Evening star., 1940-07-07
Defeat by New King
First for Barney
Here Since 81
Gomeness Tells in PIoy
Of Young Victor; Forrin,
Howard Take Doubles
BY BILL DISMER. Jr,

y
Just two years out of the Junior
class, made Washington tennis his
Aory yesterday when he upset
Barney Welsh, undefeated in local
tournament competition for eight
years, to win the Middle Atlantic
championship at Columbia Country
Club.
Before large crowd which grew
more and more thrilled as the pros
poets of Welsh'S downfall increased,
johnson played perhaps the greatest
tennis he ever has shown to de-
throne the Districts net king in
four sets. Welsh took the first set,
but thereafter it was all johnson,
4-6, 6-3. 11-9. 6-3
In what necessarily became an
anti-climaX. the Navy Leech Cup
team of Its. Bill Howard and Jimmy
Farrin won the doubles champion
ship when they defeated Dick
Murphy and C. Alphonso Smith in
an Alphonse-and-G Castor match
Although the match went five SETS
all except the first were decided by
one-Sided scores, with the Navy
finally prevailing at 4-6, 6-1, 1-6,
81, SO.
Defeat Ends Long Reign.
Not since Hugh Trigg defeated
him in the public parks tournament
in 1882 had Welsh been beaten in
regular match play here, but john
sen-King David this morning
combined effectively designed pre-
match strategy with great all
around stroking to succeed yesterday
where countless and more expert
enced players have failed
Probably because of the nervous
strain, johnson suffered an attack
of stomach cramps shortly after the
match, but recovered under the ad-
ministrations of his admiring father
and came out smiling to receive the
champions prize.
Welsh, accepting his defeat IN
good grace, simply declared johnson
had outplayed him and clearly de-
served to win. In way. I'm glad"
said the eX-champ, slipping a coke
in the locker room. 1T was get
ting to be quite strain to sustain
an undefeated record. I would have
liked to have retired that bowl,
though" concluded the newlywed
barrister, wistfully. Welsh had won
the tournament in 1888 and '39
and needed one more win to gain
permanent possession of the chal-
lenge bowl. The loser then stated
that he would play no more tour
nament tennis until the District
Tournament in August.
Johnsens Gameness Tells.
Courage played a large part in
Johnsen's great victory as he was
forced to come from behind in both
the second and third sets after los
ing the first and often found him.
self on the short end of individual
game scores. Although leaving the
court for the usual 10-minute inter-
mission after the third set with a
81 advantage in sets, johnson later
said that he did not feel confident
of ultimate victory until he assumed
So lead in the fourth set.
At that, johnson broke Welsh'S
service to win the match. but not
until the eX-champ STAYED off the
first match point against him with
remarkable get of low
bouncing ball in his far corner which
Barney converted into a placement
With the score 15-40, however,
Davey drove deep to Welsh's back
hand with his opponent standing in
mid-court on the forehand sideline
for the point which evoked spon-
taneous cheering from the specta-
tors.
Winner Is Versatile.
A booming forehand, an accurate
backhand, a surprisingly effective
service and a fine volleying game
were the contributing factors to
Johnsen's triumph. Probably never
before in a District tournament
match has Welsh been the victim
of so many placements. johnson
being credited with 40 on The Stars
scorecard. Welsh, on the other hand.
made only %. In addition, johnson
was credited with six service aces
against player who usually gets
his racket on anything served
against him. while Welsh aced John
sen only three times. johnson won
eight love games from Welsh. while
he, in turn, was held scoreless in
seven.
Welsh started off as if he would
rout his younger adversary, taking
the first four games of the opening
set before johnson could score
David retaliated by taking the next
three. but not until midway the
second set did the new champion
catch or pass his more illustrious
foe for the first time.
johnson Evens Score.
But with Welsh leading, 81, in
the second. johnson began streak
of five straight games to even the
match at a set apiece. Then began
one of the longest sets ever staged
in a local final. Welsh again got
away to 80 lead, but johnson,
breaking Welsh's service in the
seventh game, tied the score at
all. From then on, it was give
and-take, with johnson holding the
odd game at IS and 81 and Welsh
leading at 5-4, 6-5 and 9-8 be-
fore Davey reeled off the last three
games to win the set. The set point,
incidentally, was sensational, John
sen cracking the center service line
with service ace that Welsh never
1aw.
The first four games of the final
set were divided, but johnson then
broke Welsh's service and won his
own for a a advantage. After
Welsh had narrowed the gap to
4-3, johnson won a five-times
deuced game by drawing Welsh into
the net with drop-shot and then
passing him with a drive to the
corner. Welsh netted the first point
and ousted the third after a place.
ment by johnson to place himself
on the short end of a O-40 score
In the last game before losing on
the second match point.