New-York tribune., 1902-08-07
AMERICAN PLAYERS AHEAD
WHITMAN AND LARNED BEST ENGLISH.
MEN IN FAST, UNFINISHED
MATCHES
r F DoEERTY AcoUITs HIMSELF WITH
VIZ AND SPIRIT. But DR.. PM
oUTCLAssED, DIsAPPOINTs
an7TPFpS
HIS ADMIRERS

VIZ AND SPIRIT. But DR.. PIN,
oUTCLAssED. DIsAPPoINTs
HIS ADMIRERS.
Although the matches in the international
lawn tennis meeting were unfinished yesterday
because Of the rain, the results of the two sets
played in each demonstrated that the American
experts had little 10 fear from the vaunted
ability Of the English challenging team. Both
William =. Larned. the present holder OF the
national championship in the singles, and Nal
CON Douglas Whitman. the unbeaten national
champion. showed that they were superior TO
the Britishers, despite the fact that the latter
we're the flower of the tennis courts of Great
Britain and the best men that that country had
ever had at the game R f Doherty and Dr..
Joshua PIN. both ex-English champions, were
the opponents OF the Americans, and failed 10
make good the reports Of their prowess which
have come TO this country.
At the tine the matches were started on the
turf courts OF the Crescent Athletic Club, Eigh-
tv-ffth-st and the Shore Road Bay Ridge, the
conditions were perfect and everything was n
favor of the Englishmen showing their full
strength. The two Americans can hardly he
said to outclass the challengers, yet the scores
in the sets played were more one sided than
was expected, especially in the case Of Larned:
and while his showing was in the nature of
2 surprise il led American followers of the
snort 10 believe that the highest type of skill
had been perfected in this country. and that
sa,e Dwight f Davis international challenge
trophy would remain on this side Of the Atlantic
for a long time In the minds Of all concerned
there was regret that the contests had to be
postponed because Of the rain. as it was evi-
dent that the defending players would have won
in three straight sets.
The scores OF the unfinished competitions
were:
Il A La-ned r F Doherty, e-2 6-3; MalooTa
n whitman Dr.. ] PIN. 81. 6-i
Shortly after the matches were stopped the
captains Of the teams and the international
committee announced that the contests would De
completed this morning. the play beginning at
1880 o'clock. Then the men will rest for
short time. after which the remaining singles
1arned against DR.. PIN and Whitman against
Doherty. will be played
Long before the hour Of starting the matches
every available seat in the three grandstanos
was taken. as were the chairs and standing
room points of vantage. The northern stand
was occupied by a party Of President Roose-
veIt'e family and friends. the younger Roose-
velts-Kerrnit Archie and Theodore. jr-being
among the most interested spectators Of the
group In all the gallery numbered nearly four
thousand persons who applauded in a way not
before heard about the tennis courts in this
country The English and American flags float
ed from the stsffs about the stands and ground,
while the gay costumes of the women outlined
the amphitheatre like a border of flowers
Promptly at 30 O'Clock the contestants came
on the field. that had the appearance Of green
velvet. so closely was it cropped and rolled,
Iaraed and Doherty chose the court nearest
the waters of the Narrows. while Whitman and
DIR. PIN took the eastern field By singular
coincidence, the service in each match fell 10
the American player and il also regarded
ss good omen that each the first point
of the competitions.
The Iarned-Doherty contest by far the
more spectacular Of the two, in that the Brlton
put up splendid defensive game, despite the
fact that it was not equal to the test placed
upon il by the American who was at his best IN
the dashing. fauItless style which he so
successfully
The redoubtable Bob Wrenn sat in the UNI
pjre's chair When he called play Larned served
a straight swift ball, which Doherty returned
into the net thus taIying for the American
player From the very outset Larned surprised
even his most ardent admirers He possessed
keener eye for the side lines. and this was
quickly demonstrated as he began to earn the
points by shooting the ball down close to the
chalk marks in way which Doherty found II
impossible 10 get at and return It was IN TINS
way thar Larned won both sets. He kept forc-
ing matters with the Englishman. and placed
him Immediately upon the defensive AT every
smashing tactics not depending upon the use
Of the lob. and this made the contest n1uch
more spectacular than il otherwise would nave
beer.
The great backhand stroke of Larned was
to the best advantage the Englishrnan
tried him this point and found him IN
Tincihle- Not were Larned's returns from
his backhand inaccurate or weak Inere was
little Volleying at the net. Doherty tried to gain
that position several times, but on each occasion
he was passed so cleverly by the American that
he clung 70 the base line and fought out tne
match from that point. Only four times in the
Two sets did the point score go TO deuce Ine
last game Of the second set was the best IN TINS
particular. both men were playing in q heavy
downpour Of rain. which handicapped them con-
sicerably. Each trying for passes. but sent
them all into the out Of court at the
critical moment, with the result that the points
went TO 81 before Larned finally won The
point score in sets follows:
FIRST SET.
Points. Games
~. A ISrneS, American ) 4 . 4 4--ao .
p T DoheTty. English -.--- 3 ! + 3 : : @---l
SECOND SET
y. : Lsyned. Ameriesn---s J t-3n .
z =. Doaerty. English Z ] E--3i =
In the other competition DR. PIN soon made it
n