The New York herald., 1921-09-12
TILDEN FAVORITE IN
TENNIS TILT TO-DAY
Record Crowd Expected to See
Champion and Shimidzu
Play at Philadelphia.
ny SAMUEL y. BRooKMAN.

sseciGi Despatch to THE Nrw Yorx HraAIp.
PHLApEIPHIA. Sept. 1.-The most
interesting stage Of the national tennis
championship has been reached, despite
the fact that only two rounds arc out
Of the way. On the turf courts OF the
Germantown Cricket Club tomorrow
two matches will be decided that should
go long way toward determining the
chances OF William It. Tilden retaining
his title and of William NJ. Johnston
recovering II. Tilden meets Zenzo
Shirnidzu. tennis wonder. who has ex-
tended him as have few others In the
last two seasons OF international play.
and Johnston plays Vincent Richards
whose triumph over Tilden at Provi-
dence five or six weeks ago Is still fresh
In the minds Of tennis fans.
Either match is attraction enough In
itssf TO draw a record gallery; with
both carded for one afternoon, the
capacity OF the Germantown stands
seems certain to be taxed and the 8.
X. .. sign may have to be hung cut
on the historic grounds. How many
Followers OF the sport would have pre-
dicted ten or twelve years ago that a
stand accommodating 1000 persons
would not be sufficiently large to meet
the demands of the games patrons?
AtSfS 70 duuAllOildl iIt6ISSI III tne Iac
that whoever comes through in these
two feature matches Will meet the fol-
lowing day la the fourth round Of the
tournament. Presumably they will be
Iilden and Johnston, but you never can
tell. Tiden Ia favored In his match, and
rightly SO. but it is well to bear 10 mind
that only week ago his opponent.
Shimidzu. was twice within O point Of
defeating him In straight sets In the
Davis Cup challenge round.
TfIden Now mt HIS Best.
1t Is the confident belief of those who
have followed the CHAMPIONS efforts
since that day that he is playing better
tennis than he showed in the inter-
national match, and that If he continues
to show az we'll he ought to beat the
Japanese star with plenty to spare. The
fact remains, however, that he will have
TO be at his best when he faces the
Nippinese, whose game day In and day
out Is gem of consistency.
johnston has not been at his best
thsu far in the tournament. 1t has
taken him five or six days to get over
touch Of ptonlaine poisoning and now
he has a slight attack of tonsillitis, but
he has been nursing his strength we'll
In the early rounds and expects to be
near the top Of his game when he meets
asseiFtac tO-nOfIOW. lHOSe VINO saw
him overwhelm the Yonkers youth IN
the eemi-final of the Seabright event
cannot see how the latter has a chance
to beat him; on the other hand, those
who saw Richards fash miraculous ten
mis- In the final of the national doubles.
In which he and Tilden triumphed over
the Davis cup doubles team of Watson
NJ. Washburn and r. Norris Williams,
are certain that the Californian is fac
ing as big test as against Tilden.
Another day win tell. Johnston and
Tilden are strong favorites. but the un-
certainty OF the outcome In each match
and the certainty Of thrills and tennis
pyrotechnics aplenty are the magnets
that viii draw the crowd.
There are other matches tomorrow
that will furnish the spectacular. but
which are eclipsed by the brilliant
promise OF the Tilden and the Johnston
contests. r. Norris Williams I'd meets
S. Howard Voshcll. who Is strong
enough to make 1t interesting for the
best Of them; James O. Anderson and
John b. Hawkes. OF the Austraiasian
Davis cup team, as luck would have II,
have to settle the question of an ad-
vance into the fourth round between
them.