BEAUTIFUL FOREHAND DRIVING

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 4 September 1923, Page 8

BEAUTIFUL FOREHAND DRIVING

THE LINESMAN'S DECISION.

(Exclusive to Australian Press Association.) (Received 4th September, 2.45 p m ) ■ • , NEW YORK, 3rd September. Tilden opened quietly, and trailed love-forty in the first game on his own serve. He, however, won the game by good serving, forcing Anderson to net irom the forehand. Tilden was still uncertain in the second game, which Anderson won through his opponent missing easy forehand shots. The Australian' also won the third game, capturing Tilden s serve by beautiful forehand driving. He failed, however, on his own service, through serving three double faults. Tilden then struck his game, and played beautiful tennis, while Anderson suffered: a relapse. The American won nine games in a row, winning the first set 6-2, and getting a winning lead of five-love in the second set. During this period Anderson won but eight points in all. Tilden served wonderfully, winning his service with ease, and repeatedly forcing Anderson to net on the forehand and drive out. Tilden mixed his game wonderfully, driving deep to Anderson's backhand, and keeping him running from side to side with chop* and cuts. Anderson was also serving badly, and failing to get his opponent on the defensive, while he was badly mistiming on the forehand, and repeatedly netting and driving over the base-line. When he tried to force the pace, Tilden, towards the end of the. second set, obviously slowed up, not forcing the pace as he'had been doing. This enabled Anderson to find his game, and he steadied up by means of good forehand driving, and drew up to, 5-3, before Tilden went out 6-3 on his own service.

Part of the gallery, which numbered 15,000, did not agree with the lineman's decision on a point which gave Tilden the set, and they mado a demonstration. The umpire and Anderson, however, insisted on sticking to the decision, and this 'upset showed ''itself in Tilderi'a play. He seemed to lack interest at the commencement of tho third set, Anderson winning- the first two games to love. The American played

7£ jto w!n his °PP°nent's serve in the .third game, but Anderson was now playing well, and he won the concluding four games of the set, going out 6-1. He was now serving better and timing on his forehand well, getting amazing angles across ,to Tilden s backhand, thus forcing-. ..him to net. Tilden had not quite recovered his e;ame, and was not serving with such vim and snap as at first. He netted many of his forehand shots, and his length was not so good, thus enabling the Australian to force the game. Tilden's game underwent a change about the middle of the match. He Piayea delightful tennis until the end of the second set, being continually on the offensive, serving fiercely and keeping Anderson on the defensive by deep drives and delicate chops. The Australian up to :this period, was obviously off his game, repeatedly missing his favourite forehand drive and playmg hia backhand defensively. The incident of I, a hr,v!jman's decision apparently caused Tilden to slacken, while Ander-son-tound his game. Anderson, however failed to reproduce the fine form which caused the defeat of Johnston, and though brilliant at times, was too erratic. .

THE BEST TENNIS. The fourth set provided the best tennis of the match. Anderson commenced well breaking through Tilden's service in the first game) but dropped his own through two weak backhands. The games then followed the service to 3ail, tlie Australian winning his serve in the fourth game to love, by delightful' lorehand driving, twice catching his opponent running the wrong way. He then captured Tilden's service, but lost the advantage by losing his own service in the eighth game. Tilden up to this t8! not been serving as well as at the start of the match, repeatedly missing the cannon-ball first serve, but here he steadied and served fiercely. In the twelfth game, he broke through Anderson s service to clinch the set 7-5, and the match. ' ' ■ \ ■

The earlier phases of the'two Davis Cup games are described in a cable published under the heading of "Superb Tennis/ and appearing on page three of this isFue of "The Post."