Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-17
Philadelphia Over omes
Little Bits" Lead
of Two Sets.
WESTERN WIZARD
WEAKENS All END
California Stars Play Lays at
Last. While Easterner's
Improves.
tBy Associated Press.l

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Sept. 1s.--
For the third time in three years
william 7. Tiiden. H., of this city,
Is the national lawn tennis cham
>pion of the United states In
match which surpassed any similar
tennis contest In the history of the
oldest followers OF the game, he de-
feated William NJ. Johnston, OF San
Fra ncisco, 40. 3-6. 81. Ga. s-t. Su-
perior physical stamina and unbe-
lievahie court-covering ability In the
final sets OF the match eventually
won for Tilden after a battle re-
uuiring one hour and forty minutes
Of actual play. and which set a
gallery Of i4,O0O spectators roofing
like baseball fans.
Words and figures are poor tools
with which to carve for posterity a
record OF the contest staged today by
the two greatest tennis players OF
their time. IL transcribed any SINH
lar battle in the memory of the old
est follower Of the game. At the
close of the one hour and forty min
utes struggle the gallery was in
state az hysteria and exhaustion al
most equal to thai OF the contestants
Roofing for frst one player and then
the other, the spectators toward the
close OF the struggle began to call
shots and dispute linesmens deci-
sions until play was OF necessity
halted several times
battling desperately, yet with the
most perfect court science and rae
| ket control. for permanent possess
sion OF the championship trophy, on
which each held two legs, the two
"Rills" gave an exhibition OF super
| tennis play or astonishing and stupe-
| Tying calibre.
Master wielders Of hickory and gut
! they served, drove. volleyed and
'onhed with speed and precision
| which left the average tournament
player aEhast at their skill Impos-
sihle appearing placements were
turned into scintillating returns
service aces, shot at eyehafflinr
sliced flew hack to far corners OF
the court while the dripping, gaspine
contestants raced about the turf at
| bewildering speed
Hnd slender Lead.
Attn end of what was undoubt-
eai! one or the most grueilins tennis
matches in the history OF the snort.
Tilden led Johnston by just four
sames and sixteen points No het-
ter example Of the almost even ability
"f the TWO need be cited Tilden
won. but his margin of victory lay
not entirely In his racket wizardry.
IL was his greater physical propor
| contributed To his retention OF the
cup.
As IL he figured that the frail
Californian could not go Ave full
sets at the speed with which Little
| Bill" opened the match. Tiiden seemed
4" save little something for the
crucial third set. and 10 this was hts
reasoning. il was correct.
The champion did not lift his game
I" its highest plane until the third
set. nor did he go after every one
OF Johnston's exduisiteiy placed re-
turns until that session. L; was then
d" or die. and he proved that in the
crisis hc was still the greater player
9th physically and mentally Err
r"rs were, perforce. frequent in the
long and exciting rallies In which
each strove &" force an opening for
- winning shot, but toward the end
II was riiden who set the pace and
| executed the most brilliant gets and
placements.