Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-24
LITTLE CAUSE FOR
T|LDEN TO WORRY
w. M. Johnston Looms as Only
Rival for National Ten
mis- Crown
NO SUCCESSOR IS IN VIEW

I'm THE basis OF MS playing III Tue
OLongwood bowl singles tournament
last week at Chestnut Hill and
Boston and in the Rhode Island
week at Asawam, William +. TIL
den. I'd. OF this city. has little cause
to worry about his title as American
singles king. which he will defend next
September in the nationals at the Ger
mantown Cricket Club.
On successive Saturdays he defeated
Vincent Richards. Of Ionkers, and X.
Norris Williams, I'd, of Boston, with
out the loss Of a set. and they are
two Of the three American players who
are rated as contenders for the cham
pionship. His only other rival Is Will
liam NJ. Johnston. Of San + francisco.
who has had little success in recent
years against the Philadelphian.
The game Of lawn tennis seems to be
moving in cycles. At present Tilden
is the possessor OF the soundest, the
most formidable and the widest variety
Of strokes ever known to the courts.
4 decade ago Mclaughlin and vii.
liams were the forerunncrs of a type
Of game that revolutionized lawn tennis.
Before their terrific speed at the net
the conservative baseline tactics Of
Larned. Bcals Wright. johnson and
Clothier eventually succumbed.
Sound Baselinc Player
Lindley Murray. George Church and
Johnston initiated Mclaughlin and
Williams and the spectacular net game
had it's cycle of prosperity, but with
the coming Of Tilden. this style Of
lashing, brilliant. point winning tennis
has come upon evil times and once
again galleries see the spectacle OF
sound baselinc- player. who also Is the
possessor Of formidable net game when
net player.
The leading American volleyers are
Johnston, Richards and Williams.
Johnston developed the greatest fore
hand drive that lawn tennis has pro-
duced, so that he could foil low 1t to
the net to punch away his keen vol
| leys for earned points. Williams al
ways was sound off the ground and
his driving forced openings, so that he
could establish himself at the barrier
and once there he was invul lnerable.
Tildcn has progressed beyond the
others. He has produced speed in
| abundance and a change of pace that
makes his speed still more battling.
Re. enforced with steadlness he does not
fear an adversary at the net, because.
with his binding speed. accurate
timing and remarkable control, he can
pass any opponent at the net. provided.
Of course. he has not previously been
pulled completely out Of position.
Folks frequently have wondered how
long T!ldcn will remain ut the crest.
His style Of playing from the baseline,
with few advances to the net. IL not
nearly so Furnishing as the continua,
aggressive type that burned out Nc.
Loughlin and Church. and while he
retains his excellent physical condition
and keen eye he should keep up there
Mt the top. There always Is the like
lhood of some youth rising out of the
ranks anil becoming champion, but there
Is no such prospect in view.
Tilden to Rest
T4lden probably will not play IN sim
giles competition again until he appears
longe round He has little to tear ir
these two matches. in which he vii
meet Gerald Patterson and James O
Anderson. unless France springs SEN
sational overturn next month aga!ns
Australia. Anderson defeated Tilder
at the fag end of the 1921 season, but
the champion was not keyed up prop
erly. Patterson has been humb!ed a
lenst three times by Tilden and ever
with his supposedly greatly improve,
backhand hardly can hope to cope with
our champion.
At the Crescent A. G. IN Brooklyn
next Saturday and Sunday the Nation
prominent doubles teams will meet II
| n aeries OF tests to determine the Sc
lection for the Davis Cup team. Th
connecting teams will be Tilden ant
Richards. Williams and Washburn ant
the Kinsey brothers. Tilden and John
ston have the call for the singles an'
the national doubles team. Tilden ant
Richards will play doubles II the test
are carried out. IN that case, WI
liams will be selected as alternate II
singles.
Tildens triumph over Williams ol
Saturday, the elimination OF a lon
list Of successes against the Longwoo'
star. does not necessarily indicate tha
Williams is hopeessly out Of the run
ming. He WAS three times within
point Of taking that third set and Il
another match he might carry his grca
rival to five sets. but the match secme
to furnish definite proof of one thing
that IS. TINT Tilden's best is superior t
VILLAINS best. Notwithstanding 1t gen
orally has been understand that. In hi
day. Williams would beat any man.