The Saint Paul globe., 1903-09-08
READY FOR TENNIS
First Round of State Cham.
plOnship to Be Played Today.

Unless rain intervenes, the first round
In the state tennis tournament will be
played today at the Town and Country
club.
The preliminaries have resulted in the
strongest players being saved for the
first round, and they are so paired that
1t is practically certain that the best of
them Will be in the finals. This means
that the tournament will be interesting
and exciting to the very finish, for the
reason that the best players in the state
will be pitted against each other to the
final wind-up
In the first round today there are likely
to be some decidedly exciting contests
One of the best contests will be between
George Belden, former champion of the
Northwest, and Werner, who was in the
semi finals of the Northwestern tourna-
nent year ago. Both are noted as be-
ing in the front rank as tennis experts
WINTER and Graves will meet tomorrow
IN the first round. Both men are re-
ported TO be playing in excellent form and
Doth Will make an extra effort to stay
Tor the finals. They are likely to play
about 1890 .Griggs and Matteson will
play their preliminary round tomorrow
ner In the first round, which insures an
other hard fought struggle. McGraw and
Burton will also play off their preliminary
tomorrow and Charles Hale, one of the
L.
Will play the winner in the first round
some time during the afternoon
The doubles will begin this afternoon,
the pairing for which has not yet been
completed. The consolation singles will
also open this afternoon, all who were
beaten in their first match being eligible.
The fact that the strongest players
were not brought against one another in
the preliminaries has afforded the man
agement of the tournament special salts
faction for the reason that this insures
strong contest through both the rounds
and the finals. Unless Werner shows
greatly improved form it is expected that
Belden; judging from his former work,
will be in on the finals. He will have
however. one of whom will probably be
eMatteson- Matteson has been putting up
an exceedingly strong game of late, his
voleying being especially strong.
Between Winters and Graves there is a
red-hot but friendly rivalry and the out
come of their play this noon in being ea
geriy awaited. One or the other is almost
certain to be in the finals, and both are
eager to try conclusions with Belden
Botkin won from Wyman by default
Saturday, which was a great disappoint
ment for the friends of the latter. for
they believed him capable of giving the
is likely to furnish some surprises tC
those who have not watched his play OF
late, and he yesterday declared himself
ready to put up the game of his life
when the time comes for the Cracks tC
try conclusions.
Botkin and Greer played out their first
round yesterday, with the result that Bot
kin bested Greer, 6-3, 6-1
The courts are in good condition now
and if there is no more rain they will
be In shape for fast play today While
they are somewhat spongy this morning
very little sun will take the moisture
out of the sand which has been used ir
building the court and they will then be
resilient enough to give the best players
a hard time to judge returns.