The Portland daily press., 1897-08-04
SOME BRILLIANT TENNIS.
Opening of International Tournament at
Hoboken.

New York, August 3.-There was some
brilliant tennis in the opening matches
of the international tournament on the
grounds of 5he ST. George cricket club at
Hoboken today. The visiting English
experts arrived from Boston on Sunday
night and are being entertained by Rich
ard Stevens, at his residence in Hoboken.
America is being represented by r. D..
Wrenn, the champion of the United States !;
Geo. Wrenn, the old Massachusetts cham
pion, and W. A. Larned, fresh from his
laurels at Longwood. The tournament,
coming as it does, so shortly before the
national meeting at Newport, is one OF
special Importance in the tennis world
for the rating which it will establish will
form capitol criterion of the chances
Of the leading contestants in that event.
The American players did not prove as
successful as it had been hoped that they
would, Larned being the only one to de-
feat his man. Larned was drawn against
Nisbet, the youngest of the English trio,
and though the latter put up a clever
game, he was ultimately beaten by a
score of three sets to one The American
seemed in splendid form and his strokes
were delivered with dash and finish
that won applause.
The Englishman attempted lobbing
game in the hope of weakening his op-
ponent, but Larned smashed the sky
scrapers back at him with viciousness
that made return impossible. If Nisbet
tried to entrench himself at the tape,
Larned would send the balls skimming
short to the side lines, where they could
not be reached. This sort of contest was
kept up throughout the remainder of the
struggle and though it availed the Eng
lishman somewhat, Larned was never for
moment in danger.
Meanwhile the match between Mahony
and G. L. Wrenn had been decided on
an adjoining court, Mahoney winning
in three straight sets.
While this event was not popular with
the gallery, the contestest between Eayes
and Bob Wrenn was peculiarly SO. Ad-
vantage swung back and forth during
five long sets and not until the very last
strokes were played was it possible to
predict the result. WrenD displayed q pluck
and nerve sthat was marvellous. Several
times when he appeared beaten, he would
put on a bit more speed and pull himself
out of danger amid intense enthusiasm.
He was finally beaten, however, by a
score of three sets to two.
With the match two sets all, and four
sets all on the fifth set, the ninth game
IN this set went to Eaves, making it
0-4. Upon the next rested Wrenn's only
hope of victory. That he worked with
all the zeal of which he is capable, is
shown by the fact that vantage was
called six times before Eaves managed to
win out ahead. The deciding points drew
forth intense interest. The scores stood
all even for the fifth time when Wrenn
drove out of court, placing Eaves once
more within a notch of victory. Then
the American sent hot drive whizzing
across the tape with Eaves volley deep
into the side line, and though Wtnn
made a desperate effort to reach it, coulu
not be found. This. ended thematoh
with Eaves winner at Ga.
Following is the summary of the day:
DR.. W. v Eaves defeated r. ID. Wrenn
10, SO, 60, 1-6, Ga. W. "A. Lanred de-
feated II. A. Nisbet 6 2, 2-6, 6-4, Ga. H.
S. Mahony defeated G. Wrenn, 6-2, 60,
L6.4.