The New York herald., 1921-01-01
RICHARDS RETAINS
HIS TENNIS TITLE
Junior Champion Defeats
Jerry Lang in National
Indoor Final.
by SAMUEL j. BRoOKMAN.

For the third year IN succession VIM
cent Richards won the junior nationsl
indoor tennis championship en- the
courts OF the Seventh Regiment Tennis
Club yesterday. defeating Jerry Lang,
the local scholastic titleholceT. In a
match that proved to be by far the
best of the tournament. The titlehc lder
led in straight sets, but was extended
all the way, as the score OF ca. 6-3.
Sc indicates. Lang astonished the gall
lery by his frequent brilliant shots for
placement, and a summary of the con-
test showed that In the matter of earned
points he really led tho champion. The
Importance Of the occasion. however.
was responsible for a considerable
amount of overanxiety that deprived
Lang of good deal OF his customary
steadiness. His errors came often and
at critical stages and Richards took full
advantage of them
In the end IL was Ric.lsrds's superior
control. severer service and more pow
erful strolSing that told in his favor.
From first to last the match was
marked by spectacular rallies, during
which Lang passed his rival time and
again as he rushed to the forward
court. Just as often through nervous
ness Lang drove too low and into the
net. but he showed Clearly that his
knowledge of position play and his
choice of strokes were well above the
Junior standard. Richards kept going
at his best speed. and it was we'll that
he did for Lang had good eye for
the openings and forced the champion
to remain alert.
In the first two sets Richards found
Lang's backhand a rather vulnerable
spot, and he attacked 1t at every op-
portunity. Lang made the return as
a rule. but II lacked steam and Rich
ards. by coming UP to the net. had little
trouble DETECTING 1t. On other occa-
sions Richsrdss returns to Lang's
backhand forced the latter into errors.
The great pace to the titeholder's
strokes forced Lang TO hurry many of
his shots, but IL was surprising how
often Lang made n quick recovery
when apparently out OF position and
drove the ball back for a passing stroke.
! Except In the second set Richards
never had commanding lead. The
score went to 4--3 in his favor in the
first set. after which the champion broke
through service and ended the set in
the next game. In the second set Lang
lost his second and third service games.
giving Richards lead OF 81. At that
point Lang rallied, took a long deuce
game and forced Richards to drop bis
service for the first time in the match.
The squirt brought the score to 5-3. but
Richards wound UP the set In the game
that followed
BY the time the third set began Larg's
nervousness had worn off and he went
at his attack with a show Of confidence.
Despite his aggressive play and better
control, however. he lost four OF the
first six games. In the next ten minutes
Of play Lang struck his best tennis Of
the match and by passing Richards time
and again ran three games in a row.
counting ~ points to Richards's Q ana
taking the lead at 81. Richards had
10 fight hard to recover his advantage
and to prevent the contest from going
into extra sets. but he succeeded after
the set had stretched to the fourteenth
game.
Richards dominated the final match In
the doubles championship. which fol-
lowed the completion of the Singles. He
Was all over the court, poaching re-
peatedly on the territory of =. Slater
McHugh. his teammate. but vindicating
srch tactics by scoring placement after
placement. They triumphcd in straight
sets over Arthur Glore and Ernest Kuhn
Of tho New York Tennis Club. the score
end ng Go. 6---s. Ga.
The point score OF the singles match
follows