Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-22

There we're several interesting contests in
the open tennis tournament yesterday, but the
great event Of the day was the fine display
made by the Hall brothers in the single finals.
The large and fashionable audience that wit
messed this game showed their appreciation by
frequent bursts Of applause. As mere exhi-
bition Of skill and endurance the game has
never been equalled in any tennis tournament
that has ever been held in this city. The two
players were evenly matched, as the specta-
tors soon discovered to their surprise, for it
was supposed that Valentine Hall, the elder,
would be an easy winner.
THE HALL BROTHERS.
Valentine Hall, as is well known. ranks high
as a tennis player. With Hobart he holds the
championship in doubles of the United States,
and as a single PLAYER he is classed by several
among the ten leading players of the country.
His brother, Edward Hall. has as yet attained
no prominence as a tennis player and his vic
tory yesterday will be apt to give him a rank
ing among the best PLAYERS of the country. He
has been carefully trained by his brother, and
yesterday he showed that he was An apt pupil.
Valentine Hall did not allow his brotherly af-
lection to give Eddie, as he is called. any ad-
vantage. The game was honestly contested
throughout. Both men played hard, as their
appearance fully indicated. The remarkable
feature of the game was the accuracy and judy
ment displayed by both players. Their
line playing was practically perfect, and
t their mastery .h placing was continued
test of accuracy and endurance and in
this latter particular Valentine Hall did not
show himself to be the equal Of his brother.
IL Is said that he was not in good condition,
but however that was he lost fairly yesterday,
and to his brother belongs the credit Of hay
ing won by hard work and good playing.
PLACING WAS THE FEATURE.
As has been stated the feature of the game Of
both players was placing. There was but little
loving or MASKING. The aim of the players
seemed to place the ball in that part of the
court where it would be most difficult to re-
turn it. The playing was therefore to the left
and in this way was shown a marvellous e1hi-
bition of line playing. Stroke after stroke
placed the ball to the extreme left Of the courts,
sometimes on the line, nearly always near it
and yet seldom outside that difficult limit.
The men were evidently familiar with each
others play, and yet such was the quickness Of
judgment displayed that if one started for the
left in anticipation Of stroke In that
direction his rashness was punished by
having the ball securely placed to his
right. The younger Hall started In with
the advantage of winning two straight SETS
Then Valentine took a set and followed it up by
winning the next. The game stood in sets two
all and the play in the last set was watched with
more than ordinary interest. The sympathies
of the audience were naturally with the younger
player and he was nerved to do his best by the
applause with which his strokes were greeted.
Valentine Halls play showed a decided falling
OF, indicating that his endurance was not equal
to that of his brother. He secured three
games in the last set and then jumped over the
net and shook hands with his brother con-
graduating him upon the victory gained. The
audience broke out in round after round of ap-
plause and displayed more enthusiasm than is
usually seen about tennis court