New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-18
] eIlllsoIl Going
Fine; Rain Stops
An 3-to-8 Battle
Singles Premiership Will
Be Undecided Until Gil
mate Permits Operations

AEcfs with the ..rSt set all square a
& all. William T. Tilden I'd, the de
leading champion, and Wallace F. John
son, his opponent in the first round
were forced to leave the center cour
Sc the Germantown Cricket Club lat.
To-day by delugc of rain.
There were fully 5000 persons in
the stands at the time and how stole
aIIy and with what Spartan fortituds
they stuck TO their seats, reluctant te
abandon hope of finish, we'll have tt
tell. Until genial" George Warder
for the committee, megaphoned to this
crowd that the match would be post
poned until . o'clock, the fight was on
II it were possible TO continue the
players would resume at the point they
left off, otherwise the match would be
entirely replayed, starting at O'clock
on Monday afternoon 1t was also an
nounced that the ticket stubs Of to-
day would be honored on Monday.
There was a lessening of the rain
soon after this announcement was
made, and many of those who had left
their seats under the barometric pres
sure returned some clad in oiled
Paper rain coats" that small boys were
bedding around the grounds for a
quarter coat
Soon before o'clock, hewever. there
was another downpour and Warder
made the mournful announcement that
that would be about all" for this
afternoon.
They Like Johnson
believe, according to the statistics,
that Tilden and johnson had met a
total Of twenty-four times on the courts
ptevious to this afternoon, with Til
den winning all but two of these en-
gagements.
IT might be thought, therefore, that
the interest in this twenty-fifth meet
ing would be negligible, even in Phila-
deIphia, the home of both fnalists.
Had you witnessed the manner in
which that crowd braved the rain and
almost flied the two big end stands,
however. and then waited for an hour
after the postponement before going
home, your ideas would have under
gone a change. Philadelphia has al
ways impressed me is a great tennis
city, and the attitude of the crowd to-
day confirmed that impression.
There were no very sensational mo-
nents in the course of the unfinished
set between Tilden and Johnson this
than a fair share of splendid tennis
shown, with Johnson not a half step
behind the worlds champion in this
respect
The challenger, of course, played the
chop stroke throughout. He has never
used anything else since he first
gripped racquet, and it showed up
remarkably we'll against the harder
lifting and the more versatile game OF
Tifden.
As matter of fact, johnson had a
slight edge over his great rival when
the last point had been decided.
Shows He Can Play
In the sixteenth and last game the
challenger was twice within a point of
taking the set, at 81, leading at
opponent, an tout" and a sparkling
block volley placement and a sizzling
service by himself.
The rain, that had been sprinkling
gently up to this point, started to get
oDstreperous and persons in the stands
began to raise umbrellas and put on
rain coats.
Tjlden, as he waited to receive serv-
ice, and one point from defeat in this
set, raised his hand as though to still
the mild comm otion in the seats. AL
that all remain quiet until the game
was finished, and this had some effect
johnson, who had started to toss the
bafN into the air for service, appeared
more upset by the temporary inter-
ruption than Tilden
Son the next point he chopped the
champions return of service to the side
line of deep court, but Tilden. alert and
little worried perhaps, came racing IN
and took the ball on the full volley and
shot it across forecourt, a wonderfully
sharp angle, scoring a clean placement
ace
In Thick Downpour
Then he brought the score to deuce
when Johnson Melted an easy return
from the center of the court, and took
the game after his opponent had vol
ieyed out to the side for one point and
then just failed to clear the net or
what was intended for short trap
shoot.
The men were playing IN downpour
all through this last game, and after
the last shot both beat retreat to the
official stand for shelter.
in this first set Johnson played "Big
Bili' to standstill UP to the time OF
the postponement When the rain
forced halt the challenger had four
made only one less earned point and
his total of errors was FIVE less than
Tilden's.
These two Philadelphians have met
SO many times and are so thoroughly
acquainted with each others style
that it was not question to-day OF
either being puzzled by his opponents
tactics. The heavy, slippery turf prob
ably favored Johnson bit, since his
ufsru Of tc a eli oh
Tilden himself is master of the
chop stroke when he cares to employ
it.Tand so there was not much to choose
because of weather conditions
Gibney mounted the umpire's chat,
and called play" and Tilden started
the service
They Alternate Again
Johnson sent his first return of serv.
ice out and Tilden drove screameI
OUT for the next point. The champion
made double fault for 1870, bur
drove back of the base line on the
next point. Johnson Melted a return
Tilden another, and then the chal-
lenger senat chopper spinning out OF
court. On the final point Tilden came
in to smash a short lob, killing" with
tremendous power and taking the first
game.
They alternated in winning on service
then up tothe fifth game, when John.
son broke through, aided by his oppo-
nent's errors. The challenger's low
bounding shots on the soft turf were
causing Tilden to over stroke his re-
turns.
The champion evened the score. how
eyer, by breaking through johnson in
tht< sixth ganse, bringing off three
,<r 80 Al .~yS4n l. L