New-York tribune., 1922-07-16


the finishing point Of the match.
In the final round match Of the
mixed doubles Mrs. Frank II. Godfrey
OF Longwood. paired with Wallace r
johnson, Of Philadelphia, won tho hon
ors from Miss Leslie Bancroft and
Lawrence b. Rice, Of Longwood, In a
finely played three-set match, the sets
going st 2-6, 6-i, ca.
A brilliant gallery was jammed into
the stands when the Tilden-RichardS
match began, with Tilden holding the
service. The national champion won
the first game with Threatening ease,
going into a lead that he never iost
during the remainder OF the struggle
That first game really gave an ae-
curate gauge Of the way the whole
match was going, although majority
Of us who sat In the stands did not
realize what was 90 be the full ex-
tent OF Tilden's triumph at that early
stage OF the proceedings.
X did not seem possible that Rich-
ards could be 50 completely over
wheimed. and 20 rapidly, but after Wit
Messing the devastating speed and furi-
Gus energy Of the national title hold
er's attack you began 20 wonder how
any player In the world could stand up
against such a battering.
Tilden in Rare Form
Tilden had every shot working in
superlatiye form, and his angling OF
shots across fore-court, from what was
practically a standing position about
the center Of his own court, caused the
gallery to marvel .
Only in the first half dozen games OF
the match did Richards appear 70 have
a chance. Up 10 that moment, the de.
Tending Rhode Island champion had
scored one more point than his chal-
lenger, both having won consistently on
serving up 10 that stage.
Richards won the sixth game 70
love," his service for the first and
only time during the three sets being
up 70 the standard. The junior cham
pion succeeded in this game in get
ting his first ball into play, and Tilden
could not handle the delivery, being
forced into netting errors on the first
three points, and being cleanly aced By
a center line shot, for the last point.
Those who were wishing for Rich
ards TO win. took on new hope, Tor It
was evident that unless the state
champion could make his first service
good, il would be impossible for him
70 follow inside the service court lines
for finishing shots. His second ball
was always weak, slow and high
bounding. Tilden simply murdered
these "set-ups.'
After raising these hopes in the
breasts Of his admirers, Richards
lapsed badly in his delivery, and stimuli
taneously with his failure. the ava
lanche set in. rising 20 ever mightier
power as Tilden raised his tremendous
assault perceptibly, until he was
literally sweeping the helpless Rich
ards before him on the flood-tide Of
defeat.
Junior Champion Routed
The Richards rout became more com
plete' as tho match progressed, until
in the final set the loser was being
outplayed from every angle and offered
little resistance TO the all-conquering
Tilden sweep. ] do not mean, Of course
that Richards ever gave up his hope
less fight. No, the youths courage
never wavered, although-it could be
seen that his inability TO bring of his
shots was fretting him and sending
him into worse errors.
have been watching tennis cham
pions in action for the last decade
the greatest players Of each succeeding
period, but ! doubt that any man ever