The New York herald., 1922-09-17
UPHILL STRUGGLE
won BY BIG BILL
Beaten in First Two Sets, Title
holder Takes Match, 4-6, SO,
6-2, 6-3, GA.
By SAMUEL ). BRooKMAS.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 1s.-High on the
road to victory, William NJ. Johnston's
strength failed him in the fourth set
Of the national tennis championship
final at tho Germantown Cricket Club
to-day. deserted him with a suddenness
that was startling, broke down a de-
fense and weakened an attack that
had held gallery of 10000 spellbound
and turned an impending triumpf-into
defeat. And, as the plucky little Cali
fornian's speed and stamina waned
along came William T. Tilden. the title
holder. physically superior and appar-
emily il not actually as fresh as at the
start. with revitalized energy and with
tremendous squirt that Johnston
tried courageously but in vain. TO
answer. Thus did Tilden move on to
an uphill victory at 4--6, SIS. So,
s--3. 6-4, and retain title he had won
two years ago.
1t was a match dramatic in the ex-
treme, with sensation following on the
heels Of sensation. with a gallery look
ing on astounded as the challenger
took the first set and then the second
thrilled as the title holder made up
some lost ground in the third set and
then tense as Johnston. with one more
set needed to regain a title he had
held on two occasions, ran into a lead
of 80 In the fourth division OF play
Tilden. nervous, worried, seemed as
dumfounded at the decisive way In
which he had been oItplayed, at the
danger that doomed so threatening. as
his thousands of friends in the stands
who watched the heart quickening
drama unfolded on the turf below.
The situation was SO nerve tingling
that one actually trembled with the ex-
citement OF 1t all. Little wonder that
after every rally, brilliant or otherwise.
the gallery applauded and shouted vo-
ciferously. Enthusiasm was so pcnt up
that 1t had to find frequent relief in
tremendous outbursts. and the players
became so accustomed to the demonstra-
ton that it bothered them none at all.
Johnston Looked Like winner.
For two sets Johnston. driving power
fully and with wonderful accuracy, an
ticpating we'll and handling Tilden's
sizzling service with great success. had
looked sensational winner. He had a
champion, and truly great champion,
on the other side OF the net. however,
and his success had to be paid for In
energy. in stamina. He had managed
to hold the upper hand but II had been
hard earned. He had to be on the ball
like hawk. race madly for more than
one ball that Tilden sent through with
drive and accuracy that seemed 10 make
the shot untakable. But Johnston.
knowing that his best chance for VIC
tory lay in winning quickly and going
after every set proved equal to the
task-for two sets.
But winning a third set-that was a
different proposition entirely. Johnston
let down In tho third set, but that vas
perfectly natural under the circum-
stances. particularly after Tilden had
thrown everything he had into the
breach to prevent straight set defeat
and had gone out into lead of 81.
The gallery figured, as Johnston prob
ably figured. that II was too much to
expect a straight set victory with TIL
den holding a commanding lead in the
set and playing furiously when John
ston was beginning to feel the effects
Continued on Page Four.