FIRST SINGLES MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18494, 3 September 1923, Page 8

FIRST SINGLES MATCH.

ANDERSON AND JOHNSTON.

BOTH PLAYERS ERRATIC* | AUSTRALIAN'S -; GREAT FIGHT. By Telegraph— Association—Copyright. | A. and N.Z. NEW YORK. Aug. 31. The first episode in the challenge round 'was the ':•', singles ; match between Ander- ' son and Johnston. . ' The weather conditions were ideal, but the courts were not very good, the turf being only a year old. In the first set, Johnston serving, scored two aces, and Anderson netted twice, Johnston winning to thirty Anderson won the second game to love on his own service, Johnston netting or driving out all his returns. Johnston, playing to Anderson's backhand, drove the Australian 'into errors, and the, American;won the third to thirty, but Anderson showed that his backhand was one of the most powerful strokes in his repertoire, and he won the fourth to fifteen, catching Johnston in mid-court with deep-court drives. Johnston won the fifth after deuce, Anderson having difficulty in returning the service. Anderson won the sixth game to fifteen, again frustrating Johnston's effort against • the Australian's backhand. Anderson, by some remarkable forehand volleying, and stop-volleying that brought the crowd to its feet, broko through Johnston's service in the seventh game when the score stood at thirty love' against him,' and won the seventh after douce, but he weakened, and Johnston broke -through his service, winning the eighth to thirty. Both men indulged in tactics in the next game, >ach trying to catch Ids opponent off the mark by change of pace and with tricky stop-volleys. Johnston' proved a trifle the better, and won the ninth to fifteen. Anderson now suffered an unexpected and serious slowing up, - permitting Johnston to run away with the tenth game, the American breaking through the Australian's service and winning the game to love, and the set, 6—4. Anderson Displays Brilliance.

In the second set Anderson's former disconcerting play in the first set seemed forgotten. He played sparkling , tennis, all his strokes working well. He won the first game to thirty, breaking. through Johnston's service, but again Anderson dropped in , quality of play, Johnston breaking through his service and driving so hard on' the returns of service that the Australian could not handle' them, and the American. won the second game to thirty. Anderson won the third game to thirty on his opponent's service. Johnston was playing badly, driving out and netting returns. Anderson continued his brilliant playing, and \von the fourth to love on his service. He then showed tennis such as has never been - seen this season, or for many years past,- for after Johnston stood forty love in his service, Anderson scored "four placements, and won the fifth game after deuce. Anderson dropped the sixth game by . double faulting twice, and driving out on easy shots. Anderson, despite his errors, continued to play such magnificently brilliant tennis thai the spectators were continuously on their feet, cheering him. Anderson broke through Johnston's service in the seventh,game, winning it to thirty, and, despite double faulting twice, won the eighth game. In it he served an ace, forced Johnston ,to net by a cleverly placed shot,, and- won at deuce, taking the set, -2.-..-.... f ;/ ; < Both Flayers; Oaielul. ' ,

>■:'• In the third set Johnston showed his ability to come back after, being shuttered by his opponent's good play. The American now played. with ■■. cool, serious intent, placing his shots with uncanny precision. He won the first game , after deuce, - driving close to the, lines, , und making the Australian strain for impossible recoveries. Anderson won the second game at fifteen after double faulting, by imitating his opponent's care in placing shots, and catching Johnston in the same predicament, of being forced to try .make impossible recoveries. Johnston, however, ■, made his service • count by sending the ball over like & cannon shot, and won the third game to fifteen, then by (lever placements he broke through Anderson's service, winning the fourth to love. In this game he outplayed the Australian. '/; Anderson then came ;to the fore with some mora of his sparkling play, winning the fifth at deuce, on his opponent's service, after the latter stood at forty love against him. It was remarkable to note how both players . were alternately . reaching the heights . and depths of tennis. .When they are good they are unbeatable, but when they lapse they become astoundingly weak. Johnston walked through Anderson's service,' winning the sixth to thirty, and. the seventh to fifteen, serving two aces -and making a placement: The American won the eighth off Anderson's service to love It was heart- ; breaking .to see the Australian stand helpless before the, American's shrewd placements and hard drives. ... Johnston won the set, 62.

Errors on Both Sides. After ten minutes' rest, which the players needed, both having shown signs of fatigue when leaving the courts, the match 7 was resumed. The first game showed, both players at tlieir worst, making errors -repeatedly on easy shots, both netting from forehand, backhand, and overhead. The game wavered with errors until Johnston netted and hit out, and Anderson won it after deuce had been called three times. The American broke through Anderson's service, the latter playing weakly, and Johnston won the second to 30. Johnston was still attempting to drive to Anderson's backhand, but because the American's shots lacked the requisite speed and Anderson was very quick, the Australian ran round them, taking them on ihe forehand. The Australian broke through the American's service, winning the third game after deuce. ■,/:,,•■■ • '". ,//, >

Anderson again bringing a stinging forehand into play, won the fourth to 30. Johnston was dropping into errors, and strangely permitting possible shots to. go by him .for. placements* while, he stood: idly watching. Anderson won the fifth. aftbr deuce twice,- -.breaking - through; Johnston's, service. ~ The Australian; gained the ', final. points' by ,a ' placement; to the base-line and a double fault by; Johnston. Anderson now returned to an erratic patch, driving easy shots -out; and: the American won'the, sixth to 30 on his! opponent's 'service.' .Johnston' resumed the: tactics of driving ;to jthe Australian's backhand repeatedly, and ' succeeded . in forcing Anderson ] into errors,- with the; result thaVthe'Airnerijbari won .the seventh! game after deuce.' -. 4 ,'. ; . .; . ". ""' j Both men,were playing' the back of the; court game. ': Johnston, occasionally came j to the net, 'btfti • Anderson was playing uniformly at : the/ back of the court. The; eighth game-was spectacular, .despite. the j astounding , number of .errors made - : by both players. Anderson made wonderful recoveries, winning the final point on an out. by Johnston, Johnston won the ninth to 15 on his service, Anderson driving out and putting too much force behind, bis; (stroke, Again Anderson's

errors counted hsavily against him,' Johnston winning "the tenth to 30. Johnston, however, showed himself weak .at crucial points in -the ■ eleventh game by netting an easy overhead shot and then driving out. Anderson won the eleventh to ; 30. Ho stood within ;a; point of the set in the twelfth when he double-faulted, but won the game after deuce twice, and the set, 7—5,. ... The match resolved itself into a titanic struggle between these giants of ' tennis. There was little to choose-between, both they were playing magnificently and badly, but it was Anderson who furnished the real sensation of . the match. Anderson won the first three "games to thirty, love, and fifteen. In the second game Anderson served four '• aces, the American standing bewildered, motionless and deeply disconcerted. Anderson played such . tennis as Americans never believed him capable of, even when he defeated Tilden two years ago.' Johnston held his ground bravely, and despite a physical disadvantage pulled himself together and won the fourth game after deuce had been called.

■ Anderson to Ascendant. Johnston's nerve, however, could not hold, and ho lost the fifth game at deuce, serving a double fault at the last point. Anderson now held victory in his hands. His position was strategic for a win, because he could wait for his own service and try for aces. Anderson played like a strategist, winning " the sixth game to love. He permitted Johnston to outrun j himself in over-anxiety; he played carefully and Johnston made errors. Excitement was tremendous ■ in the seventh game,, which stood forty-love in favour of Anderson, when ' the little Californian pulled himself together and really outplayed the Australian, . winning it from deuce. Thus Anderson stood within a point of the match, but lost it. The American broke through Anderson's service, the Australian making many errors. As the set concluded the crowd was on its feet shouting so wildly that the umpire was compelled to interrupt . the match and caution the spectators. , Anderson dominated the situation, and Johnston was a beaten man. He led 30 love in the eighth game, but Anderson went in and absolutely overwhelmed him. taking point after point. The American was desperately striving to control the game, but was making errors. Anderson won the game, the set, 6— and the match. The record of the match was:— . . Place Doubla merits. Aces. Nets. Outs, faults. Anderaon ..37 7 47 C 3" 13 Johnston ..35 8 Cfl 43 "7

HAWKES OUTCLASSED. EASY WIN FOR TILDEN. A. and N.Z. NEW YORK. Aug. 81. In the first set of the match Tilden v. Hawkes, Hawkes began with a- moral advantage due to Anderson's victory, but Tilden came forth determined to cut the match as short as possible. - Hawkes served, and the service' looked a familiar twist which Tilden seemed to know how to handle, for he won the first game 9—7. Tilden, serving, unleashed his usual cannonball, and won the second game to love, Hawkes hardly being able to touch the ball. Hawkes' service in the third game began with ' a • baffling twist,'and Hawkes won the game to 15, but Tilden won the fourth on his own service again to love, and broke through Hawkes' service cleverly, winning the fifth after a deuce. It cannot be said that these players were evenly matched. Tilden's v great « speed alone, was sufficient to beat a player of Hawkes', calibre. Hawkes is steady, but lacks force against such an expert as Tilden. . ...

Tilden won the sixth game to 30, his service counting completely, - Hawkes being unable to handle it. Hawkes was making a game effort to play for each advantage, and his accuracy was counting. He was making placements, executing clever stop volleys, and working brilliantly with ground strokes; His usual steadiness was . also counting heavily for him. He won the service and the seventh game 4—2, by fine tennis", which .at times became really brilliant. He broke through Tildeu'3 service' in the eighth game, winning it to love by placements, and won the ninth on his own service, by steady errorless play. • Tilden's service, however, won the tenth game for him to -5, and the set, 6—4.

• ' Opponent's Measure Taken. In the second set Tilden seemed thoroughly cognisant of . the eccentricities of Hawkes' service, and he broke through, winning the first game to 30. Hawkes was executing fine ' stop volleys by advancing to the net, but Tilden often drove by him for placements. Tilden won the second game to 15. Tilden watt playing confidently, and his superiority was evident. He was not hard driven to make points or force the ' Australian into errors, The American was commanding all strokes so well that he offered but little opportunity for any player to find a weak spot, and he was playing completely up to form. Tilden won the third to 15, absolutely overwhelming his opponent, and the' fourth to 30. Tilden now seemed to slacken his pace occasionally as if" to give the Australian a little more chance.

•Hawkes continued to work hard. Although facing inevitable defeat he did not slacken for a moment, and by clever change of pace caught Tilden by placements and won the fifth game to 15. Tilden, however, returned with a vicious service in the sixth game, winning to 30. It cannot be said that Hawkes was losing by errors. His opponent was winning by earned points. ... Tilden at any critical moment came forward with such dazzling shots from both forehand and backhand that his opponent's racquet could not touch them. Hawkes struggled hard to hold his service, . and succeeded in winning the seventh game Tilden won the eighth to 15 on placements, and tho set, 6—2.

Tilden not Extended. ■ It seemed clear now that Hawkes was decisively defeated. " He displayed weariness, and, although still bravely struggling, the ; odds wore too great against him. Tildert was now. riot playing at his. full capacity • He was serving .easily, and not struggling hard to. make recoveries in .difficult shots, but when a douco game becatrio a struggle Tilden; played hard,, and . usually" won: Tilden won the first game. 7—l, the second 6—4,. and the third 5—3: Tilden was scoring by aces, and-; placements continuously. He won the third .- 5-~3. ; 'i- Hawkes' was now- apparently losing his nerve. He was . making'many errors, netting easy returns, or hitting- them out. Tilden won the fourth game 4—l, and Hawkes won the fifth on Tilden's errors'. Tilden. was riot? half trying.. , -He seemed 'to i.be- thoroughly ■convinced of; his • own superiority. •• Tilden , won , the sixth v gamer- to. love on his Mer~ : vice, and broke' Hawkes service, ,the seventh to love, set, 6/-J4' aridthe match.;- ; ■ / "' ".:"'. -~';./. ; : ' 'An idea of'the disparity .of the players [. can be; gained from the fact -.that . the., match took - only 50 minutes to "play.' Hawkes did his best, and was a sturdy loser, but far from a match for Tilden. Tho record of tho match is:~ ,' ' Place-' ' Double ments. Aces. Nets. Outs, faults. Tilden ;. 5 1 &. 7 0 HfJAvkea »■, fi 0 10 16 X \