The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-09-03
TENNIS CHAMPION
IS NEAR DEFEAT IN
DAVIS CUP MATCHES
Tilden Rallies Just in Time
in Thrilling Contest at
Forest Hills.
GRUELLING 5-SET TILT
Shimidzu, japanese Chal-
lenger, Amazes With Won
derful Control.
AMERICANS WIN TWICE
Sweltering Gallery of 10000
Sees Johnston Triumph
Easily Over Kumagae.
AMERICANS WIN TWICE

worlds champion within two strokes
OF straight set defeat at Forest Hills
yesterday, saw him rally when rally
was needed and needed badly and saw
him triumph by wearing his opponent
down to a standstill in torrid, thrill
ing five set duel that riveted the at
tention of the gallery from start to
finish. William T. Tilden I'd was the
! champion who was so close to defeat
and Zenzo Shimidzu was the opponent
who made so startling, so remarkable
bid for victory That the American
defenders of the Davis cup won the
/ first two matches OF the challenge
round was only incidental in the light
Of the stirring, nerve tingl.ng tennis
that marked the battle between Tilden
and Shimidzu.
Because 1t was so unexpected, be-
cause it followed a more or less easy
triumph for America in the first con-
test of the day, in which William M.
Johnston defeated Ichiya Kumagae in
straight sets, the serious threat OF
Shimidzu was doubly astonishing in its
effect on the gathering. 1t was hard to
believe that the man who held clear
title to the worlds championship could
be so hard pressed by player he fig
ured to beat without any great effort.
Tilden Rouses Himself.
When finally Tilden, rousing himself
to the heights of his tennis skill and
flashing all the wizardry that made him
champion, drew up to even terms ana
then went on to hard earned victory
the gathering of tennis fans-one OF the
greatest in the history OF the sport in
this country--forgot all about the
steaning heat as it applauded one spec
tacular rally after another. 1t was ar
unusual gallery, for its cheers were
more vociferous and its enthusiasm more
spontaneous than those of the ordinary
tennis gathering, and Its manner OF
cheering more nearly resembled that of
a football throng. Tilden was carried
along to victory on wave of encour-
agement that was sustained to the end
But the fans did not forget Shimidzu
were not the least sparing in their APP
probation of the remarkable game the
Nipponese flashed before the tide began
to turn. and of the plucky though futile
effort he made to prevent defeat.
Tiden made the mistake of UNDER
estimating the strength of his opponent
in the first set, or. to put 1t another way.
OF overestimating his own strength. for
+, he played a bit carelessiy and allowed
himself to be drawn into basellne
duel--a type OF game in which Shimidzu
I'll, ro1~ L ~
that he thought he could afford to take
matters leisurely and then come through
whenever the occasion required and turn
back any threat on the part OF his OPP
ponent. What added to this confidence
was the fact that, playing Shimidzu at
his own basellne game he was able to
win the first three games.
But 10 and behold when Tilden
dropped the next three games and be-
gan to think OF moving out in front
to place the set to his credit he found
to his amazement that he could not ac-
complish the things he had set out to
do. lie was playing sidlfully enough
but his control was not of the best and
he contributed errors that were de-
cidedly costly. He began forcing the net
only to fn1 Shimidzus returns sizzling
past him or sailing over his head for
earned points. Then he opened the
speed throttle wide and tried to batter
down the Nlpponese's defence by sheer
power OF str> ke. but Shimidzu, following
the ball like hawk and getting over
court will: wonderful agility. made the
most amazing gets" from all sorts of
seemingly impossible angles, and not
only returned the ball but turned the
rallies into his own favor. Time and
again Shimidzu sent back Tilden's most
effective shots and his most terrific
service.
Marvellous "Getting."
How the Nipponese managed TO catch
up with the ball was hard TO understand,
but he got there and his unshakable
steadiness, perseverance and ability TO
send the ball through the narrowest
openings carried him into the lead In the
first set. won the second for him and
almost the third. Tilden was not able to
force his net attack whenever he cared
10. The heat was too intense, too ex-
hausting. and he had to fall back to the
baseline game that Shimidzu relished
so well.
The turning point came In the tenth
game or the third set when. with the
gcore 81 In his favor and his own
service coming, Shimidzu needed just
one more game for victory. The very
next rally half convinced the gallery
that the contest was about 10 end In
straight sets. Tildcn, following tho re-
turn OF service to the forward court.
found the ball coming right back at him.
IL landed at his feet as he raced in ana
the champion was unable to get his
racquet on the ball. Then Shimidzu
drove out twice, each time BY inches as
he attempted to shave the sidelines, nut
Tilden netted the next service and II was
30-all. Two points from a startling VIC
tory II looked as though the Japanese
star could not be denied. but Tilden
went into the lead at 1910 and both he
and the crowd appeared to breath coll
,ective sigh OF relief. The champion
drove out In the next rally and the
score was deuce, with Shimidzu again
within two strokes of undergraduates
that never came. for Tilden. reused into
daring. brought off two brilliant untak-
able shots into the corners that gave
Nlxft n1