The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-27
A Battle Royal on the Newport
Tennis Court.
AMERICAN WON CHAMPIONSHIP
THREE SETS TO TWO.
Eaves the English Crack, defeated-Four
Thousand Enthusia stie Spectators
Cheered Their Countryman Onto

1No"p port, h. l., August 2o.-hopoIo -.
Wrenn of New York defeated William v.
Eaves of London, England, today, for the
tennis championship of this country IN
one OF the finest matches ever seen on the
Casino courts. Eaves played by far the
better game, but Wrenn's generalshi Up
carried the day and won for him and for
American tennis, famous victory. The
score of the five sets was, 4-6, SO, 6-5.
2-6, SO, but in points Wrenn only led his
opponent by four, while Eaves actually
earned 46 per cent OF his 161 points, while
Wrenn only earned 36 per cent of his total
l65 points
The match throughout was vastly ex-
citing up to the very last game, and the
crowd of nearly five thousand went near
ly wild over the pluoky victory of the
American and the downfall of the English
aspirant for championship honors in this
country. Such tennis as was shown by
both players is seldom witnessed on either
side of the water. Eaves played grandly
and returned hard placed balls marvellous
ly, but with all his great work he could
not overcome the persistencylof the Ameri.
can. Time after time, it seemed as If
Wrenn must go down in defeat, but as
often as he found himself in such a
position, just SO often did the Yankee grit
pull him out. Every opportunity was
grasped and used to the best advantage;
not point was lost, but what was almost
Immediately gained. No other representa-
tive of American tennis could have won
MI for nfhar hao hn
indominable determination to carry such
game through. 1t was the colonial
spirit of '76, backed by the spirit of 1879
that fought the Englishman against over
whelming odds and won in the end.
The match started shortly after II
o'clock, with Wrenn serving, and ex-
Champion r. D. Sears, in the referee 8
chair. Both men were nervous at first
and Wrenn made two double faults in
rapid succession. He took the first
game, however, but the next went to
Eaves, and the crowd was breathless with
excitement. The set, however, went to
Eaves on brilliant shots down the side
lines on Wrenn's errors in the last game
after he apparently had good lead.
Score 6-4.
The next set was grand one, and was
won by Wrenn by score of SO. Such
playing on Wrenn' s part apparently sur
prised Eaves, for he weakened perceptibly
in the next set and allowed Wrenn to pass
him repeatedly. Wrenn as usual saw his
opportunity and soon took the set through
fine playing. Score 6-3.
In the fourth Eaves took the set through
fine placing, and the match was two sets
all. Score 6-2.
The fifth and last set started amid in
tense excitement and Wrenn won the first
two games, both deuce games. The third
| went to Eayes, but the fourth was hot
one. -Four times vantage was called for
| Wrenn before he finally won on two nets
| by Eaves. This apparently decided the
| match, for Eaves lost the next two games
| in one of them making double fault
He rallied once more in the seventh, but
| it was lust flicker, and Wrenn took the
next and match with ease. Score 90.
/ The summary:
| Wrenn earned total on places 50, oppo.
nent's nets A, opponents outs 60, oppo.
nent's double faults 2. Total 1865. Games
26.
Eaves earned total on places "a, oppo.
nent's nets 36, opponents outs 46, oppo.
nent's double faults 5. Total 161. Games
23
For the championship in singles, R. D.
Wrenn defeated W. V. Eaves 4-6, S-6, 80,
60