The New York herald., 1922-04-10
TENNIS HAS A NEW
TITLE CONTENDER
Lawrence Rice Has Joined
List Of Davis Cup Team
Candidates.
By SAMUEL ). BRooKMAN.

One cannot recall within the last dec
ade or two any such startling tennis ad-
vance as Lawrence Rice Of Newton Cen
ter. Mass, has made practically in a
single season. Comparatively unknown
a year ago except in New England tour
naments, Rice has suddenly become a
national tennis figure. He now looms
as a serious bidder for place on the
United States Davis cup team, and there
are not a few who expect him to make
1t next season, IL not this.
One year ago Rice rated thirty-sev-
enth nationally. He had been attracting
some attention In tournaments around
Boston by his aggressive type of game.
his excellent ground strokes and his pos
sibilities as contender in leading events
in years to come. No one dreamed. how
ever. that before the season was over he
would have a victory over William T..
Tilden, worlds champion. tn his credit
and that he would extend such top rank
ing stars as r. Norris Williams I'd and
Wallace F. Johnson.
His defeat of Tilden In the Rhode ISL
and State clay court championship last
fall came after Tilden had defended hia
national title successfully Manv there
were no attributed Tilden defeat on
ths. occasion to a natural let down on
the part of the champion after the ma
,ioral tournament. Undoubtedly there
was something in that observation, but
Lawrence Rice has since proved that his
brilliant play of last season was no mere
flash IN the pan. for after defeating Vim
cent Richards in the Bermuda final he
forced Tilden to the limit OF his skill
and speed to win an extra set match In
the Middle States indoor event. In the
last set. a 12-10 affair, Rice was sew
eral times very close to victory.
Rice has been chosen member of the
Eastern team that will invade the Pa
ciac coast next month for the annual
East-West matches. and 1t viii be In
teresting to note the result OF his con-
tests with William NJ. Johnston. Roland
e. Roberts and Willis T.. Davis.
With gallery of nearly 1900 tennis
fans looking on Vincent Richards took
set from Francis T. Hunter. national
indoor-> champion. and Frank T. Ander-
son won set from Wallace F. Johnson
Of Philadelphia in a series Of exhibition
matches arranged by the New York Tn
door Tennis Club at the Eighth Coast
Armory yesterday. william r. Tilden
was to have been a participant, but the
worlds champion had gashed his leg as
the result of heavy fall In an exhioi-
ton at Baltimore on Saturuay anu Wds
unable to appear. Johnson volunteered
in his place.
Owing TO a late start the singles
matches In the armory were limited to
one set, but two sets we're played In
doubles tilt In which Anderson and Hun
ter opposed Richards and Johnson. There
was some scintillating tennis In singles.
Richards cnthused the gallery with his
superb volleying and overhead smash
ing and his spectacular recoveries. and
Anderson with his speed and dash and
decisive net game. Hunter. thanks to
the accuracy and terrific power OF his
forehand drive, gave Richards quite
tussle. but the junior national champion
won finally at SIS. Service proved no
factor at all, Richards breaking through
three times and Hunter twice.
Anderson made short work or his set
with Wallace Johnson. his attack prov
ing too strong for the Philadelphian. He
won at Go. Anderson seldom waited
for Johnsoh's famous chop stroke TO
bound. He preferred to race In and
meet Il on the volley. and as Johnson
was not as accurate as usual in playi~ =
for the lines. Anderson succeeded rather
easily.