The San Francisco call., 1896-09-10
TENNIS At DEL MONTE
Robert N. and George F. Whit
ney Champion Doubles
of the Coast.
They Win From Hardy and Driscoll
in an Exciting Contest-Con-
ISOLATION Tourney.

DEL MONTE, CAL, Sept. a-Robert N.
and George T. Whitney are the champion
double tennis players of the Pacific Coast.
They earned this title by defeating Hardy
and Driscoll in the final round of the all
corners tournament at Del Monte.
The court was crowded for over an hour
before play commenced, and when the
game was called every available space
from which view could be obtained was
occupied. at 3 o'clock the Whitney
brothers appeared on the court and passed
the ball for a few minutes until Hardy and
Driscoll arrived. Both teams were
heartily applauded by their respective
admirers.
Captain o. c. Bergman of the battle
ship Oregon was in the scorers chair, and
DR.. George Rothganger and Anthony
Kaesar were the umpires.
Robert Whitney commenced to serve,
and through nervousness lost the first
game to Hardy and Driscoll. From start
to finish this set was Hardy and Driscolps.
They killed their opponents short Iobs
with great speed and accuracy. George
Whitney played his usual steady game,
but his brother seemed to be considera bly
off In his strokes, particularly his drive,
which found the net three times out OF
four. The Whitneys made squirt at one
stage of the set and tied the score at four
all, but Hardy and Driscou by phenom-
email net play took the next two games and
sets TO 4.
No rest was taken after this set and
play was begun on the second. The
Whitneys seemed to brace perceptibly,
and, having lost all their nervousness,
soon assumed the lead and by we'll
timed lobbing and driving ran the set out,
6 to 3.
1t was now set all and the result was as
much in doubt as ever. The third set was
the most interesting of all from the fact
that 1t abounded with brilliant work by
both teams, some of the rallies being long
and severe, the ball passing the net in one
rally more than twenty times. After
coming within at point of winning several
times Hardy and Driscoll lost the set to
their rapidly impressing opponents, 9 to Z.
Each team had been winning on their
service and when IN the fourth set the
Whitney brothers had the score five games
to three and Robert Whitney serving it
seemed as though the match was abou I
even, but here the winning team went to
pieces and lost the game and finally the
set, z to B..
This made two sets all and after short
rest play was resumed. 1t was easily seen
that all four players were very tired and
the play had settled down to sure and
steady playing with little or no brilliancy.
The Whitneys lost the first three games
and then seeming to nerve themselves
gave as fine an exhibition of tennis as has
ever been seen on the coast and won six
straight games, set match and double
championship of the coast.
This entities the victors to the four sill
yer cups, two TO become their absolute
property and two to hold for year at
least.
The consolation tournament was played
off this morning, and Nicholson and Gage
carried off the prize, defeating Drs. Decker
and Rothganger in the finals to 2, TO 8,
to 4. The match brought out some good
tennis, and had the naval men been as
fresh as their opponents the score would
nave undoubtedly been reversed.