New-York tribune., 1922-04-08

My good friend, Paul w Gibbons, (
who has long been prominent in Phila-
delphia, both as player, referee and
manager of important tournaments,
was in charge of the Middle States
event and watched the work of Rich
| ards and Tilden closely. What he says,
| therefore, is of unusual interest in
the defeat Of Tilden by Richards in
the final round of the tourney.
In letter received yesterday, Glib
bons writes: Orchards should be given
great credit, for he played four matches
that day, one more than Tilden. He
defeated Jones at 1 p. M, having to
hustle all the way, in two sets. Then
he defeated Murray at o'clock, b
close match, the final point of which
racquet and a net-cord dribblea
heart bre aker for Murray three sets.
Then, with Wallace Johnson, he
played hard three-set match with
Tiden and Wiener, Richards and john
son dropping the first set and the
other two being very close. Bill
thinks this is the match that fxeo
him. Maybe so, but III advance an
other theory later. Then. at $40
o'clock, Richards was forced to hurry
out of the building to get some quick
people thought was the rather foolish
hour of 7:45 o'clock.
Best Played Indoor Match
"Now, as to my theory. Tilden played
Rice at o'clock, and thoss who should
know, including Murray and Richards,
say it was the fastest and best played
indoor match ever staged. Each threat
, ened to win in the third set and on
each occasion the other came back
| gamely and with ultra skill and put
the points and games back to even.
"Tilden. by superlative service and
play, finally won the decider at 12-10:
| Tilden won only because Rice could
not handle that terrific first service,
| (Which I have never seen Bill often)
as effectively and consistently as Til
den handled Rices terrific clouts,
which of themselves we're only slightly
second to Bills.
"In off the ground play Rice had
decided edge. He played beautifully,
and I am willing to predict that this
wear he will be inside the first five and
will take some watching by the Davis
CUP committee He has become great
| player.
CHOW, my theory is that Tilden was
forced to fash one of the most bril-
liant games Of his career to defeat
Rice, and, as would be the case with
any one, everything else that day was
post-climax and an effort. Tilden did
put a lot into trying to win his doubles
match from Johnson and Richards and
almost succeeded. He was far from
| himself in the final, although when be-
hind at 80 (you did not have this cor
| rectly), he staged one Of his old-tlme
runs that almost brought him the VIC
tory. But he had eaten in on his re-
| w, OF MI a
and just didn't have the stuff. Vlnney
played magnifcently throughout the
| last two days.
Richards and Tilden Play To-day
Three exhibition matches have been
arranged for the attraction at the New
| York Indoor Tennis Club, on the
cement courts Of the 9Th Coast
Defense Artillery at Kingsbridge Road
and Jerome Avenue, tomorrow after
noon at o'clock. Tilden and Rich
ards will play in one singles match
and Frank T. Anderson and Francis /.
Hunter, the new national indoor cham
pion, will be seen in another. Tilden
and Hunter will pair in the doubles
against Richards and Anderson, and
| these three matches should result in
the most spectacular play seen in New
York this winter
Richards, who was to have played
an exhibition match with Tilden at the
Dumbarton Club, in Washington yes
terday, but was prevented because OF
rain, arrived in this city yesterday. In
commenting on the protest of William
D. Cunningham, relative to Richards's
default in the national indoor tourna-
ment last week the Junior champion
declared his entry in the national was
never more than a tentative one. and
was made with that understanding.
Cunningham, in reply to Tilden's de-
fense of Richards made public yester-
Tay. said he didn't intend to criticize
the worlds champion in any way, but