New-York tribune., 1921-01-01
By Fred Hawthorne

Hardy. through whose unselflsh sports
manship and brilliant playing the
United States stands to-day as the
leading tennis playing nation OF the
world.
And let us remember that to Samuel
Hardy, the team captain, is due large
part of the splendid triumph. 1t was
Hardy's able management Of all the
arrangements and his keen knowledge
of the physical condition Of the play
ers in his charge. that had much to
do with Americas showing in this blue
ribbon event of the lawn tennis world.
Not even the most sanguine Of Us
back home here believed that Iliden
and Johnston, a nlakeshift team, would
be able to conquer Brookes and rat
terson in the doubles, and that they
would accorplsh the feat in four sets,
at 4--6. Ga, 60, Cd, did not seem
within the range of possibility. The
impossible has been achieved, how
ever, and we can only give unstlnted
praise to tie Young men who brought
about the miracle.
While we are without definite details
on the matches that have already been
played it is evident that Johnston
has been the real hero Of the inter
New Zealand courts. His overwhelm-
ing defeat Of Patterson on the first
day of play, when he allowed the
Australaslan only five games in three
sets. and Yesterdays cabled comment
to the effect that the Californian held
a dominating position all the way
through the doubles match, shows that
Little Bill' has been playing at the
top of his game.
More than a year ago. just after
Tilden and Johnston had defeated
p,+- ia1
doubles match at Forest Hills. I pre-
dlcted that these two players from the
East and far West had the making o.
the greatest doubles team that was
ever produced in the United States.
But it appeared as though Tilden and
Johnston could not blend their strong
ly individual games. Tilden has always
been accustomed to doing ma jority Of
The work in his doubles playing. and
Johrston's game does not permit of
lndiscrirnInating poachlng by partner
When the United States team Went
to England to play in the preliminary
Davis Cup matches and at Winbledo..
last summer Tilden and Johnston did
not make 2 showing sufficient to justify
their being paired. and it was Dick
Williams ana Charles S. Garland who
bore off the highest honors.
1t was generally believed that Hardy
would try the combination of Tildcn
and Washburn in the doubles PLAY
against Australasia, but the team cap
tain evidently decided that Tilden and
t.ion. ard his judgment has been amply
justified by the brilliant victory yes
terday in the d>ubles
Brookes, although plainly worn by
his terrific match under burning sun
with Tilden on the first day Of play.
had evidently made up his mind when
he and Patterson took the court YES
terday against the Americans that to
strike first was to strike hard, and he
and patterson made q desperate attempt
70 win the frs set
This tie Austrsiasian pair succeeded
N doing. Brookes beginning the service
and scoring the opening game. Tie
struggle was furiouslv fought. with
each man winning his service until the
games stood at 3-all. Patterson. ap-
parently recovering from his decided
slump OF the first day. took leading
part at this stage Of the match, his
cannonadlng smashes of lobs, short or
deep, being a feature.
With Brookas volleyine with
wizard touch at the net position. he
and Patterson ran into a lead Of 5-3
on games. Tilden and Johnston were
slow to swing into their stride, and
brookes's wonderful ability to place his
drop volleys just over the net caught
Johnston out Of position many times.
BrooAes is reported to have shown
the STRAIN of the previous days play
during the first set. while Patterson
Steadied down and held the fort nobly.
At the start Of the second set, how
ever, conditions were reversed. and it
was Johnston who forged to the front
and dominated the situation. The
slender little Californian evidently
gained control OF his tremendous fore
hand drive, and it was this one shot
more than any other factor, l believe.
that brought about the defeat Of
Brooles and Patterson.
With Patterson's notoriously weak
backhand as the point of attack. John
ston probabl shot the ball back at the
nlg Australasian repeatedly. with the
result that the "Hurricane' of the
antlpodes weakened so greatly that
after the games had reached sail TIL
don and Johnston took the next two.
2nd led al SIS. The Australia SLAMS made
dylnr, rally and won the ninth game.
but then the Americans won The tenth,
for the set at Go, and tie match
was all even.
Brockes had begun to slow up at this
stage and his superb volleying fell
of badly as he Jagged in the back Of
the court. Johnston, on the contrary,
was improving every minute. and he
was deadly in his "killing' of Patter-
sons weak, high bacAhand returns
The third set, which T:lden and
Johnston won at Go, indicates that
Johnston was even more formidable
than before. | can picture the Cali
.ornian now as he came charging in
from the base line, "killing" Patterson's
high. soft returns as he reached
nolnt just within the service court
lines. This is Lohnston's strongest
point Of attack. apart from his fore
hand drive. and under the battering
assault Patterson wilted so badly that
the match took on the appearance of
a runaway affair
Patterson started the service in the
fourth and final set, but Tilden and
Johnston broke through and Johnston
won his own delivery, following in TO
the net and smothering the Australas-
lans' returns. Brookes toed the mark
and won his game, and then Tilden. /
not having full control of his service.
dropped the fourth game, making the
score 2~all. At this critical stare