The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-06
JAMES THE CHAMPION.
Defeats Sheldon in Finals of Kansas
City Tennis TOURNEY.

Kansas City, Aug. Cd. L. James is
now the champion tennis player of Kan
Sas City. He won the title Wednesday
afternoon by defeating DR.. Frank Shell
don, former champion, in the finals of
the Darlington clubs tournament. The
scores were 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 3-6. 81.
The match was one of the hardest
fought and most interesting ever seen
on the Darlington courts. More specta-
tors were on hand than during any day
of the tournament. A strong wind blew
across the courts, which handicapped
the best playing of both men to some
extent
James won the toss and took the south
court. During the first two sets he
clearly outplayed Sheldon. 1t was al
most impossible for the latter to place
ball out of his reach. James seemed to
cover as much ground as two men are
ordinarily able to cover. His returns,
even in the most difficult cases, We're
seldom wild and he displayed a remark
able amount of judgment in placing the
ball He played exceptionally brilliant
tennis in the first two sets and Sheldon
never had a chance.
In the first set James and Sheldon
played practically the same kind of a
game, GOODNESS and carefulness being
the distinguishing characteristics. 1t
was a case of science against science.
Neither resorted to hard drives or &c
centric strokes. Each used the net
game with his serve. and there was but
little lobbing. In the second set Shell
don changed his tactics, playing back
and middle court continually and he
lobbed nearly every one of James re-
turns. The lobs. did not bother James
to any great extent. as he returned them
beautifully; bat the style of the game
had the effect of firing him badly, as
was made obvious in the third set.
Sheldon, realizing that James was
weakening. put a few pounds of ginger
into his play in the third set and played
James off his feet, winning the first
three games quickly. With the begin
ming of the fourth game James made no
further effort to win the set and Shell
don Won it in six straight games.
The players rested eight minutes, but
when play began in the fourth set it
was clear that James was still very
tired. Sheldon, on the other hand, APP
peared as fresh as when he began and
he rushed things as much as possible.
James played in very bad form. He
put the ball into the net repeatedly and
was slow on his feet Sheldon took the
first two games and James won the
| third. Sheldon captured the fourth and
James the fifth. Sheldon won sixth and
seventh easily and the eighth went to
James. The ninth game, which COM
pleted the set. resulted in another easy
victory for Sheldon.
II was in the last set that Sheldon be-
gan to show the effects of his strenuous
efforts in the former two sets. He was
simply all in" His returns were SC
wild that practically two out of three
went out of bounds. James had revived
but little in the meantime and played
on his nerve. His playing was neither
better nor worse than i had been Il the
previous two sets. but Sheldon's reversal
/ in form was so complete that brilliant
tennis was not required to win the set
James won the first three games and
the fourth went to Sheldon. In the final
three games Sheldon got four points.
BY winning the tournament James not
only secured the championship title but
was awarded a racket, the first prize
The second prize, a silver stein, goes tc
Sheldon.