The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-27

latham ana Standing win Fisish Their
eIo. 900 Match To-day.

The decisive and, consequently, moro import
ant half OF tho international racquet match boz
tween Peter Latham OF Queens Court, London,
champion OF the world. and George Standing Of
New York will be played to-day at $50 in tho
wet court OF the New York Racquet and Ten
mis- Club.
As is generally known, the stake involved Is
$4,000, $4,000 a side, the largest on record be-
tween professionals at racquets. The result will
also determine the worlds championship, La
than at present being tho holder. Standing the
challenger.
Tho conditions Of tho match are tho best OF
seven games. 10 he played at Queens Lntham's
home COURT. and the best Of seven Mt the Rae
quot and Tennis Club standings homo court.
In the event Of each player scoring the Same
number of games the match to be decided by
aces.
The first half Of this important event was
played at Queens on Oct. lG, the representative
of the Racquet and Tennis Club sustaining q
somewhat crushing defeat, Latham winning by
4 games to l, the latter also serving 10 aces to
Standings 90. II must. however, be borne in
mind that Standing was PLAYING in his oppo-
ncnt's court, in which. under the terms of tho
lnatch, nut h,vo days practice were allowed. To,
day. the situation will bc reversed. and
Latham will have to contend against the
the fact that Latham in his countless
matches has probably played in almost
every racquet court in Great Britain land their
name is legionl, it would seem that the pecu-
l~iarities of the New York court, slow though 1t
be, should not seriously affect his game. A man,
indeed, who, in order to defend his hard.earDcd
title of champion, has abruptly quilted court
tennis, which he has, exclusively played for six
or seven years, TO 90 back to .rncquets, with but
three months practice, and thor, has beaten, a
man OF Standings class, should neither be
strange. Butt was pointed outin these columns
onW cdncsday thatlathnms practice games with
Mr.. Ashworth have not been satisfactory. at
least to the writer. 1t is true that the champion
would have boon unwise to attempt any heart
breaking speed or effort In his practice for a
match for which his utmost physical resources
should no held in reserve. But it is none the
less a fact that he played no, less than nine
games with Mr.. Ashworth on TUESDAY without
winning one, although ConccdinE only the usual
odds of seven aces. That is too many games to
play under the circumstances, md Latham
played them nor lost, them for effect; Hl
W MP' 81 simply iSo,, "o 4, his his f p"Iniod out badly Il
these columns last Monday. the New Yori
Racquet Clubs west court Is decidedly slow
especially tho back wall, while Lntham's Courl
trucst in the. world. The champion has ap
pnqrently not fully succeeded in familiarizint
especially with the lack of uniformity in The
speed" OF the floor, rs to, the existence o
which tho visitor will have to ]conten,
may iIttht AuC. 'Ohtt,b oIli nv W.
ing, as it will probably bring the mei
closer together, ana leave the result, of III
match still more in doubt than might otherwis,
be the case. For 1t must not be forgotten tina
in Standing Latham will meet a man Of grc;a
speed and calibre, whose defeat. If, indeed, dc
feated he shall be, will only be, accompiishc'
after a struggle which will probably prove n
memorable as it should he exciting to the chose
few whose good fortune it will he 10 see it. \
one has a license To beat the game that Stantin
nut up "gainst Pcttitt in his practice on Tue;
day. The question Is: Can he do as well agains
Latham. To the writer il seems by no mean
improbable.