The San Francisco call., 1901-12-28
TENNIS REVIVAL
IS FELT ON THE
ALAMEDA COURTS
Christmas Day Matches Are
Responsible for Bringing
Out Former Enthusiasts

The revival in tennis which started in
this city a few months ago has reached
the other side of the bay, and players in
Alameda County are showing more in
terest in the game than ever before.
Years ago tennis was popular in Alameda,
but for the past two or three years there
has been a noticeable falling off in in
terest. All the old-timeTs were out on
Christmas day when the interclub
matches were held. The rival clubs were
the Alameda and Bellevue. Reuben Hunt,
the champion of the county and one of the
crack players Of the University of Cali
fcrnia, represented the former club, while
the strongest player from the Bellevue
was Percy MurdOck. The match between
these two experts was the best of the
day. TO the surprise of the spectators
the champion met defeat at the hands OF
Joseph S. Tobin, who with Walter Mac
Gavin, was the first doubles champion of
the coast, made his temperance on the
local courts last Saturday. Tobin was
never rated as high as VIII Taylor, but
he made a much better impression on the
present generation than did Taylor. who.
played a couple OF weeks ago. TObin still
clings to the snau-handled Sears racket
SO popular ten years ago.
Taylor, Tobin, Eyre and Gus Taylor will
be out every Saturday from now on and
it will be interesting to note if they can
the Whitneys.
ne Grass Singles tournament held or
last Sunday and Christmas on the CaIifor-
MIA Club courts was the largest ever held
IN this city. Forty players from all paris
OF the city took part. As was expected
George Whitney carried off the honors
The tournament committee made some
mistakes in handicappng the different
class winners. The difference in the han
dicaps allowed by the championship to
the lower classes and that allowed bV the
first class was only ''One-sixth of fifteen. Z"
which is practically no difference at ail
Not one OF the class winners had tbe
smallest chance of defeating George
W h1tney with the handicap allowed him
The tournament committee is compOsed of
George Whitney, c. @. Kuehn and Frank
Striusham. The treatment of Chet Smith
winner OF the second class, could hardly
De called Iair. After pOStpOning the plav-
OH until Sunday the committee Changed
its decision and agreed to run 1T off on
Christmas. Smith in the meantime had
left the grounds and was defauIted
String ham was not present on C,hriSfroas
C. Dunlap and Harry Routh. the heSt
two players from the park, disappointed
their admirers somewhat In the tourna :
ment. Dunlap was expected to give anv
OF the crncks a hard fight, but he went
out rather easily.
William Frost, an old-timer from across
the bay, nearly carried off the honoTs IN
the second class. He did not so ont Intii
he met Chet Smith, the class winner
The game showQ by Grant Smith IN
Christmas was q great surprise Smith
completely outclassed his opponents o,l
Sunday. but IN the finals he seemed 70
nave forgotten how to play entirely CoI
Her played q steady game and by gettfns
everything back won on his opponent'S
nets and outs.
There is a possibility of a tournament ~,
been decided. If held it will probabi1 -
Davis cups doubles Oe