The Washington times., 1925-09-18
BLOOD NE I
MATCHON
TODAY
TlIden and Richards, Once
Pals, Now Antagonists,
in Semi-FinaIs
By DAVIS ]. WALSH
International News Service Sports
Editor


International News Service Sports
Editor
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.-Vincent
Richards and William T. Tilden,
once firm friends, now as hope
lessly estranged as ammonia and
violet water, will meet in one of
the semi-final round matches of
the national tennis singles cham
pionship this afternoon and, after
careful inquiry, the writer has
learned that hitting in the clinches
will not be tolerated for a mo-
ment. Neither will heeling with
the open glove, butting, biting
nor bashing of the unprotected
countenance.
Just good, clean fun with the
joke on the one who finishes Sec
ond. The prevailing idea is that
it will not be lTdien.
The champion, alleged to be off
stride at the stort of the tourna-
ment, has played himself back to
the pace that only the Tilden of
old has known. And the old Til
0en usually has been a little too
good for Richards.
The match will furnish a climax
to drama that began years ago,
tnnocuously enough, with Tilden
end Richards as doubles partners.
the great man being pleased to re-
gard Richards as q protege. Gradus
ally the plot unfolded as Richards,
coming to manhood. began to think
his own and independent thoughts.
They separated and as the years
went on amity ran for the end
rock. Outwardly friendly until
the the present season, Tilden
Iashed himself into a Iather when
Richards declared that the cham.
pl0n was not himself and would
lose his national title.
The vendetta was eliminated in
Philadelphia last week when TIL
den. speaking slightly out of turn.
declared he would no longer iden.
t1fy himself with Davis cup tennis
4 Richards was substituted for Billy
Johnston in singles after the cup
already had been won.
Thus was born the first erudge
match OF lawn tennis. The crowd,
as always. will not be with TiIden.
Wnich probably means that it will
oe packing a loser. Tilden has been
coming to climax of form WIN
each succeeding day Of the tourna
ment. To the writer's eve. Rich.
ards seemed to be slipping back
from his suual speed when he de-
feated Rene Lacoste YESTERDAY. n
seemed to me to be a case of La.
coste losing the match. rather than
Richards winning it. The French.
man hardly was himself,
Then again, TiIden is a mental
hurdle over which all of them
seem 10 come a crOpper. Rich.
ards has beaten him on occasions.
out never made what might be
called practice of the thing.
IN 1act, T1lden probably has taken
scored by Richards and the cham.
pion has been careful not to let
any of the latter occur in a
tournament of prominence.
The remaining semi.finaI match
viii involve Johnston with Dick
Williams and, except that the per-
sonal angle is eliminated, it stands
up with the Tilden- Richards affair
In every competitive sense. Both
were champions and rivals before
T1lden was known outside the State
Of Pennsylvania.
Both have come back this wear
TO something that approxinates
their best. Williams, as a matter
OF fact, has played the finest tennis
or the tournament to date and II
ne carries on today will leave the
issue very doubtful one. AS it is.
the writer looks for Williams TO
blow, his erratic tendencies never
remaining dormant for more than
Lorty-eight hours. He is long over
due