Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-24
BOOM IN TENNIS AFFAIRS
lame Catches It's second Wind In
OmSha and IL Becoming
Mighty Popular.

Every day goes to prove that the revival
In tennis OF last year will continue and in
crease In strength this summer. The east
has taken II up 30 strongly already that
II has outclassed golf in popularity and will
continue to do 30 for at least another
year.
Everything that lent itself last summer
to the increase in popularity of the game
will be evident this year and these same
conditions will be improved to a great ex-
tent. With all Of the courts Of last year
In better shape and two new tennis clubs in
a strong life with nine new courts ana ld
members things are certainly bright.
Practically all Of the men, who were
among the better players last year, have
already appeared on the courts and many
new players and many more with a little
experience are swelling the numbers A
few Of the strong players Of the Field club
have not yet donned their nannels and be-
gun in earnest, but they have been kept
back solely because OF the poorness of the
courts.
Last year these courts were the best
In the city and they will be SO this year
again, but many changes and repairs have
been wrought On them and II has not been
possible to get them into really good
shape before now, because OF the extensive
ness of these repairs and the wet weather
that has prevailed for the last few weeks.
Many of the men who play on these
courts are members of other tennis clubs
and do not intend to do their really hard
practice on this Field club courts, but will
use the more private courts closer home.
Some are not situate this way and they
must suffer from the lack of early practice.
Fortunately this number is small. however,
and but few have suffered thereby.
This year the interstate tournament. COM
prising Iowa, Kansas. Missouri and Ne
braska, will be held on these courts and
practically all of those who entered last
summer will try this year again. Beside
that an attempt is being made by the tour
nament committee to have Collins and
Waidner enter. They play about as fast
In the doubles as any team in the country
and their coming would certainly be a
great boon for the sport in Omaha. 1t Is
more than probable that the dates Of the
tournament will ave to be set a little
earlier II they do come, as otherwise 1t
would interfere with several other tour
naments that they would enter in preference
to this one. Kansas City, Sioux City and
other towns will send as large a represen-
tation as they did last year. and. Of course,
Farnsworth and Raymond will be in the
lists.
Locally there will be a large number OF
players familiar to the Omaha lovers OF
the sport because of their last years play
and more, too. who have not figured in any
OF the city tournaments, even, and will be
practically unknown and untried.
Last year the Field club was looked upor
as the center OF the tennis situation and all
of the good players were conferred there,
but a change has come in the situation thil
year and there are other players who are
promising to be in the race who are moi
represented on the Field club courts. The
courts to the west OF the Metropolitan club
and used by the st. Croix Tennis club Is
where they are working busily every day
and have several men who are perfecting q
style OF play that is remarkable. There are
forty members in the club and they arr
mostly young men and many who have
played before. Their courts are as fine a.
were ever on these grounds in their palm.
lest days and the interest is very great
Every evening the courts are filled from
o'clock until dusk.
An attempt Is 10 be made by the ST
Croix club to make the club partly socia.
as well as a tennis club and the winter
viii hnd IL giving a number of dances, Will,
during the summer. two days OF each week
Wednesdays and Fridays, viii be set aside