New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-22
BRILLIANT PLAY AT NEWPORT.
NEEr. BEATS STEVENS IN A CLOSE MATCH-oNLY
-FOUR MEN LEFT.

NEEr BEATS STEVENS IN A CLOSE MATCH-ONIY
-FOUR MEN LEFT.
Newport r. l.. Aug. q (SpeciaD. -To-day's play
ing In the National lawn tennis tournament was
rnquestionably the most exciting and brilliant OF
the week Although nothing occurred I'm the nature
of an upset, Nccl and Bob Wrenn were winners by
so close margin as TO leave the outcome In doubt
TO the very end
Neel is regarded as the dark horse Of the tourna-
ment. and his work against Stevens to-day was
watched with the closest interest, as Stevens Is
the first crack he has been called upon 10 play
since the tournament began During the first two
sets Neel had no difficulty In maintaining his su-
piemacy. His brilliant net game In which his
chief strength lies, gave little opportunity for
Stevens to score. As the match advanced, however
Stevens's magnificent staying power began TO tell
IN his favor The third set was chalked up TO him
after long struggle OF sixteen games. in which
Ncel repeatedly passed at the net on shots the
force and accuracy of which nothing could excel
In the fourth Stevens even more brilliant
In picking spots the side lines AND corners
and for time II looked though his superior en-
durance would win the day. lie was within a
point of the set which would have tied the score
when Neeis careful voeying coupled with his
strong service. finally pulled him out OF the hole
and made him the victor at 81.
r. d. Wrenn the ex-champion. won his way into
the semi finals by defeating his brother, George
Wrenn, who surprised every by the cleverness
which threatened to cut his brother out of tho
race. only to fail at the critical moment and allow
the ex-champion to win out.
Larncd found little difficulty In taking three
straight sets from Whitman. the Harvard crack
although the lattcr's peculiar corkscrew service
seemed TO bother him somewhat for while
Larned contented himself with playing chiefly from
the back Of the court and apparently did not think
il necessary to his game any extent
His ground strokes were capital. but where he
especially distinguished himself was In his smash
ing which was remarkably deep and
r. =. Fischer found sheldon more difficult oppo-
nent to handle. and the match closely con-
tested throughout Sheldon used the same brilliant
vOlleyng that proved so disastrous to Ware yester-
day, but Fischers better reach and stronger drives
aged TO hold the New Yorker back for set but
ultimately defeated. Tomorrow Fischer Is
drawn to play Larned in the sem-hnals while Neel
will meet Wrenn in the same round
During the afternoon the intcrscholastic matches
pushed TO the final round. and tomorrow
Reginald Fincke, OF Yale, will be pitted against G.
NJ Edwards OF Harvard. for the championship OF
the association. The score:
Championship singles nhird roqnd,-c, b. Neel beat
S WrsSn - - %TsaP 5 ssa' q /
sbssgn r - 81 "a Fischer beat @ P
Consolation singles preliminary oundlJ; F. Talmase
". Post by default: j. Mel. Walton beat J. IL stevens
+. BY de default; T. Lyman beat W " Reese by default
beat Dean Miller by default.
"a Fr't rsuDa-! TaT nag: }r ,, O;a' cs-pest.
6, Mel. Walton beat y. p Hallowel d, 81;
G. NJ EDWARDS beat = lyman, by default; r. FIncke
Second ro9ndCJ y Tsmase r.. beat II. Z. Avery.
default. '''"' ''A' . mel" ""'0"' ''
lHer'choastlc singles preliminary round)-J. Mel.
fault.
Walton. Columbia 6-i. 60 90 X. Fincke Yale bat
J. X Willing Pennsylvania. g. G-l. 81. %