Tilden v. Richards

William Tatem Tilden II had not played Vincent Richards for five years because Richards was a professional and the U. S. Lawn Tennis Association would not countenance official matches between pros and amateurs. But after Tilden turned pro himself (TIME, Jan. 12) a match between them loomed. Shrewdly Promoter Jack Curley, tsar of U. S. professional tennis, built up for this match a lusty Irish ballyhoo startling in tennis* although routine in Mr. Curley's boxing and wrestling enterprises. He had the rivals issue derisive statements about each other which neither would under any circumstances have uttered. Curley further built up Tilden by sending him on tour with Karel Kozeluh for 37 matches, of which Tilden won 33. Then he posted $10,000 for the best three out of five matches between Tilden and Richards.

One night last week before a crowd which had paid $40,000 to be in Madison Square Garden Tilden put the first ball of the first match in play and Richards returned it. Much fatter than he was in the old days, but still fast, a strong server, and with the possible exception of Borotra the best volleyer in the world, Richards had warmed up for the match by beating John Doeg, national amateur champion, four straight sets on an indoor court. Now, against Tilden, he started coming up to the net, ran out the first set 7-5. This first set seemed at terrific speed, but in the next set Tilden began really to unleash his serve. As Richards ran in to volley Tilden slammed drives at his feet, forced him into errors and defensive half volleys, sent him racing back to the baseline for perfect lobs. Richards was beginning to tire. He stopped running up, hung on the baseline as Tilden wanted him to. For no player except Henri Cochet is able to beat Tilden in the backcourt, and this evening Tilden was playing as he did from 1920 to 1926, when no one in the world had a chance against him. His drives, with the terrific leverage of the long, springlike body behind them, were hitting the lines for aces; his cut strokes were forcing errors; he was coming up to the net and volleying whenever he felt like it. In her mezzanine box, Cinemactress Gloria Swanson grew tired of clapping, but Promoter Jack Curley was not tired. Round and round the arena he tramped, carrying a cane, wearing white pants, a blue coat and the only straw hat in the house, his round face beaming on all the fine people who had come to his tennis match. In the last part of the last set "Richards, outthought and outplayed, rallied a little, but not effectively. It was Tilden's evening: 5-7, 6-0, 6-1, 6-3.

*Perhaps inspired by Curley's methods, Tilden has had himself incorporated. Outstanding securities are $30,000 preferred stock at $100, and 1,000 shares of common no par value. One of the largest stockholders in Tilden Tennis Tour Inc. is W. T. Tilden II.

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