Forest Hills

The jerky Long Island R. R. trains, the bumpy, pot-holed Long Island motor roads, were ram-jammed to capacity by thronging tennis enthusiasts crowding toward Forest Hills, L. I., to see if and how anyone would humble elongated William T. Tilden II, of Philadelphia, national champion the past four years, in the 1924 national singles play.

The throngs crushed past tall brick apartments which, flanked by many tennis courts and faced by the concrete stadium, give Forest Hills the appearance of a "tennis factory." They crushed up into the stadium and out among the far-flung courts, watching, sizing up, arguing, betting.

Though the entry list teemed with potent names, opinion was that Tilden still had "an edge" on all comers. "Little Bill" Johnston, world's champion in 1923, national champion in 1915 and 1919, stood second in ability, easily first in popularity.

Early rounds were attended by heavy rain, postponements and several unforeseen results. George Lott Jr., of Chicago, national junior champion, reached the fourth round at the expense of R. Norris Williams (just elected non-playing captain of the U. S. Davis Cup team), Willard Crocker (captain of the Canadian Davis Cup team), and A. H. Chapin, hardy perennial of many title matches. John Hennessey, Indianapolis "cyclone," a player with no national ranking, whipped French Jean Borotra, 1924

Wimbledon champion.* Kirk Reid, of Ohio, another unranked player, formerly of Cornell University, took the measure of Pat O'Hara Wood, famed Australian.

The semi-finals found Tilden facing Vincent Richards, his onetime protege and doubles partner, now Olympic champion. Tilden had brushed aside all opposition, losing two sets only in four matches, one to Alonso, sleek Spaniard, one to Howard Kinsey, ubiquitous Californian and national doubles champion. "Little Bill" Johnston was in the other bracket, up against Gerald Patterson, smashing Australian.

"Little Bill" required only 42 minutes to drive powerful Patterson from the court, 6-2, 6-0, 6-0. Stored in Johnston's spidery, shrunken little frame was a force that utterly amazed the galleries. "Big Bill" was seriously extended and outgeneraled by Richards during four smashing sets. In the fifth he drew himself up to his full tennis height, rallied stoutly, squelched the last but one obstacle to a fifth consecutive title. In the finals, Big Bill removed this last obstacle, game though it was, in straight sets; 6--1, 9--7, 6--2. Little Bill struggled valiantly--to no avail.

* The Wimbledon title no longer carries with it the world's championship.