The New York herald., 1922-07-22
johnson and Rice Eliminated
in Straight Sets in Semi
Finals.
BOSTONIAN IN FINE RALLY
Saves. First Set After Trailing
at'1-5 in Closer of Two
Matches.

American Davis cup team mates
Capt. Richard Norris Williams I'd of
Boston and William Tatem Tilden I'd
of Philadelphia--will fight it out on
Longwood's center court tomorrow
afternoon for the second leg on the
eighth Longwood Bowl. They reached
the final stage by scoring crisp. de-
cisive victories to-day.
In the doubles final Tilden and Wal
lace Johnson will meet still another
Philadelphian in Carl Fischer, who
teamed successfully in a semi-final
match to-day with Philip Bettens.
youthful San Francisco star, to elimi-
nate r. B. Bidwell and 1. c. Wright Of
Boston in sequence sets.
Thus the final stages of the tourna-
ment are at hand with no startling
overturns recorded, but an upset i'm
pended to-day when Williams trailed
l-15 in the opening set and appeared to
be thoroughly subdued by the most con-
vincing display of tennis that Wallace
Johnson has shown in years. Suddenly
Williams began to gauge the lines with
uncanny skill. Shots that had been
missing were in by inches. Johnson con-
tinued to shoot at his best. but it was
the Williams of old, and there was no
answer
Tilden is making his first appearance
in singles tournament in this city.
lie rornped through three love sets yes
terday at the expense of a Longwood
second rater and was even more i'm
pressive to-day when he smeared Law
renee Rice. Longwood driver, who
ranked No. 9 for 1921 by the margin of
6-3. Ca, 6--2. Seldom has Tilden been
lin better form on any court. He was
confident of victory and simply made
the match warming up for his final
against Williams. Against this hurri-
cane display before the largest gallery
of the week, Rice struggled bravely and
did exceedingly we'll to capture nine
games In three sets.
1t was a different story in the other
singles match. Williams was ranked
NO. 6 for 1921, or two places behind the
cool. crafty Johnson, who has chopped
his way along year after year
and has given some OF the games
greatest exponents unexpected reverses.
This season the only setbacks he had
encountered were in singles matches
against Tilden and Richards.
officials Judgment shaken.
Despite Johnson's record and rank
ing, Referee Edwin Shaefe seeded the
players in this order: Tilden. Williams.
Johnson That meant that Tilden and
Williams could not meet before the
final 1t also meant that johnson would
have to Neliminate either Williams or
Tilden to become finalist and the luck
of the draw put him in the Boston
stars section.
The judgment of the tournament Of
ficials in ranking Williams ahead of
Johnson did not look too sound when
johnson rushed into his 81 lead
Twenty-one errors were chalked against
Williams in those six games and they
seldom We're punctuated by an earned
point on Johnson's part.
Williams did not appear hopelessy
outplayed. as the score would Indicate.
but there was little potency in his
strokes.
When the tide turned it was hard to
believe that Johnson was still at top
form. but that nevertheless was true.
Williams simply sent across a success
sion of clean winners that would have
beaten any man in the game. After
winning five of the first six games
Johnson was able to corral only four
POINTS while williams was taking the
next five games and, with them. the
lead A netcord placement and one
ether earned point, coupled with two
nets by Williams, were the only points
that Johnson gained while Williams
was breaking all speed records.
"Frying PAM Magic Wand.
Placements rippled off his steel
framed and steel strung racket. The
frying pam was magic wand
in the hands of Williams. Sixteen
placements were credited to him in the
last five games OF the opening set. and
only one of the games was carried to
deuce. Again in the second set Will
Jams appeared to be slipping. but from
n 2--4 stage he pulled out a game on
his service with the aid of a service
ace and anglsd smash. then brought
the score to four all after Johnson led
40-15 In the eighth game.
II there was such thing as a turning
point in the match that game was II. for
IL required % points before it ended.
and Williams had the vantage point
seven times. The tonic OF the game
must have spurred Williams on. for he
yolIeyed two service returns for unan-
swerable placements. and then clipped of
two aces.
For the third time Williams fell be-
hind when the final set began. as John
son broke his opponents service at Is.
hut that merely was an incident to the
Longwood star, who ran from love-2 to
4--2, and then carelesslyf dropped
game on his own service. The match
showed williams 10 be just what Tilden
often has called him. "The most bril-
liant player In the world when he has
his shots ,Ader control"
williams admitted after the game that
he was playing Every we'll" Few have
seen him in more brilliant stroke. and
the turning point in the Tilden-Williams
series may be reached tomorrow. Up
TO the time that Williams won his sec
ond American singles title In 1915. Tilden
had taken just one set off Williams.
Since the Longwood, star resumed play In
postwar competition. Tilden has lost
just one set to Williams. II they can
duplicate their form OF to-day in the final
match a wonderful struggle will be
seen
Each will strive 20 have his game en-
graved under that OF William M. Johrn-
son, their Davis cup teamnate. who
won over Williams in the 1921 chal-
Isnge round. but who will not be East TO
defend this year. The summaries:
Longwood Bowgll,-,slngIes. ssmi-fins round;
feated Lawrence B. Rice. Boston. 6-3.
Ca, 6-2.
n. Norris Williams ID, Boston, defeated
wallace +. Johnson, PhIlsdelphia, 10,
f,ongwood 90 Doubles. sen1i-final round