New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-13

WHY ENTRIES IN TENNIS MATCHES ARE
FEW

TIN pprxc,p,r TOURNAMENT IN PROsPEcT-rALK
ABOUT THE CLUBS AND The COURTS.
The chief incident in tennis circles in the past
,eo, bas of course been the Middle States Amateur
Championship Tournament at tie IT. Georges
Cricket Grounds Hoboken. At oae time 1t looked
a. if the tournament, which Is regarded as one OF
the most in portant features OF the season among
lawn-tennis players, would have to be postponed
In fact on Monday only three entries had been re-
cejved and if it had not been for the remarkable
manner IN which names were entered that night
and the following day. it is proabe that the tourna-
rnent would have been a complete failure. AS 1t
WAS il cannot be regarded a complete success.
he entries IN the first place. were not as numerous
as last season. nor did they include the great play
ers while the attendance was meagre in the sk-
IRENE. as compared with last years The reason
for the drninutiOn of players in such tournaments
has recently been explained by an authority on
lawn tennis AS at present Managed says he.
these contests will gradually decrease IN number
because of the superiority Of few men among tie
mass of players As solution OF the dlhcuIty II
is proposed to have handicap matches in which the
better PLAYERS will have tn concede points to the
poorer and thus to equalize matters TO great ex-
teri. This would give the younger men chance TO
show what they could do, would doubtless cause a
marked increase in the number Of entries in the
various tournaments, and moreover, would greatly
increase the interest taken IN healthy and pretty
snort. which can be shared in by both sexes.
In the Middle States tournament rs was gener-
ally expected. Beeckman and Slocum won the
doubles At the time of writing the singles lad not
been finished. but everything pointed to Beeckinan
as the winner Of the championship. Beeckman,
always a pretty player has improved wonderfully
this season. In the invitation tournament last
week at Philadelphia, IN which he played The
veteran Il. D. Sears, for five years and at present
champion Of The United State 5, lie was only beaten
by score of 10 to :. 1t may he that Beecknlan
will vet become champion, position toward
which, by the way. II Is said be has asDlratiOn-.
Il. ID. Sears at iioboken during the tournament.
He did not play owing 10 u slight spran u his
shoulder on account of which he deems IL advisa 10
to husband all his trength for the great Newport
tournament. His twin brothers, ii. Nj. aud /. +.
sears bright young athletes from Harvard entered
and plaVrd IN tie tournament. and attracted con
siderable aiten owing TO their relationship with
the great player. They played a neat and pretty
game Lut were outpayed by the oder men A.
keyser OF England. also played although without
success. Mr.. keyser has only arrived from the old
country within tho last few weeks but his tennis
Was much admired, and ii was SAID That he greatly
r.seInbled the famous Reushawe. alter lrimb ie,
he secretary OF the It Georges Clnb WORKED III
defutigahly over & details OF the ufnhnent, an
II is probable that had II not been Tor his eHorls n
would have proved dismal failure. smlthson =
courts were much admired, and players said =
Better or trner courts would be found tHr"ugnou ,
the United States They presented beautiful apt
pearauce on each day Of the contest.
The next important incident IN the lawn-tennis