Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-14
ve OF Horseback Will HE Themselves Skowhe9an Week.

T|LDEN TO FACE
final TEST YEARS
Tennis THIS WEEK
New York. Sept. 1s.-(AP)-wil-
lam T. Tilden will be called to the
turf courts Of the West Side Lawn
Tennis Club this week to answer the
seasons final thrust ut his right to
rule the lawn tennis world.
Sixty-three players, foremost rae
queters of America and the world, to-
morrow will take up the challenge of
his supremacy in the national singles
championship at a point where two
sensational young French players, La
coste and Borotra, ended their big push
last week in the Davis Cup matches at
Philadelphia. His stand against the
assault of this formidable entry an
swering the question raised by the
champions terrific struggle at the Ger
mantown Cricket Club, will decide
whether the man who has occupied the
throne of netdom for five consecutive
years is at last ready to step down.
The two defenders of the tri-color,
inspired by the partial opening of the
door to victory in their great battles
against Tilden will renew their effort
to unseat the champion. At their
shoulders in the drive will be two even
more formidable rivals Of the tall Phil
adelphian. The brilliant play Of Will
liam NJ. Johnston of California and
Vincent Richards Of Yonkers, N. Y, in
the successful defense Of the interna-
tional tropy, flashed unmistakable
signs OF American opposition to the
reign of Tilden indicate that the for
eign challenge will be hardly less
threatening than the local thrust at
the titleholder.
Tilden has maintained his place at
the tennis peak not only by the brill
lance Of a marvellous all-around game
but by uncanny ability to pull himself
together at the very brink of defeat
and soar to new heights of net great
ness. He has been strongest when
pressed the hardest. In the national
championships last year the Philadel-
phian dropped a set to Manuel Alonzo
in the second round, was carried to
three deuced sets by Jack Wright. lost
another set to Howard Kinsey in the
fifth round, and finally was taken
through five terrific sets by the youth
full Richards.
Johnston, who had gone through his
half Of the draw without losing set
and who had overwhelmed Peck Crit
fin. Gerald Patterson and Rene La
coste met Tilden in the final round.
Andden breezed in a winner in straight
sets, 81, 81. SO.
Tilden has been beaten twice this
year. Vincent Richards vanquished
the champion in the final round of an
invitation tournament at Orange, N.
j., only to suffer straight set defeats
at the Philadelphia in three later
encounters. Cranston Holman, Cali
fornia collegian, also took the mea-
sure of Tilden in an exhibition.
while on one occasion prior to the
Davis cup matches Tilden was on the
verge of unexpected defeat. Young
George Lott of Chicago extended the
champion to Ave set match In the
final round Of the clay court title
tournament.
Johnston's impressive play against
Lacoste and Borotra at Philadelphia
contrasted with the difficulty en-
countered by Tilden in disposing OF
the same pair, has brought the little
Californian to the front again as an
outstanding contender for the crown.
Johnston's Davis cup victories, cou-
pied with his two triumps over Rich
ards in the team test matches, argue
for feat which no former champion
has been able to accomplish.
Four times since he won the event
in 1919, Johnston has reached the
s., Ia <,,r ha L. I,xy
an invincible Tilden. But tennis in
the past has been uncertain, and a
few former champions have been able
to regain their lost laurels in sur
prising comebacks. r. d. Wrenn, af-
ter annexing the title in 1893 and
1894, gave up the crown the follow
ing season only to reclaim 1t In 1896
and 1897.
William A. Larned assembled the
peak in 1901 and 1902 to return In
1907 for stretch Of five years after
having resigned his sceptre to Harry
Doherty, Holcombe Ward. Beals c.
Wright and William J. Clothier. Do
herty's victory, incidentally, marked
the only successful invasion of the
American throne by q foreign player
in the history of the tournament. The
English star defeated Clothier in the
final round in 1908.
American successes in the Davis
cup matches have not always fore
cast victory in the national singles.
Maurice E. Mclaughlin, California
comet Of 1912, 1913 and 1914. rose to
the greatest heights Of his meteoric
career in defeating Norman E.
Brookes and Anthony F. Wilding of
Australasia in the international ser
les Of 1914, only to bow to r. Norris
Williams, End. later. in thechampion-
Heavyweight championship air
castles built for Jimmy Slattery Of
Buffalo, after brilliant start as a
six round fighter were tumbled last
week by tho hard punching light
heavyweight title holder, Paul Ber-
lenbach. Slattery's second knockout
defeat here within three months de-
finitely confined the field Of possible
successors to the Dempseys throne
to veterans.
Defiance of age and Colonel Bogey
was written into the seasons golf
records last week at Rye, N. Y,
where more than 800 links veterans
ranging from So to SO years gathered
at the Apawamis club to contest for
the championship of the Seniors
Golf Association. Scores which many
an aspiring young mashie wieldsr
might well eve in envy found their