New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10
LAWN TENNIS IN AMERICA,
THE LEADING PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
<xvrcurs or rug "cRAcKs" AND THE CONTESTS
ny AN EXPERT.

THE LEADING PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
<xxrcurs OF ruE "cRAcxs" AND THE CONTESTS
BY AN EXPERT.
The lawn tennis season OF 1885 now pracnoany
concluded has been by all odds the most successiu'
both in the quantity aud quality of play OF oil OF the
eleven IN the history Of the game in America From
1878 wben DIR James Dwight and Frederic Sears. tho
elder brother Of the champion. imported the frat set
40 ,h,. country until 1851 the game was La rather
chaotic condition Few people its possibilities,
and IA VA. 6naly rather society gathering than
otherwise that the annual championship tournament
wa. started at Newport in August. 1881. but WINE
retaining it's old place the game OF society tennis
aimee then has made itself new one a. an American
sport Up ls@ year season wssan improvements
In point OF skill over the previous ones while ne 10
make % for the unicco6ntabe bad play OF 1850 the
present year has brought the standard OF the game
for. ard az rapid pace. Did not such comparisons
,arake too much Of guess -work II would be safe to
SAY that one Mr. searss younger hrothers who docs
not to-day rank in the first ten. would give the cham
MON himself hard rub. had not the latter improved
over nj. form of 1854 To the great Improvement OF
those Ia ia. front rank OF former years ia attributed
the fact that no new players have dstaneed item IN
the game in lss6
Abont a wear a,o rnr TRIBUNE. in an article similar
e. the present one gave the respective ranks OF the
leading players OF the conntr' tor lsso as follows :
1 Sears; 2. Dwight; 3. Berry 4. Brinley o. Clark :
o. Moaat; T. Bceckman; :. Taylor; y, M"nshelu ;
10 kna2p. II. Slocum; IL, Van Rensselaer,. Now
note the changes that year has made
Early In the season II evident that lawn tennis
wonld be IN great favor from the number OF tourna
ments be ne held especially near New York but the
interest wa- dampened a degree by the succession
Of victories of X Livingston Bccckman OF this city
A. a rule he found 20 oppose him except his
PARTNER ia doubles Henry w Socum ir. of Brooklyn.
aud at that time Mr Socum also could only stand p to
be Knocked down. The spring tournament at Orange
Hoboken. and Hastings, Mr.. Becckman won from Mr.
elocum as well "a the Philadelphia tournament the
mos, noteworthy contest carly in the year There he
Leaf very easly besides Slocnm Alexander Mohat oil
Princeton and Joseph : Clark. OF Philadelphia but
In an exhibition game had to yield as usual 10 the
champion Richard ID Sears. of Boston DIR. James
Dwight of Boston had not yet returned from abroad
and Mr. Becckmlns position second in the country
was for n time nnquestoned. lie was playing grace
in steady gam strong throughout, but especially so
in his side line strokes Though he had beaten nobody
of Importance bnt Clark and slocum. yet people
rightly thought he had good chance even against
Mr. Sears for the championship His form was OF
the best
THE FINE PLAY OF BEECKMAN AND sLOCUM
During the early part of July with the exception OF
n contest AT New Haven. which Slocum won handiy.
Mr. Brnley also contesting tournaments rested. and
PLAYERS retired practise for the harder contests OF
the mid summer season. And this retirement was OF
especial value TO men, Messrs. Clark. above men
TONED. and Howard A. Taylor. of New York While
the former after his poor play against Beeckman was
looked upon BY the younger rather out OF date
Mr. Taylor's game in an even more sorrowfui
state Since the spranng OF his wrist two years as
IA the Intercole gate he had been playing poorly,
and after winter in Europe. arrived in this country
Ga June in form than ever lie bad given up all
intention of playing again. but as business unexpect
edly permitted he recalled his decision, and went In
for hard practice with Clark at Philadelphia. IT
first Clark though playing poorly himself was
clearly superior but later his Improvement just
suaiccd to maintain him his position.
Rockaway was the first place to usher in a new
order of things charming tournament was held
there late IN July after which the lines were much
more clearly defined about the players. For the first
nlaee IL was evident that uofat would not fulfil his
promise of the previous year Lack OF practice may
have accounted for it, but more probably deficiency
IN Judgment and head work in his play 1t was seen
that he must resign from the head fanks' nor IN n
did he contest at Newport at all. Mr.. berry, also
who had been in the van in 1880, made the worst
tumble OF the year. his play lacking all confidence,
and ringing hun success Knapp ana van hens-
selaer were out of the field altogether and that lett
n art from Sears and Dwight, four 10 SIX remaining
men in the front rank. Beeckman, slocum Clark ana
TAYLOR we're there, and prObaly also Godfrey NJ.
Brnley. OF Trinity College, aud Frederick s. Mans
field OF Boston. Of these two men the former later
sboweI excellent plav. but the latter did not.
However, TO return to the Rockaway tournament II
was the battle of the year for Slocum. Beginning
with Mohat he next won from Layton ana IN IN the
finals scored his first match of Beeckman. Though
The later was perhaps not in condition at the time
st that is scarcely an excuse ana Slocun ceLlainla
game was at It's best and barring Sears and Dwight
lis play would then have contested with Clark the
PALM Tor supremacy. Mr Taylor was showing H. y
provsment bat was not yet up to the other crack