New-York tribune., 1922-09-16

national tournament is played tome
championship courts Of the Germant
Johnston was the first to earn his
final bracket by defeating Vincent
Richards, Of New York, at S--6, 6-~2,
C--1, and Tilden followed by. vanquish-
ing Gerald L. Patterson, of Australia,
at 46, Sd, 6--3, 6---1, in the other
semi-hnal match. Both matches were
superbly played, and gallery Of moro
than 10000, the capacity OF the stands.
spurred the contenders on continually
by storms OF applause. Johnston re-
quired just under an hour to eliminate
Young Richards, while Tilden required
almost an hour and haH before the
stalwart Patterson would admit ie-
feat.
The keenest fighting for the points
occurred in the opening set between
Johnston and Richards, wben the men
alternated on winning their services
game up to 4-all Johnston ther broke
through for lead of Sd, but Rich
ards, by wonderful exhibition of
play, returned the compliment by TAX
ing the Californian's service and then
winning his own to "love," thus gain
ing the lead at 6-5. Right here came
Richards's great opportunity TO win
the set, but he could not stand up
against Johnston's terrific attack, the
Californian winning the twelfth game
at 'love" and then adding the next
two, for the set at 8-6, and lead
that was never thereafter threatened.
Richards Makes Great Effort
In that first set we saw Richards
at mis- best Lacking the speed and
pace of Johnston on ground strokes,
the New York boy Offset this great ad-
vantage by the remarkable brilliancc
OF his yolieying game. Remember, he
was facing Johnston who was play
ing at the top of his game, Johnston
who was putting his full power into
that forehand drive that Is famous
wherever tennis is played, and follow
ing up with overland volleying that
was deadly in accuracy and severity.
In the face of such opposition, Rich
ards's showing was praiseworthy in
deed, and even in the last two sets,
when Johnston WAS storn1ing ahead at
an unbeatable pace, the New York
player offered valiant battle to the man
who was sweeping him down to swift
defeat
That opening set, in which victory
eluded him by so narrow a margin.
really marked the rise aud fall of
Richards, for the great effort he had
put forth taxed his strength severely
and he slowed up appreciabIy in the
latter half of the match. Johnston,
attacking ceaselessly and relentiessly,
gave his opponent no chance to rest
and thus recuperate his scattered
physical forces. Richards was facing
a never-ending bombardment of furious
forehand drives and deadly overhead
volleying shots.
There was little variation in John
ston's pace. With him, it was simply
a matter of turning on full power and
holding the throttle wide open until
his task was done. Rarely have | ever
witnessed such an exhibition of sus-
tanned power OF attack as Johnston un-
leashed this afternoon. Richards had
no choice except to remain on the de-
fenslve, once he had surrendered the
lead in the first set
Inc match began with Richards
holding the service. He took the open
ing. game purely on the power of his
aeilvery, Johnston returning twice into
the net and then popping up a weak
backhand return that Richards came
rushing in to kill with a spectacular
smash, and on the last point the East
efner shot over scorching service ace
Johnston Evens the Score
Johnston was in deadly earnest from
the start and evened the score by win
nlng the second game. His own sery-
zee was going beautifully, and Richards
drove the ball out four times. Both
were directing their attack to the back
hand, and while Johnston's shots held
FAR more pace and speed. Richards
so!ter ground strokes stood up sur
prlsingly we'll under the assault. and
at times he actually outscored the
Californian in these exchanges, some
OF his most sensational points being
won as he cross-courted his rival with
packhand drives across deep court as
Johnston's started in from his base
line.
The pace set was terrific, and II
wondered how long young Richards
Wouid be able to stand up against the
deadly sweep of Johnston's vicious as
sault. He was holding the former
champion on even terms, it is true. but
ae what cost! Johnston was forcing
his opponent to foot about his court at
heartbreaking clip to recover the d
sizziing drives that raised little clouds
OF dust as the ball struck either on or
closely beside the lines.
Richards succeeded in cutting off
some OF these furious drives by TAX
ing the ball on the volley and sending
it back deep to Johnston's base line,
forcing the Californian to keep back
from the net by this move, but he was
eNacslng crushing penalty on his re-
serve strength by this continuous rush
70 the net position. 1t is small won
der that he weakened later in the
match, and once he had started to slow
up IN mis- advance the end was not far
on. Johnston began to shoot the ball
70 Richards's feet as the latter came
stumbling forward. Sometimes the
youth succeeded in bringing off his
voIieys under these conditions. but
more often he was unable to dig the
pan up quickly enough, and Johnston
forged ahead
Richards started service in the Sec
ond set, and once more his heavily
Topped ball stood him in good stead. |
Johnston making four errors OFF his
returns OF service and losing the
game; The Californian squared mat
Iers by winning the seeond, but then
nichards s made it I'll, only TO lose the
iourSh game to s'lova' as Johnston
nronght off two wonderful passing
shoIs down the side lines.
lhe turn of the tide now gsA in !
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