baseball fields.
Apparently, the international trophy
IS safe for America for several seasons.
| II It can count on two or three OF Its
veteran stars, William T. Ttfden. Will
lam M. Johnston, r. Norris Williams,
Watson NJ Washburn and Wallace +.
Johnson. and such youthful tennis mar
vels as Vincent Richards. Yet America
cannot afford to rest long on its iaurels.
| Australia sent squad Of so-called
| second string players here this season
who impressed critics with their possi-
bilities One OF them, J. Q. Anderson.
advanced to the semi-final round OF our
national championship. defeating r. Nor
ris williams among others, and he has
not reached the pinnacle OF his game yet.
John b. Hawkes. Is another Australian
who will bear watching. and all In all
the impression here is that the Antipo-
deans win be the most formidable of
the international challengers within
year or two. Japan. England and
France may be counted on sparing no
effort to develop tennis teams OF inter-
national calibre.
Wlliam T, Tilden continues to reign
supreme in tennisdom and IL he cares
to can wear the crown for several sea-
sons to come William NJ. Johnston is
stlu his most dangerous rival for the
title but little BILL" who made great
bid for the title this year despite an un-
timely illness, Is talking seriously Of re-
tiring. r. Norris Williams Is not
through despite his defeat at the hands
of James O. Anderson, the Australian.
The former national champion was
scarcely at his best the day he played
Anderson, while the latter reached the
TOP OF his game. but Williamss tennis.
superbrilliant at times. has been too err
ratio to keep him at the top.
From now on the contenders for Til
denis title may be expected to come from
the ranks OF the youthful stars with
Vincent Richards far in the van The
eightoen year old youngsters remark
able exhibition against William M. John
ston--the high light of the national
championship--his phenomenal play In
the national doubles final and his previ-
ous victory over Tilden at Providence,
have stamped him as the logical sue
cessor to the tennis throne He has his
best years before him.
So. too, IN womans tennis are there
| budding stars who bid fair to reach the
top III a comparatively short time. Most
y
| Wills. OF California, who, despite her
| comparative lack of tournament expert
! ence, defeated some of the first ten In
national rank this year, took a set from
| Miss Eleanor Goss and extended Mrs
! Marion Xinderstein to the limit on two
occasions TIE school girls strokes and
tennis temperament are Of championship
| quality, and experience should bring her
! to the top.
So long, however. as Mrs. Molla
\ Bjurstedt Mallory can maintain the
\ rpeed ana accuracy OF her game and
the exceptional skill of her deep court
/ driving attack and defence. the national
Y champion win be hard TO dethrone. Ten
y nls critics thought two years ago that
4 She was through as a title contender,
Vet she played the best tennis Of her
aarecr this season. Her exhibition
gainst Mlle Lenglon OF France IN the
Il title tournament at Forest Hills rarely
Il n ever has been oaualed by woman
\ player for It's power, control speed and
\ fighting aggressiveness.
Y Philadelphia may DO Justly proud OF
Y TIE successful way IN which Il managed
\ md Tie gplendid support which its citi-
Il zens ravc the national championship
Y tournament which wound Up last Mon
4 day. Every detail for the comfort of
\ the spectators and the players was taken
\ care of perfectly by n committee That
/ showed capacity for work and for in
4 gonious organization. The largest
crowds ia the history of the national
\ championship attended the matches az
j Al al.