Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-08

pOrterS CldlIIleQ tildt IL "dS thS uhu
that had given him the mastery {
analysis of the play showed that j
ticular, and that the following year
Again IN 1921. at Philadelpnia'
Johnston's second deteat was 80
tied to his being but just +ecoVereo
from an attack of tonsilitis. HIS sup
porters-and, | think. major par.
of the public-were convinced tnal
if he would take care OF hlmsell tne
ensuing year ana nc p norma W he would
without fail reinstate himseii as ma
tionai champion.
sure Johnston Would Win.
When during the early spring OF
last season, reports came from Cali
fornia of Johnston's nne conultioll
and of his renewed determination 10
comnete at Philadelphia, and when
this was followed by his oeleat oi
ridden in their two matches In Gail
fornia wave of confidence IN ms
ability to win swept over tne eou aI+
admirers saw in his losing to john
sion twice running on the racine
coast dangerous blow to his pres
tige and resigned themselves 70 the
possibility of his losing nrst rTnn.
During these ye:Ts of controversy
have been constantly asked poth os
nlayers and newspaper correspo, ON
tnts for my opinion OF tne Ie.at' ",
ISerits of these two great players. ~
his article | shall attempt TO make
LIAR the difference in their games as
| see it, and to explain why TOT nNs
Years I have unhesitatinsly predicted
Tilden'S ultimate success
Attractive to Watch.
In comparing the average pla! o.
these two men there Is no dount ma.
Johnston has the more up-to-uate
style. His game is especiaily attr.e-
tive to the American public because
it is so typically American. II is I9e
aggressive net game g at ND 0e Strokes
his forehand drive being world
famous but in the main, he does not
depend upon them for winning poln.s'
he utilities them as means OF gam
ton that he kills. This method OF
nlay-a forcing ground shot, followed
by a kill at the nets the most III
teresting and exciting type OF saiiIe
to watch and deserVedly WINS toi 80 80
man who uses it an enthusiastic 1ot-
lowing. .,r
Johnston's serve is not spectacular.
bpt If il reliable-he rarely loses his
service games. although he may hot
win them by aces. His forehanu
drive is amazingly swift, perfectly
timed to meet a rising ball and ac-
curately and craftilv placed. his
backhand is also used oHensiVeiS
and is swifter than the forenana
o
has reached an almost machinenke
nerfection. When he comes IN on
the court IL Is like watching beau
tifully made engine that sfoWly
gathers momentum until II rs ulli1 r.
ing every particle of it's power; 10
this flawIess style Johnston ados
great fighting spirit, high degree
Of tennis intelligence. an ardent De
ability to do so. Is it any wonder
that those who watch him play think
of him as unbeatable?
TiIden's Game Variable.
Tilden's game is far harder to
cataloeue especially for those who
do not see him play frequently; He
possesses all the strokes that John-
ston uses so forcefully and many ner
sides. His forehand drive is slower
than Johnstons. but far more &C
curately placed. His backhand drive
Is without an equal for speed ana
precision. His service is infinitely
better than Johnston's. l consider
this stroke to be typical of his whole
game. so varied is 1t in it's speed and
delivery. He resorts to half dozen
different styles of service in the
same match, while Johnston is lin
tied to one only. At the net and over
head johnson is superior.
In addition to these fundamental
strokes Tilden possesses wide va
riety of other strokes that he en-
ponent's game calls for a change
Of tactics. He can mix drives with
chops. slices and drop shots and can
constantly change both the pace and
the angle of his shots. His versa
tility Is astounding. But this very
multiplicity of strokes Is apt TO be-
wilder the spectator. Compared to
the perfect smoothness of Johnston's
style, Tilden's game often seems rag
ged and uneven
trh m or x,rifl
of security, knowing just what he
will try to do and how spIendidly he
will do 1t. Tilden is always an I'M
known quantity. No one can ever
employ. what tactics he will use. how
far he will exert himself. This feel
ing of uncertainty which he creates
Is regarded as a sign of weakness,
but the men who play against him a
few times know that II is one reason
why he is so formidable an opponent
This is particularly true of a man of
Johnston's type, to whom uncertainty
is confusing.
Service Tells In 1920.
In 1920 1t is true that it was
Tilden's magnificent serving that won
him the championship. I believe that
Johnston was convinced of this and
returned to California determined to
perfect his own service and to find
the answer to Tilden's. In 1921 he
returned to be defeated by his own
most potent weapon, the forehand
drive. Again and again that day he
was passed at the net by the one
stroke that many critics had said
Tilden did not possess.
Those who saw that memorable
match will recall that Tilden served
but few aces. It was thought that
his serve was off that day. 1t may
be of interest to repeat what he said
just before the match. Every one
says that / beat Billy last year by
my serve. that / can't do it any other
way Well, I'm going to see what
] can do without aces" That is
Tilden all over He'll risk a match.
even the national championship, try
ing to prove some point that interests
him.
Last year it was another game en-
tirely that he put up. Neither drive
nor serve was working to his salts
faction and he resorted to a mixture
of slices and short drop shots that
were interspersed with cautiously ex-
secuted drives in a confusing medley.
Mental Attitude Helpful.
To the thousands watching with
breathIess interest, his game seemed
to be wild, to lack stability. They
did not realise that Tilden was care
fully following out plan to tire out
Johnston with any shot that would
keep the ball in play until such time
as his own best shots should be work
ToI, 80. .J,Nr IT,