TILDEN BEATEN

Evening Star, Issue 18255, 20 April 1923, Page 3

TILDEN BEATEN

SUPERB PLAY BY MATH EY. William T. Tildoii, 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 ho could arrange a singles match for him. He got Jiis match all right, as Dean Mathey promptly obliged TTTdon, and accomplished the great feat of his career, by beating the champion of the world in three straight sets. The. outstanding feature of the .match (states 1 American Lawn Tennis ’) was the really superb play of Mathey. Ilis game was not only extremely brilliant hut his steadiness was phenomenal. His game was about as near pciTection as anything can he, and this despite the fart that Tildcn was frepuently bringing off shots that were calculated to upset any player. In every department of tho game Mathey was' almost letter-perfect. Ho was lightning-fast on Ins feet, he drove hard and with splendid direction, ho killed nearly everything overhead, pulling clown lobs that would have hit the base line, and he dashed to the net and scored the points with severe, sharply angle, 'shots that baffled even the champion. Tho first set was the closest of the three, hut Mathey was tho steadier at the end. In both the second and thiul sets Mathey ran in into loads, only to have them 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 the 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 bo an insuperable one. Tilden was obviously short of practice, and ho was uncertain in making some of las shots. On tho backhand, particularly when ho is pressed, there was a discerniblel- - but it is doubtful whether there was any other weakness not due to lack of play. It is very noticeable, however, that the champion consistently favors his right hand. In holding the racket, picking up, and handling balls, etc., the left hand is used much more than in the past.