TILDEN BEATEN

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 177, 14 April 1923, Page 18

TILDEN BEATEN

William T. Tilden, champion of the world, found himself in Now York over Sunday about the end of January, and on Saturday, January 27, asked George Roberts, of the Casino committee, if he could arrange a singles match for him. Ho got his match all right, as Dean Mathey promptly obliged Tilden, and accomplished the great feat of his career, by beating the champion of the world in three straight sets. The outstanding feature of tho match (states “American Lawn Tennis”) was the really superb play of Mathey. His game was not only extremely brilliant but his steadiness was phenomenal. His game was about as near perfection as anything can be, and this despite the fact that Tilden was frequently bringing off shots that were calculated to unset any player. In every department of tho game Mathey was almost letter-perfect. He was lightning-fast on his feet, he drove hard and with splendid direction, he killed nearly everything overhead, pulling down lobs that would have hit the base line, and he dashed to the net and scored the points with severe, ’ sharply angled shots that baffled even the champion. The first set was the closest of the three, but Mathey was the steadier at the end. In both the second and third sets Mathey ran in into leads, only to have tliem cut down and to find himself in some danger. But nothing disturbed him, and each time the crisis came ho rose to it. In one game in the third set Tilden sent over four or five balls any one of which seemed as if it might score outright, but Mathey got to each, making a forcing shot of tl;e return and finally scored the point. It was •the first time New Yorkers had a chance to watch the champion play with his mutilated finger, and he was observed with close attention. The editor’s summing up is that there is a handicap apparent, but it does not seem to be an insuperable one. Tilden was obviously short of practice, and he was uncertain in making some of his shots. On tlie backhand, particularly when he is nressed, there was a. discernible weakness; but it is doubtful whether there was any other weakness not due to lack of piny. It is very noticeable, however, that the champion consistently favours his right , hand, Tn boldine; the racket, p’cking up and handling bnl's. etc., the left hand Is used much more than in the past.