The New York herald., 1922-07-13
Richards and Tilden Among
Those Who Advance for
Rhode Island Title.
BY SAMUEL ). BRooKMAN.

BY SAMUEL J. BROoKMAN.
PROVIDENCE. r. l.. July -l2.-The pre-
liminary stage of the Rhode Island
grass court tennis championship Is
over. From now on 1t will be one
top ranking player against another In
practically every match and thou
sands in this vicinity are preparing to
enjoy the tennis feast. A gallery that
taxed the capacity Of the spacious
stands saw three Philadelphians, two
Bostonians. two New Workers and one
Californian move into the round be-
fore the semi-final on the Agawam
Hunt Club courts to-day.
In the order in which they are
coupled in the draw the eight sur
vivors are William T. Tilaen I'd ana
Philip. Bettens, Craig Biddle and s..
Howard voshell. Vincent Richards and
Lawrence B. Rice and Wallace f..
Johnson and Nathaniel w. Niles. OF
these only Bettens and Biddle do not
hold places in the first ten In ma
tional rank.
It was day that surpassed the first
two days Of the tournament In the
spectacular element. but day in which
no one matc hin particular stood out
prominently above the rest. Richards.
playing through title holder. after his
erratic start yesterday appeared to be
stroking as we'll as ever. He breezed
through his match with James D. Ew-
ing so quickly that many who were
watching Tilden on another grand
stand court were scarcely aware of
their presence. After taking eight
games In a row Richards eased up suf-
ficiently to allow his opponent two
games before concluding the match.
Breakers Ahead for Winnie.
There is a severe test ahead for Rich
ards. Before he can reach the title
round and another match with Tilden
the youthful star must dispose OF the
two players who have beaten him this
year-Wallace r. Johnson. who out
played him in the Church cup intercity
series, and Lawrence B. Rice, who tri-
umphed over him in the Bermuda cham
pionship final
Be 1t known also that Johnson and
Rice played impressive tennis to-day
Rice surprised with 81, 60 victory
over Phil Neer OF California. outplaying
the Pacific coast collegian completely
in a whirlwind match. Neer had speed
aplenty. but Rice outplaced and out
steadied him and had him plunging and
lunging In vain to meet his well di-
rected shots. Rice's service, too, was
booming across with tremendous speed
and Neer had his troubles handling it.
Johnson, who was the national run
ner up last year, stroked with consum-
mate skill against CARL Fischer of Phila-
delphia, who despite' a world Of speed
and an aggressive attack, was unable
to win more than two games in each
set. johnson had his chop stroke work
ing to perfection and 1t broke up Fisch-
er's driving game effectively. He also
had exceptional control and he played
his shots with skill that even the un-
sophisticated in the gallery could not
help but understand and appreciate.
With all that he conserved his energy
and outlasted his younger opponent.
Tilden heats Boy Champion.
voshell eliminated a local player,
George Lambert, at G-1. 6--1, and
should reach the semi-flnal in the same
half with Tilden. The latter made his
first appearance OF the tournament
York, tho former national indoor boys
champion. and played more or less
leisurely in winning at s-3. 6>-2.
Young Wood deserved credit, however
for a commendable display of court gen.
eralship. Some of his recoverles and
passing shots scarcely could have beer
improved upon and he frequently forced
the world champion to bring all his
speed and craft into play. The-youns'
ster was once within a point Of making
the score all in the first set.
The semi were reached in WON
ems singles with Miss Martha Bayart
of Short Hills the only metropolitan sur
| vivor. Tho other three semi-flnaIistl
are Miss Helen Wills. tho Califorris
schoolgirl who has dropped only fiv,
games In three matches thus far, ant
Mrs. Frank Godfrey and Miss Leslie
Bancroft of Boston. Every match shows
the Pacific coast tennis prodigy mere
impressively and moro decisively thar
the previous one.
She will find a capable opponent to
ymorrow in Mrs Godfrey. who. while no
so versatile. has had considerable ex
perience Agawam tennis devotees ex
pect Miss Wills to come through
winner. Miss Bancroft and Miss Bayar,
should furnish hard tussle m tn
other semi-final.
Tilden and Richards meet voshell an,
Hardy to-morrow in a match that shoul,
go a long way toward deciding tn
ownership OF tho sectional title. Tn
summaries:
woMEN's sINGLEs--THIRp ROUND.
Miss Bancroft won from Mrs. J. d. Car
biere by default.
FOURTH ROUND.
Miss Helen Wills defeated Miss poroth
Van Slyck. CO. 6--2.
Mrs. Frank Godfrey defeated Miss Kath
crime Gardner. Ga. ct. 6-2.
Miss Leslie Bancroft defeated Miss Cornei