Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-20
IAN EVENT IN LAWN TENNIS.
Fall of the Renshaws-Beaten While
Playing the Game Of Their Lives.

From the London Sunday Times
The lawn tennis season, which may be said 20
be now in full swing. will this year run its
course-or. at least. the earlier portion OF it
under conditions that differ somewhat from
those Of any previous one. For many years
past the name Of Reushaw has always been
synonymous with pre-eminence in the game,
for, on the occasion when II. F. Lawford won
the championship ". Renshaw was q compui-
sorry spectator by reason OF an injured arm.
and whenever district or other minor cham
pionship has been won by another player il was
always felt that the victory achieved on
suferance, as it were, for when q Renshaw is
chsmpion he leaves all minor English single
championships TO others. The brothers have
been so long at the top OF the tree through
their excellent play and their capacity for
adapting themselves TO the IMPROVEMENT of
others, 50 as to appear every wear as far ahead
as ever. that 1t seemed as though they were
never TO be dispossessed of their supremacy so
long as they chose to play the game
But the result of last weeks Irish CHAMPION
ship will put slightly different aspect on az
fairs, the brothers Renshaw having been de-
feated on consecutive days by W. J: Hamilton,
the best of the many good players that Ireland
has yet produced. This player defeated w
Renshaw IN last years championship at VIM
bledon, this being the fourth time only in his
career that this particular Renshaw had been
beaten in a single-handed match, but the
beaten man was not the man he had been or
Is now. Besides, Hamilton was defeated by T.
Renshaw IN the final round as he had been
IN the Irish championship in the preceding
May. This year, II is admitted, the brothers
are playing as well as ever they did in their
lyes so 1t is IN the highest degree TO the credit
OF Hamilton that be should at last have reached
so high stage of perfection that he is able to
beat them fairly on their merits
We do not share the wonderment that has
been expressed at one man being able TO beat
the pair, for so equal are the Renshaws ac-
kno~ledged to be at the present time that il is
but natural that player able TO defeat one
should be equal to defeating the other also IL
would have been very much more surprising
II the brothers had been beaten by different
players. 1t Is sufficiently marked epoch in
the game when one man is found equal to the
task; and we may be sure that il will be a
keenly discussed topic in all lawn tennis circles
for many day to come. To beat W. ]. HAM
ilton means the bringing into play OF every de-
vice that experience has taught or ingenuity
and agility can invent.
The presence of the Renshaws at country
tournaments will not be less successful than
usual, and expect that the "Renshaw rush. {"
which leaves the second-class PLAYERS who IN
to the moment OF a Renshaw taking his stand
at court, have monopolized the attention of
the spectators, deserted and wondering will
lose none OF Its eagerness. The Renshaws,
apart from the halo Of victory that has sur
rounded them, have always been very popular
players. Their style has always been so grace
tul and good, and they seem 10 make difficult
strokes IN way no one else does. besides
doing things that no other player ever dreamed
OF. 1t Is not too much to say that when the
brothers enter a four-handed court to oppose q
good pair, spectators settle themselves down
for positive treat, and there is always a re-
greet felt when the match is over And this in
spite OF the fact that they rarely play four
handed match consistently hard all through.
IL was this weakness that caused them TO go
down in Ireland last week before an inferior
although very excellent pair.
So far as others than the Messrs. Renshaw
themselves are concerned, there is every reason
Tor congratulation at their defeat in Ireland,
for the championship at Wimbledon is sure to
see renewal of the interesting struggle for
supremacy. On this occasion Hamilton will as
In Ireland. have to meet. either actually or col
laterally, W. Renshaw in the preliminary COM
petition, and, if he wins that, Z. Renshaw in
the championship round, and the whole lawn
tennis world will be anxious to see if he can re-
peat his new form of Renshaw smash"