The San Francisco call., 1898-07-05
He Defeats Holmes in
 the Final Match.
CLOSING TENNIS
GAMES
NICHOLSON AND MURDOCH WIN
 THE CONSOLATION.
Mediocre Tennis, Youthful Enthusi- asts and a Large Crowd at the Tourna-
 ment.

The championship tennis tournament at San Rafael has come to close and Sum- ner Hardy is the man upon whom the honor sits. The three days battle on the courts was unproductive of boodshed or surprises. The list of casualties is a sprained ankle, which belongs to young MT. Code exclusively. In the enthusiasm of youth and vaulting ambition he es- saved to return a ball that was a little too swift for his pace and he fell on the hard bitumen. Three strong men assisted in clearing the court, and the play con- tinued.
 When the final match of the tourney was called the stands were crowded with the proverbial parterre of beauty and trousered valor. One thing that was lack ing was the old peanut and chewing candy man with his stores of mucilagin- ous confections. The young laues sighed and moaned for dental exercise, but the fateS Willed round and complete nega- tive. All that was accorded them was the excitement Of conversation and an occa- sional thought.
 Hardy and Holmes fought it out for the badge of the Legion of Honor. Never before in the history of coast champion ship tournaments was such nerveless playing seen in the concluding match which was to settle the disposition of the cup and prize racket. Hardy won the first set, o6-3. With the greatest ease he won the first five games and then faltered
 
 with burst of speed that netted him three games. Then Hardy showed a touch of remorse and annexed the sixth game to his account and the set was his.
 The second set went to Holmes. Hardy took the first two games and that was all, for Holmes displayed a streak of real fighting spirit that took the ginger out of his opponent In succession Holmes won the six succeeding games, which made MT. Hardy of Oakland lose his usual nonchalance during the ten minutes rest that followed.
 Both men made use of water during the wait, internally and externally. The re- suit was a coolness all round. The little harmless courtesieS that passed between the contestants in the first two sets gave way to grim determination and no smiles were lost. Game by game the set was fought until victory shone upon the racket-wielder from Oakland. The score of the match. The fourth set was "easy money" for the rooters from the Athens of the Pacific Coast Holmes took but one game, but he seemed satisfied. The score was 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.
 The consolation doubles were. played during the morning. In the preliminary rounds Nicholson and Murdock defeated Adams and Weihe, 9-7, 6-4; Lands Hardy and Paul Selby, 6-2, 4-6. 6-2. Nicholson and Murdock defeated Code and Davis. In this match Code sprained his ankle. He was unable to continue the play, but during the rest of the day he was an enthusiastic spectator on the side lines, where, shielded from the with ering rays of the sun by white silk parasol, he did service as linesman. The picture was one of innocence under chaste protection.
 The finals of the consolation doubles proved to be the best tennis of the day. Nicholson and Murdock after hard fight won out, the score being 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.
 As George Whitney did not defend the sup Sumner Hardy is now the champion.