New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-22

match will mark the first time the
tournament in more than a year, al
best game this afternoon the resul,
looked forward to by all followers
Tilden went to the final bracket to-
day by defeating Lawrence B. Rice, of
Longwood, at 6-3, Ga, 60, while
Williams triumphed over Wallace F.
johnson, of Philadelphia, by score of
Is, rs, 6-3, coming from behind in
all three sets and staging a sensational
finish. During these fights against
great odds; particularly in the first
set, when Johnson held the lead at
81, Williams flashed more brilliantly
even than he had in crushing Francis
T. Hunter in the final round Of the re-
cent Nassau Country Clubs invitation
tournament.
The great question that all of us are
debating tonight is whether Williams
will be able to unleash that same brand
Of super-tennis against Tilden to-mor-
row. Another and more involved cues
ton, assuming that Williams does
game he showed to-day, follows as
natural sequence Of the first, namely:
Struggle of Tennis Giants
"What will happen when an irresist-
fbIe force comes into contact with an
immovable body?"
For, with both men playing at the
height Of their game, the result should
be somewhat along the above order and
the impact is bound to be terrific
Something will have to crack under the
strain. and the indications are that
Williams is the more liable to do this,
for he is ever the player who will per-
sist in trying for his shot, no matter
how great the risk or how crucial the
situation at the moment. If the ball
flies true to the mark then it will re-
quire superman Of tennis, indeed, to
stay Williams's hand. Tilden is the
more reliable player day in and day
out and more liable to have his shots
under control. However, the fortunes
of battle to go to-morrow-we are going
to see struggle of tennis giants.
The conditions were perfect for ten
mis- to-day, with q clear sky and merely
a breath of wind to temper the heat
for the gallery massed several thou
the championship court. Edwin
Sheafe, president of the club and the
chairman of the tournament commit
tee, staged the matches splendidly,
with veteran Fred Mansfield holding
the post of honor in the umpire's chair
and man on every line.
In the semi-fnal round Of the doubles
the youngsters Phil Bettens, of Cali
fornia, and Carl Fischer, of philadel-
bracket by defeating Irving C. Wright
and Raymond B. Bidwell, the Long
good veterans, by score Of Ga, Ga,
,N-5, thus earning the right to face
Alden and Johnson tomorrow in the
championship round.
Williams won the toss and elected
e. start service against Johnson. He
won the first two points, but then
made q double fault and three "outs,"
knd that was the beginning Of long
tession of erratic stroking on the part
OF the Longwood ace.
johnson promptly dropped his serv-
fee in the second game, Williams fore
sog him into errors as he speeded up
She play, but Johnson retaliated by
breaking through to Glove" in the
third, and then going into what looked
bike an overwhelming lead by winning
The next three games for 81 lead.
The chop stroke master was playing
with beautiful judgment and perfect
control, anticipating Williams's shots
wonderfully we'll and covering his
court magnificently, but a survey Of
my stroke analysis kept during the
match shows that in all those first
six games johnson was credited with
only one placement. All his other
points up TO that time were the result
of Williams's errors, errors, it is true,
forced by Johnson's skill, but still they
were sins of omission on Williams's
part rather than earning shots by
Johnson.
Wiiliams's Dazzling Play
Up. to this point the Philadelphia
had been maintaining uniformly good
depth on his returns, but now he BEGAN
70 play bit short and this gave Will
liams his cue to close in and meet the
ball on the full voley. all looked
remarkably simple after that. In the
next six games, all of which he won,
Williams made total of seventeen
placement aces, and in the first five Of
these games Johnson could win only
= points, two by placement and two by
Williams's errors
1t was an almost unbelievable thing
that man playing as johnson had
0een could be so numerically beaten.
teI such was the case. Williams was
Ieehng on the most dazzling of shots,
service on the full volley as he fol-
iowed IN behind his tremendous serv-
Ice' ana II he were not far enough ad-
vahceo toward the net Williams made
tne most superb half voleys generally
70 win the point on clean placement.
The former champions service was
vital factor in this result, for in
addition to making a total of seven
absolute aces he also forced his oppo-
nent to offer up soft, short returns.
winch were ready prey for williams's
finishing shots.
After taking the first game of the
second set finishing the last two points
with two sizzling service aces. viii
nams gave his friends palpitation of
the heart by losing control for pro
tracted spell. Johnson, playing his
shots deeper into Williams's court, ran
on with the next three games. for a
lead OF 81. There was only one
earned point. and that by johnson. in
sneae three games. The rest, errors,
"-gely Of Williams's making. And
yH the internationalist refused to
bulge an inch from his determine
tion to hew to the line, let the errors
fall where they might He could not
p Williams and be otherwise.
The thought occurred to me at this
moment, and | doubt not it ran through
the minds OF those in the gallery also:
Surely, Williams can't expect to pull
two sets in succession out of the fire"
But that is just what was to happen.
CD Ri,