The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-06-05
HARD COURT TITLE
FALLS TO TILDEN
American Champion Easily
Defeats Belgian in
Final.
STRAIGHT SET VICTORY
Large Gallery at st. Cloud
Gives Philadelphia 0va-
ton After Match.
STRAIGHT SET VICTORY
BIZ III, Assnointod press.

BIZ the associated Press.
ST. CLOUD. France, June 4.-William
Z. Tilden of Philadelphia to-day won
the worlds hard court tennis singles
championship by his defeat of the Bel.
gian player, NJ. Washer. in straight
sots, 6--3. 6-3, 6--3. His real SUI
periority over the Belgian is not indi-
&c ted by tho point score. which would
make it appear that the American
champion had a harder time in dis
POSING of his youthful, left handed OPP
ponent than he really did. Tilden's
50 to Washers 107 does not tell the
story of the match. as Ti'den was the
winner all the way.
Tilden, in adding the hard court
championship to his list of titles. came
through the tournament without at
any time being really extended. The
immense crowd which watched the
play to-day gave the champion an
ovation such as never has been given
a tennis player in France. It cheered
for fully FIVE minutes after Tilden's
beautiful pass down tho side lines. out
of reach of Washer as he plunged
toward the net, won the match for the
champion. The Belgian threw both
hands in the air as a token Of sur
render
Tilden had only seventeen placements
against twenty-eight for Washer, but
this is accounted for by the fact that the
American saved himself whenever possi-
BILE He never went after the ball un-
less he was sure of returning IL.
Washers service, with no aces and
eight double faults, was far weaker
than that of Tilden, who served seven
aces but matched them with seven
} double faults. Tilden made only twenty
; three nets to Washers thirty, and only
, twenty-eight outs to the Belgian's forty
one.
The difference i'm errors was due 20
Tildens splendid placing Of the ball
close to the line and his tantalizing
chops mtermingled with speedy drives.
battling his less experienced opponent.
Difficulty with Service.
Tilden, although he appeared fatigued.
outclassed Washer in the first set Tho
champion had difficulty with his SER
vice, which was once broken through.
and in two other games his play was be-
low his usual standard. He showed i'm
provement however, In the last two
games. taking the eighth from Washer
on the Belgians service and then win
ming on his own service in the final
game with the loss Of only one point.
In the second set Tilden rallied after
being behind. one game 10 three and
outplayed Washer. who was beginning
to tire from his strenuous efforts to
cover the court against Tilden's fine
placing. The champions chop stroke.
which had been offset to some extent by
the Belgian's speed. now became more
effective and Tilden used IL constantly.
During the seventh game rain began to
fall
Washer Is a left handed player and
Tldcn remarked after the second set
that he always disliked TO play against
a left handler. as he has to revise his
whole game, preferring to play the best
among the right handlers rather than
even a moderately good left handed man.
Nets Bali Frequently.
Tilden quickly ran into the lead in the
third set, 30, and from that point on
dominated the match. Washer won the
fourth. sixth and eighth games when
Tilden took things easily. The Ameri-
can forced Washer to make most OF
his shots from an awkward position
and often forced the Belgian out OF the
court. SO that Washer netted the ball
and hit out with great frequency.
Just as Tilden was taking the court
against Washer four balloons and one
dirigible passed over the courts al a
low altitude Tflden asked for mo-
ment's delay. as he said the incident
reminded him of the match at Forest
Hills last year. when an airplane passed
over the courts while he was leading
Johnston two sets TO nothing Johnston
finally losing the match. At that time
the pilot of tho airplane suddenly lost
control OF the machine. which plunged
down only short distance from the
courts and killed the pilot and his OBJ
server
Mile Suzanne Lenglen and Mm.
Golding OF France won the woman's
doubles worlds hard court tennis cham
pionship here to-day. defeating Miss
Holman and Mrs. Peacock OF England
in the finals. SO. So
Gerbault OF France and Albarran Of
Armenia defeated Max Decugis and VI
Borotra OF France In the mems doubles.
Ga. TO. 60. Gerbault and Abarran
therefore will meet Andre Colbert and
William II. Laurentz OF France x o.
finals.