New-York tribune., 1901-08-18
CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.
THE BIG TOURNAMENT AT NEWPORT
HOW 1T IS REGARDED BY PLAY
Fps AND SPECTATORS.

The annual championship lawn tennis tourna-
rnent at Newport is best known as a struggle
between expert players for national honors. but
it also has it's picturesque side. \ large ma
jCrity of the spectators who go TO see the
matches know little nothing of the techni-
calities OF the game and the popular Newport
point of view is different from that of the play
ers- At Newport the players themselves are
in earnest about their matches; IN some Of ths
miner tournaments they go in more for gayetI
and diversions. but at Newport never anything
but tennis until they are beaten and out of the
struggle for the championship II matters not
that only one in ten-not more than four or
five of the larger number of pIayers-have any
earthly chance OF winning the title, and that
more than twice as many of the big field of
fifty or sixty players think they have any
chance. II is part of every good tournament
players ambition 10 make his annual pilgrimage
20 the lawn tennis mecca, and TO put UP mis-
best game there. IN order To be ranked well
at the end Of the season.
But the popular view of the tournament in
cIudes nothing of this side OF the picture; it is
the brighter colored exhibition that interests the
crowds. The Casino is the centre Of the fash
OnabIe summer watering place and society
it's grounds. its galleries and it's little theatre
general gathering place. Tennis week is
week or ten days that 1t lasts the lawns and
erandstand present a brilliant appearance.
over in the far corner of the grounds is th(
championship court. This is laid out on a par
ticularly good stretch of turf in front of
grandstand. sheltered by trees. that seats about
a thousand people. This is generally the CEN
tire of attraction. although, like a circus with
many rings. there are generally other matches
in progress at the same time others of the
twelve courts in the grounds. Occasionally two
strong players come together on one of these
side courts ana then ring of the real lovers OF
the game may be seen surrounding the combat
AS a rule. however. the management schedules
the best matches for the championship court
and only when some popular favorite happens
TO play on a side court does the general throns
forsake the star attraction.
Around this special court every bright morn
ing during the tournament there is brilliant
assembIase The south side of the court is
faced by the big stand. where the spectators are
shaded from the sun. while on the opposite side
there are two or three rows of chairs back of
the inclosure roped off for the players and Of
6cials of the match. and back of these chairs
stand two or three rows of men, as a rule,
,vbiI, behind them is a fringe of ambitious en-
,busiasts " ho have climbed on high chairs. step
ladders or other points of vantage to see over
the heads of those in front When the crowds
are largest some of the small ball boys on
th. grounds harvest considerable income by
selling the use of high chairs they unearth from
secret hiding places around the grounds AZ
either end of the championship court a similar
crowd gathers and when the final or the chani-
pionshp is on the small playing inclosure Is
surrounded by a solid wall of spectators. Ihe
crowd ON these days numbers generally three
tbousand and sometimes nearer four thousand
T,ut the peopIe themselves almost as IN
tersstine TO watch as the players IL Is the
fashionable thing to do at Newport TO go 10
the tennis matches. and as the entire summer