Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-03
Opening the Middle States Tourna-
ment.
LEADING PLAYERS ARE TAKING PART
Batting Averages of the National
League.
CURRENT SPORTING NEWS

The middle states tennis tournament was
begun yesterday on the courts Of the
Orange Lawn Tennis Club, at Orange, N.
j. A large entry, including nearly all the
best men in the country, has been obtained,
and the winner of the singles will challenge
NJ D. Whitman, the holder. for the cham
plonship. Hall will play Larned today, and
a great match is expected. Score:
Championship misunderstanding round-Beals
Wright beat G. H. Miles, jr.. 80, 8-3. ell R.
Giazebrook beat ]. Talbot. 4e, a., IS; 3. r
E,sassr beat ssa, 4 h allen - 81
,'i hs1ne esa beat V1 Tai%aes S l. l.
Hall beat H. H. Hackett. "a, 90. Ga.
The entry list contains, according to the
New York Tribune, the names Of nearly all
the leading players Of the country, and
some brilliant tennis Is expected before the
week is ended. NJ. D. Whitman Of Har-
ward. the national as we'll as the middle
states champion. will defend his claim to
the challenge cup at the end Of the week.
Among those who are trying for the right
to challenge him are Larned and Davis, the
second and third players Of the country last
season.
The first days play was full Of excite
ment. Close matches were in progress on
several courts at the same time. When it
Is noted that G. H. Miles, j. A. Allen, H. H.
Hackett. ]. C. Davidson and ]. F. Talmage.
jr.. were all put out in the preliminary
round, the quality of the play may be ap-
preciated.
The first surprise of the day came when
E. P. Larned the promising younger broth
er of W. A. Larned the famous player,
beat ]. a. Allen of Yale, in an exciting three
set match. His doubles partner H. H.
Hackett. the Yale champion, was the next
to fall, and again 1t took three close sets
to dispose of Old Eli Hackett then had a
lead of - in the deciding set against the
veteran, E. L. Hall. who recently won the
New Jersey state championship from Rich
ard Stevens. Hall was equal to the occa-
sion, however, and ran out four straight
games on the cleverest kind Of play, and
took the match.
The two contestants in Saturdays chal-
lenge match for the Metropolitan champion
ship. Fisher and Wright, both had difficulty
In winning their matches. G. H Miles won
his first set from Wright, the Harvard
crack, while Davidson, the Washingtonian,
got the first set In his match with the
Metropolitan champion. Wright won the
second and third sets easily from Miles, but
Davidson caused Fischer a lot of trouble
before he was beaten. In the deciding set.
Davidson had the lead at "a. 6-5, 7-6. ST
time on Fischers service. Finally, he lost
his own service game too and then the
Metropolitan champion won the set by lie
and with It the match.
+ This afternoon the tournament will be
continued. The feature of the day will be
the match between Larned and Hall The
doubles will also be started. For this
competition there are entered Davis and
Ward. the national champions; Hackett and
Allen. western champions; Whitman and
Wright, one of the strongest pairs in the
east; Paret and Davidson. champions Of the
south, and the Larned brothers