The New York herald., 1922-06-26
BY SAMUEL J. BRooKMAN.

MdSnlHcent tennis, Dy Iar ire most
spectacular exhibition of the season on
local court, enabled Vincent Rich
ards to retain his metropolitan clay
court championship at the New York
Tennis Club yesterday With more
than 1000 looking on from clubhouse
porches and from every point of van
tage on the sloping terrain south of
the main court area, Richards tri-
umpl.ed over Francis T. Hunter in the
final in match that added to the
losers prestige as much as it strength
ened Richardss position near the top
of American tennis. The contest went
four thrilling sets, GO, ca, 3-6.
Ga.
1t was well for Richards that heswas
able to attain exceptional tennis heights.
in the brilliance of his getting. in the
skill of his passing shots and in the
tenacity of his fight 1t required moth
ing short of super-tennis at times for
Richards to halt the ever dangerous.
powerful stroking Hunter, but the
youthful tennis star was equal to 1t.
The first two sets of Richardss re-
minded tennis critics of the first two
sets of his memorable match with Billy
Johnston in the national championship
last September when he dazzled a gall
lery of 10000 with his amazing gets and
sensational attack. The attack this
time was not quite as forceful. not
quite as swift as in the Johnston
match. He did not storm the net so
often. but his recoveries were just as
thrilling. his skill just as marked and
his volleying and smashing just as de-
cisve.
Backhand Surprises.
What impressed most in the first two
sets in which Richards was going at
his best was the accuracy and the de-
pendablity of his supposedly weak
backhand. Hunter true to expecta-
tions. pounded Vinnie's backhand from
first to last with deep, powerful fore
hand drives, the most forcible sort of
forcing shots. only to have Richards
return them not merely defensively
but extensively. Time and again, al
though apparently out of position,
Richards made an amazing backhand
recovery and sent the ball with good
speed either down the side line or
sharply cross court for an earned point.
Richards had to be ever on his toes,
aggressive. There wes little thought
on either side of returning the ball safe.
Every shot was meant forl a decisive
placement, and under the circumstances
IL was astonishing that the rallies were
so well sustained. The number of short
range volleying duels were unusual and
unusually brilliant.
While Richards was flashing his best
Hunter was thrilling the crowd with
game that was little behind that of his
opponent in brilliance and effectiveness.
Moro than once Hunter had Richards
worried over a trying situation. More
than once he turned Richardss best
strokes into winning points for him
self. Hunter was untiring and If any
progressed. A little unsteadiness at
critical stages cost him whatever chance
he may have had for victory.
Determined Fight.
As an example or the determination
with which Hunter fought at all stages
the tussle for the match point may be
mentioned. Richards ran into a lead
of 1910, but was match point three
times after that before he finally
clinched II. Hunter making some SEN
sation recoveries In the interim.N The
score went, to deuce five times in that
set. too. Richards was five times with.
a point before he could settle the set
in his favor.
After the second set Richards let down
considerably. 1t was natural to expect
him to do so after the whirlwind exhi-
bition he had given. His backhand sud-
denly grew unsteady and vulnerable and
he appeared to have lost considerable
vim. Hunter. by forcing fast pace,
took the third set at Ga after Richards
had led 2--1. When they resumed after
the ten minute rest Richards began by
breaking through service. but Hunter
retaliated in kind. In the third game
double fault on Hunters part enabled
Richards to bring the score to deuce
and then two brilliant passes gave him
the game and the lead at 2--1. He
made II al in his favor in the next
game.
Hunter spurted again at that stage
and brought the score TO Sail. lie was
still very much in the running and as
hard 20 beatsas ever on his own service
in the seventh game Hunter had his mp
portunity The. score went to 40--i5 in
his favor. A smashing "kill" by Richards
brought It to 1910 and then Hunter un-
fortunately came through with double
fault. a most costly double fault. Rich
ards was quick to seize the opportunity
90 take the aggressive and place the
game to his credit.