San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-20
FINAL MATCH
. GOES FIVE
Sc I s
By JOHN HERMAN

s"Ntftdt GcFNttr 5tuit SoffcsVOnuthts
NEW YORK, Sept. 10.-Tilden, the
unconquerable, is still the ruler of the
courts. Before a crowd of $1,000 raw
ing tennis fars, the wondrous wielder
OF the racquet defeated William NJ.
Johnston by score Of 4-6, 11-9, 6-3,
4-6, 6-3, in a flashing five-set final
match for the national championship
at Forest Hills this afternoon.
1t was the sixth successive triumph
for William Tatem Tilden, End, and
it was the fifth time that he had
beaten the same opponent in a final
match for the national title.
II was big Bill" against Little
Bill" man against superman. Con-
ceded only the faintest glimmer of a
chance against the wizard of the green
sward, Little Bill" rose to magnifi-
cent heights in his driving duel against
the keeper of the tennis throne. But
above him, and beyond him, was Big
BILL
JOHNSTON NERVOUS.
Always playing well within himself,
holding his cannonball service in leash
until a crushing point was needed,
and matching strokes with Johnston at
the Californian's famous driving style,
Big Billr seemed almost lonely in
the splendid isolation of superiority.
Little Bill" twice a champion him
self in former years and veteran of
many a haFd-fought field, was ner
vous. His movements were tense. He
gripped his racquet as though he would
break it apart. He tapped the lawn
with twitching toes. He threw back his
head with a gasp when a vital point
went against him. lie was fighting
hard.
Johnston won the first set at ga,
and then fought a wild and wonderful
battle in the second set which Tilden
took at 11-0. The little fellow TOOK
the fourth set, when the tidn of dc.
feat seemed about to oyerwhelm him.
He was fighting all the way through,
but the odds were too great.
Little Bill" didn't feel that way
about it. He had struggled against
Tilden often enough to know what be
was up against, but in his bright lexicon
Of battle there is no such word as
surrender"
GALLERY EXCITED.
Coming out refreshed, he broke
through Tilden's service in the open
ing game of the fourth set There.
after the games followed service, and
Johnston, playing n marvellous deep
court game, with an occasional happy
sortie at the net, ran out the set
at Ga and was all square with the
reigning champion.
The fans were almost falling from
the ampitheater into the enclosure as
the final and decisive set began Tild-
On, playing well within himself, took
his opening service game and John
Ston did likewise. Little Bill" broke
through in the third game, but big
Bill" returned the compliment and
brought the score TO 2,all.
The fierce barrage Of drives con-
tinucd unabated. and games followed
service until Tilden broke through
Johnston's delivery with a love game
that brought the set to SO.
MAN AGAINST SUPERMAN.
The end was Mt hand. Little Bin"
had made a gallant stand, but it was
man against superman, and the odds
we're insurmountable. The perennial
champion fixed the crown firmly upon
his head for the sixth time by whist
ling service ace past Johnston in
the final game for point, set and
match.
Big Bill was himself. That was
enough. The score shows that the
play was close from start to finish,
but the score does not show the real
mastery of the Philadelphia. That
had to be seen TO be appreciated, and
the capacity crowd in the ampithcatcr
saw it.
They came. they saw, they were
conquered. They came TO root for
Johnston, and remained TO marvel at
Tilden. He was a master Of stroke
and tactics. He chopped, cut, drove
and placed with uncanny brilliancy
and unmatcbable stendiness.