Fall of Tilden

William Tatem Tilden II has lorded over the .U. S. tennis world pretty much to his liking for the past ten years. From time to time he has knuckled under to the U. S. Lawn Tennis Association, but never has an individual player or official flouted his prestige. Last week at Forest Hills, L. I., during the national men's singles championship matches he suffered more than one setback.

To begin with, in the quarter-final match between burly young John Doeg* of California and Tilden's bosom friend, Frank Hunter, Tilden insisted on audibly coaching Hunter from the sidelines. So annoying did this become that the tournament committee asked him to leave the enclosure. Then Tilden declined to play his match with John Van Ryn until the Doeg-Hunter contest was over, explaining that the applause (for Tilden) of the spectators might disturb Hunter. The committee hesitated. If Tilden were crossed too often he might leave the tournament, jeopardizing its financial success. But Dr. Philip B. Hawk, acting referee in the absence of President Louis B. Dailey of the U. S. L. T. A., telephoned his chief for authority to act alone. Then he asked Tilden how long it would take him to get dressed. "Fifteen minutes," said Tilden "Very well," said Dr. Hawk. "I'll give you 20." Tilden dressed, took out his annoyance on Van Ryn, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

Knowing well that he is past his prime, that oncoming years will not add to his stamina, Tilden was out this year to break the record established in 1887 by Richard D. Sears in winning the singles title seven times. John Doeg, having beaten Tilden's friend Hunter, thus confronted a Tilden thrice-stimulated--by petulance, revenge, ambition. And thus, as John Doeg began to win, it was altogether a distressing afternoon for Tilden. Time and again the latter stopped play to wait for the gallery to quiet itself. Finally Doeg, a youngster the like of whom has kowtowed to Tilden for years, suggested that they quit bickering and play tennis. In the second set Tilden fell trying to recover a shot. After that he hobbled around, glowering, displaying occasional samples of the brilliant game he used to exhibit consistently. He could not get through Doeg's smashing left-hand service, losing at love nine out of his opponent's last 16 service games. Doeg, never surefooted, never brilliant, aced him 28 times, played Tilden's deep backhand to thwart the maestro's terrific placement game. With the match score 10-8, 6-3, 3-6 in Doeg's favor, the crowd sat on the edge of their cushions at the beginning of the last set. Still quarreling with decisions, Tilden mustered all his declining strength, twice made breathless leaps for "impossible" shots that will be remembered at Forest Hills a long time. But it was strong young John Doeg who finally broke through and won the set at 12-10.

Next day, pacing nervously about under the officials' marquee, chastened Tilden witnessed a great battle between two youngsters from the East and West: Doeg of California, 22, 6 ft. i in. and Frank X. Shields of New York, 20, 6 ft., the most youthful contestants ever to play in the U. S. title singles finals. Lanky Shields was by far the more polished performer, his backhand often acing Doeg's serve, which had little threat for him, down the sidelines. But Doeg, nerveless at all times, continued to chop and drive, scoring well with his net and ground shots. The fourth set was the longest ever played in the final of a U. S. singles title match. Doeg won 16-14, bringing California her first singles championship since 1919 when small William Johnston, who three months ago entered a sanitarium to cure a lung ailment, beat William Tatem Tilden II.

Doeg, nephew of May Sutton Bundy (first American woman to win at Wimbledon, 25 years ago) announced after the match: he would defend his title until defeated, then retire.

-Pronounced "Dough-egg."

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