Evening star., 1923-09-30

IN studying the tournament records,
one Is faced by the fact that while A
beats b, and B beats c, very often c
may beat A. while D, a rank outsider,
may for week play way above his
torn and defeat any or all Of them.
Yet, since no two people will ever agree
upon the relative merits Of even the
hrst FIVE players, there Is no other way
Of judging them except by their tourna-
ment records, modified by knowledge
of the conditions that obtained at the
time of each match. Having watched
every match Of importance played IN
America this year, and discussed the
victories and defeats with the players
themselves. I should rank as the fist
ten players In the world the following
men, In the order Of their merit: Tilden,
Johnston, Anderson OF Australia; Will
liafns, Richards, Alfonso, the Spanish
ace; Norton, the British South African;
Patterson and OHara Wood, Aussies,
and Washer Of Belgium.
TiIden Easily Best.
Tilden so unquestionably comes first
that no one denies his right this year
TO first place. After Johnston had won
hard courts. Tilden defeated him in
straight sets in the American cham
pionships. Furthermore. Tilden has not
lost single match on grass throughout
almost continuously during the year.
Johnston deserves second place, de-
spite' his defeat by Anderson In the
Davis cup matches. His victories
abroad over Richards and Hunter and
defeated Williams handily in the final
when the latter was at the top OF his
form. clearly indicates his right to be
runner up. Against Anderson. Johnston
played the worst tennis that he has
ever displayed In Davis cup contest.
and am positive that he would have
reversed the result at Germantown had
not Anderson defaulted in this tourna-
ment because OF an indisposition.
Anderson has third place. He must
be given credit for. playing fine forceful
tennis against Johnston, even II the
latter was below par; indeed, one reason
for Johnston's downfall was Anderson's
Rggresslyeness. Against Tilden, too, he
played fine tennis after the champion
had eased the pace OF his strokes at
the conclusion of the second set. 1t is
a pity that Australia's Davis cup pre-
participating in some of our tourna-
fnents. as X would have been interest
ing 20 see what he could do against
Williams, Richards and Hunter.
Anderson Ii Improved.
Anderson undoubtedly played better
tennis this year than he did in 1922.
when Richards disposed OF him in
straight sets. He has beaten Patterson
twice in Australia, and We know that
the utmost ease last year. 1 believe
that next year, when Anderson expects
his health to be greatly improved, he
will be far more formidable player
than he was during this season. Ander-
son has the one great requisite neces-
sary for success in modern tennis
speed. Look out for him next year.
Williams has shown greatly improved
form throughout this season, in both
singles and doubles. Only in his first
tournament, at Palm Beach, and in
his last match, against Norton at Ger
1nantown, has he lapsed into the hap
hazard, unreliable game that has char
acterzed his tennis during the past
few seasons. He attributes his success
20 the fact that he now plays only in
alternate weeks, thus never growing
stale. Whatever the cause of, his i'm
proysn1ent; 1t Is certain that he has
throughout the season. Williams has
tempered the brilliance of his play by
adding certain amount Of caution that
no formerly lacked, and I believe that
1t Is this new quality that he has in
jected into his former reckless game
that is responsible for his Improvement
this season.
Richards can almost be bracketed
with Williams, but must give way to
him largely because OF a defeat sus-
tained at Newport. II Is quite con-
ceivabie. however, that the result might
have been reversed had these two play
ers met second time. Richards was
the only man capable OF extending
Johnston at Wimbledon. where he made
much better showing against the
world champion than did Hunter in
the finals.
discount his defeat by Hunter at
Germantown because Richards has de-
feated him repeatedly this year, and,
confident that he could do so again
whenever he put on a little pressure,
allowed the match to get out of hand.
Y9ere is no doubt that Hunter is a
greatly improved player this year, but