The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-23

SEMI-F|NALS
IN TENNIS
TOURNEY

The semi-finals in the national tennis
championship were played this morning
at Newport under conditions that were
all that could be desired. The air was
cooler and had more life than yesterday
ana the courts though beginning to show
the wear that they have had 10 stand
were dry and firm.
The attendance was large and enthusl-
astic and though Larned was the unmis-
taxable favorite every good play received
generous applause. IL seemed TO be the
general wish that Larued. after his long
years OF campaigning should come
through and win his third leg on the cup.
SO far as todays match went he was
expected 10 succeed though the experts
pointed out that for several years past
Clothier has been the hardest man In the
country for the eX-champion TO beat.
This year each OF them had scored over
the other Dut Iarned's victory AZ South
ampton was the more recent and more
decisive and Il was this fact together
with his excellent play against Wright
yesterday that gave his followers conf
dence
Clothier took the first set at GA, Larned
being a little slow in getting under way
as he often is in the early part OF match
Larned had a brilliant streak I'm the
fourth and fifth games and placed all
around his younger opponent. but Clothier
was bit steadier and got the score back
even. In the last the ex-champion was
nervous and gave away two critical points
by double faults. Clothier improved the
opportunities given him and pulled 1t out
after three deuces. Points:
Clothier-4-4-5-0-2-5-4-1-4-7--36-6.
Larned-2-6-3-4-4-S-2-4-2
Larned turned the tables I'm the second
set. though the play was very close and
most OF the games went 10 deuce. Larned
gained a lead OF four games. but Clothier
braced and pulled up till he was only one
game behind. He could not get another.
however, and threw the last away by
double faulting twice. Points:
Larned-s-S-3-6-4-1-2-4-9
Clothier-6-6-5-4-2-4-4-2-7--4o-s.
Larned went in for the rest at the end
OF the third set I'm the lead 2 to l. After
having a lead OF the first game the Phila-
delphia player was run down and sue
ceeded in getting only one more in the
set. Larned was simply invincible and
scored his games much more easily than
before, only two going TO deuce and none
of them being the long affairs that came
often I'm the first two sets. Points:
Larned ...........' 2 8 1 4 4 4-29-e
Clothier ......... 4 3 0 2 1-l9-2
After the rest Clothier improved great
ly. The style OF play changed to more OF
back court game. particularly on Cloth
Ter part mere ne covered great zeal
OF ground and played very long fast
strokes. When Larned came up he no
longer had any difficulty I'm passing him.
and allowed only two games. the first and
sixth. TO go TO his opponent. Points:
w. J. Clothier .. / 4 2 4-2s-s
w. A. Larned 80. 0 2-l7-2
Clothier made a great fight in the last
set and scored a brilliant win. Larned
was over anxious at frst and even when
he steaded down Clothier was the bet
ter. Clothier broke through service in
the opening game and was never headed
In the last game Larned proved very
weak and threw away his last chance by
double faulting in his service game
Points:
Clothier .......... 6-2-9-5-4-4 -4-2-4-5-41-8
Iarned .......... .4-4-7-7-2-0-4 l. -3-32-3
The other semi final was taken by Ward
In straight sets without great effort
Wards volleying was as strong as IL has
been all through the tournament and he
was clever I'm all his strokes. His serve
was very effective and he simply had TO
wait in each set for a good opportunity
10 break In In order TO serve.
Summary final round:
w. J. Clothier beat w. A. Larned Ga.
3-6, 2-6. So. SO
H. Ward meat f. Leonard 8-3, Ga. ca