New-York tribune., 1922-08-22

There are few soft spots" to be fc
each day of play will be featured by
No real upsets marked the progress
of the opening day, the nearest APP
proach to such a thing being the
straight-set defeat of Phil Ncer and
James, Of California, intercollegiate
champions, by John Hennessy and
Walter Wesbrook, Western doubles
champions, by a score of 6-3, 6-3,
S--6, in the second round, both teams
having drawn byes in the opening
brackets. The winners are the older,
more experienced players and it was
this that aided substantially in their
victory.
One of the strongest teams was put
out of the running at the start, but
the result was fully expected, for it
was William T. Tilden I'd and Vim
cent Richards, holders OF the national
title, who defeated Zenzo Shimizu and
Francis 7. Hunter, and by the de-
cisive score of 63, 6--1, Ga, the
whole match net requiring more than
forty-fye minutes.
In contrast to this was the keen
struggle that S. Howard Voshell and
Samuel Hardy had against r. C. Vert,
helm, of Australia, and Jose Alfonso,
of Spain, in the second round The
men were on the courts almost two
hours, and in the end Voshell and
Hardy had won by score of 6-3, 6-3,
3-6, 4-6, 6-1, the foreign combination
putting up surprisingly stiff battle
against the smooth teamwork of the
veteran and crafty team that opposed
them.
The strength is about evenly divided
IN the tournament, Tilden and
Richards, the kinsey brothers, William
Voshell and Hardy, and Willis Davis
and Harry G. Johnson being located
in the upper half, while in the lower
we find, R. Norris Williams I'd and
Watson M. Washburn, of last years
Davis Cup team; Manuel Alfonso and
Count de Gomar, the Spanish Davis
Cup pair; N. w. Niles, of Boston, and
Jean Borotra, of France; Gerald Pat
terson and P. O'Hara Wood, the Aus
tralasian team, and Hennessey and
Wesbrook
Edwin Sheafe. president of the Long
wood Cricket Club and chairman of
the tournament committee, had the
stage beautifully set for the opening
day of play, and when the last match
had been, completed the field had been
cut down to twenty three serving pairs.
Eight Other Tournaments On
In connection with the tournament
at Chestnut Hill, the Longwood Club.
on its old grounds at Longwood, is
conducting the national Junior and
boys championships III both singles
and doubles. AS though these five
events were not sufficient to tax Mr..
Sheafe's ingenuity and last ounce of
reserve pep there will be four other
doubles championship and the national
father and son doubles title event and
the women's Longwood invitation sim
giles and doubles. All the latter events
begin tomorrow on the Chestnut Hill
courts.
When you consider that here are
nine different tournaments to be run
off within the space of five days, under
one management, an idea of the mag
nitude Of the task staring Mr.. Sheafe
and his lieutenants in the face may be
gained. The thought of rain interfer-
ing with this schedule Is nightmare,
and it is probable that the chairman
Will spend the major portion of his
nights on his knees, offering up prayers
for clear weather
The courts at Chestnut Hill are firm
and lightning fast at present, and
some Of the bare, soft spots that
marked them in previous years have
been eradicated. George Wightman. 81
member Of the committee, who has been
accustomed heretofore to conducting
sightseeing parties to view his favor
ite .mud-spot on one of the inclosed
courts, Is sad because he no longer has
that diversion. The mud-spot is no
more.
Chief interest this afternoon CEN
tered in the first appearance of Tilden
and Richards, not only because they
h are playing through in defense Of their
8 national title, but also because they
%are generally favored as the pair who
= VIII face the Australasians in the Davis
Cup challenge round matches at Forest
Hills next month.
Several members Of the Davis CUP
committee were on hand when the
champions met Shimizu and Hunter
and IL they were impressed to the
same degree that l was by the show
ing of the team then, they must have
regarded them most favorably as the
logical team to represent this country
Shinizu and Hunter have won some
notable matches this season, and
against all but the first two or three
teams in the land they would have
about an even chance. The scores in
the match this afternoon, however, was
fairly accurate gauge of the margin
that separated the losers from the
champions.
Cup Team Shows Speed
Tilden, refreshed by his lay-off of
the last few weeks, was alive with
energy and animal spirits and some of
his shots were sensational and amaz-
ing. He was covering court like q
streak of light, driving with furious
speed off both forehand and backhand,
handling his overhead splendidly, and
his volley1ng was actually dazzling.
Young Richards, partnered by so
brilliant player. would have looked
outclassed had he fallen to any con-
siderable degree below Tilden's stand
ard, but on the contrary, he WED with
the national singles king at every
stage, his low volleying being particu-
larly noteworthy, while overhead he
was killing" with a finality that ap-
preached viciousness. Against this
kind of opposition, Shimizu and Hun
ter could not make much headway.
work as they would They were out
speeded and outguessed in the fast ex-
changes and it was Hunter who more
often made the errors at critical
stages.
Johnston and johnson. having drawn
bye to-day, did not get into action.
but the kinseys, champions of the Pa
eific Coast ard conquerors of Williams
and Washburn ut Newport last Satur-
Gay, looked extremely capable against