The New York herald., 1921-08-06
JOHNSTON BOWS IN
DEFEAT AT NEWPORT
Last Years Tennis Champion
Surprised by Watson M.
Washburn.
BOTH PLAYERS OFF FORM
Winner Outsteadies Califor-
nian in Five Set Match
Meets Williams in Final.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HHnALp'
NEWPORT, r. T., Aug. SIN match
that was surprisingly colorless and that
only In flashes showed the men at their
best William NJ. Johnston. last years
national champion and internationalist,
went down to defeat in the semi-final
of the invitation tournament on the
Casino courts to-day at the hands OF
Watson M. Washburn Of New York. 1t
was a startling upset. Johnston had
been figured an almost certain finaiist,
despite the ease with which Washburn
had toppled over high ranking opponents
in the earlier rounds. but with his con-
troll and service erratic the Californian
had to yield O long five set match by
a score Of 4--6, Ga. 6-2. 1-8, g.
Only In one set, the fourth. did Johns
ton play anything like the game he Is
capable of. True, Washburn's puZzling
change of pace and his superior steadi-
ness had considerable to do with throw
ing the former champion off his game,
but the speed and the generalship that
always have been associated with
Johnston's tennis were conspicuously
absent.
1t was all in all bad day for the
West for in the doubles semi-finals
Johnston. playing with Willis Z. Davis.
again tasted defeat in five set tussle.
This time. however. 1t was no fault Of
Johnston's. The little Californian ap-
peared to have reused himself after his
mediocre showing in singles and was
playing brilliantly, more 80 perhaps
than the other three men on the court,
but his efforts were unavailing. On the
other side OF the net Watson M. WASH
burn and r. Norris Williams I'd were
showing greater smoothness as a team
and getting better with each game.
They were concentrating their fire on
Davis, who faltered under the attack
and erred too often for comfort.
Match Goes Five Set Limit.
washburn and williams attacked with
greater success in the forward court
and resisted most of the attempts OF
their opponents to drive them back with
lobs. But the persistence Of Johnston
and his dependability at critical stages
forced the match to the limit Of five
sets, the score ending SIS. 6--3, 3-6,
Ga. 6-3.
The Pacific coast however. was not
entirely eliminated from the tournament,
for in the other doubles semi-final Rob-
ert and Howard Kinsey of San Fran
cisco completely outplayed Wallace f.
johnson of Philadelphia and Nathaniel
W. Niles OF Boston, as the score OF 6-3.
6-3, Go indicates. The Californians
individually and as team were by far
the steadier and the speedier. covered
court In remarkable style and forced the
attack from start to finish. There is
every promise of brilliant doubles duel
when they meet Williams and Wash
burn In the cup round tomorrow. and
on the form shown thus far in the tour
nament 1t Is no easy task to pick the
winning combination.
AS proof of how considerably off form
both Johnston and Washburn were in
their singles match 1t need but be men
toned that the errors exceeded the
earned points nearly seven to one. John
ston double faulted half O dozen times,
more than in all his other matches in
the tournament combined, and was the
more erratic on his ground strokes.
Playing almost entirely from the base
line in the opening set. the men netted
the ball frequently, Washburn being the
chief offender at that stage. Johnston
held small lead from the start Of the
set and won 1t finally at Cd.
Wnshburn Gets the Range.
The second set found Washburn get
ting better range OF the net and playing
the lines with far greater accuracy. He
vas also following his forcing shots to
the forward court. Johnston passed
him now and then. but as a rule his
we'll meant strokes hit the top OF the net.
lnuS Oukn superior SLeuulneSS WASH
burn took the set at 6--3. The third
set was much like the second. except
that Johnston's errors were a bit more
inexcusable Washburn continued to
show the better control and won at 6-2.
Returning to the court after the usual
rest Johnston appeared to have found
new speed. He took the aggressive, in
1ected more sting into his deep court
forehand drives, and kept travelling at
SO fast a pace that Washburn was forced
TO take the defensive for the time being.
Had he been able to maintain the same
control In the fifth set the match
would have been Johnstons, but al
though he continued to force a swift
pace he bungled too many important
shots. and Washburn. by outsteadying
him again, took three of the last four
games after the score had gone TO all
In the singles final tomorrow Wash
burn Is to meet his doubles partner. r.
Norris Williams I'd. The summary:
Sinses-Semi-finai Round-watson NJ
Washburn defeated William NJ. Johnston
IS, B-3, 6--2, t-8, 6-4. r. Norris WiIiia ms
I'd won from Zenzo Shimidzu by default
Doubles-ySemi-fn nal Round--Robert and
Howard Kinsey defeated Nathaniel w Niles
and Wallace It. Johnson, 6--3, Ga 90.
Watson NJ. Washburn and r, Norris Will.