New-York tribune., 1900-08-22
LAWN TENNIS.
WHITMAN WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
LARNED. THE CHALLENGER. PLAYS A
BRILLIANT GAME

Newport r. L. Aug. N.-The lawn tennis cham
pionship of the United States remains for another
year with Malcolm D. Whitman. for he defeated
his challenger. william A. Larned. at the Casino
here this morning in brilliant match Of four sets
The score was Ga. 1-6. 6-2 So. Larned played
his usual brilliant game. and at time In the
match did he lose his nerve. although In the third
set his play weakened materially for several games
Whitman's wonderful command of the ball was IN
vincible, and, no matter what method OF attack
Larned tried he found the champion always ready
to shut IT off and turn the tables against him.
whitman's strokes at times we're wonderful
Larned to the net throughout the match when
ever he served and it was in passing him from the
return of these services that the champion showed
his great superiority. He made a shorter swing
with his racket kept the ball lower the net
and his court strokes were dropped closer TO
the net. The champion himself also came to the
net often during the match and Larned at times
played havoc with his attack by passing him down
the side lines. There little lobbing throughout
the match and really little need for IT, for each
man could pass the other too often 10 have 20 go
to lobhing. Besides each deadly in smashing.
and each soon found that tossing the ball over the
opponents head was Improbable.
The weather here to-day perfect for the
game. and the crowds began to flock into the
Casino grounds long before the match was started
The grandstand opposite the championship court
filled early, and the rest Of the spectators had
to content themselves with seats around the sunny
sides of the court Even the opposite side and
the people sat and stood four or five rows deep
with high chairs step ladders and other points or
vantage raised behind them, while energetic men
perched on their tops watched the play over the
heads of the others.
Referee Dwight selected Robert D. Wrenn, the
eX-champion to score, and dozen OF the other
players to act linemsn. Play began promptly
at II o'clock, with Whitman serving LaTned was
rather unsteady at hrst. and the champion took the
hrSt two games easily. Then Larned settled down
to work, and those beautiful ground strokes OF
his went sailing through his opponents court with
wonderful accuracy and speed Whitman could
not touch one of them, and, aided by few errors
from the champion, Larned took the third and
fourth game, each TO love But Whitman steadted
down at once, and hit the balls a little harder.
with the result that the next three games We're all
his, none OF them reaching deuce, and the score OF
the set % in favor Of the champion. The
Summit expert pulled out two close games before
the set finished but Whitman finally landed
il by 6-4.
The second set found Larned in one of his most
brilliant streaks, but the champion had slackened
off a little in his speed and gave his challenger
The first three games all easy for Larned, and
he also led up to love-40 with Whitman serving in
the fourth The champion pulled this game up TO
deuce, and was several times within a stroke OF
This proved to be the turning point of the set and
Larned added the next game Immediately after
and clinched his lead on the set at 80 The cham
pion made a spasmodic effort to overtake him.
won by the challenger.
With the score at set all, the two cracks went
into the dressing room and were rubbed down.
When they out for the third Whitman
looked the fresher of the two though Larned had
plainly recovered his wind from the rest. IN the
first two games OF the third set Larned's winning
streak lasted well, and he took them both. Then
the champion came back strong. and each Of the
next four games stubbOrnly contested all going
UP to deuce and each in turn being finally won by
the champion. With Al in his ravor. Whitman