The San Francisco call., 1904-09-10
May Sutton Defends
Championship
Title.

An unusual number Of spectators
braved the heat at San Rafael yester-
dav and witnessed some of the best
tennis games Of the week. Two cham
piCnships were decided and three more
viii be up for decision to-day. Miss
May Sutton successfully defended her
title to the championship of the coast,
beating her sister Florence. in the
challenge match. Will Allen and George
Baker beat K. y. Whitney and Clar-
ence Griffin in the finals Of the mems
doubles and the championship goes to
them by default Freeman and Bell
viii not be on hand TO defend.
]. D. MacGavin beat Percy Murdock
in the finals of the mems singles tour
nsment and viii play Alfonso Bell for
the championship this afternoon. The
MacGavin match brought out the best
tennis Of the day. Murdock started
ike a winner, taking the first set by
a 6-5 score. MacGavin changed from
a drive TO a chop stroke in the next
three sets and to this he ewes his vic
tory. The second and third sets he
won easily. In the second set Murdock
won only one game and in the third
secured but ore more.
In the fourth and last set Murdoch
fought desperately and at one time
needed but che more point to win the
set. This was where the score stood
6-5 and 1870 in his favor. MacGavin
brought the score to the deuce and then
won it out Sc.
MacGavin has acquired steadiness
since the last championship tourna-
ments and this tells the story of his
victory. He outplayed Murdock at the
net and was steadier in the back court.
Bell will have to play his best game
il he hopes TO beat MacGavin to-day.
The spectators had their first oppor-
tunity to see Champion May Sutton
since her return from the East. 1t was
her first match in singles and she re-
ceived a hearty welcome when she
stepped on the courts. That she was
deserving Of this applause she soon
demonstrated by defeating her sister,
Florence. in straight sets.
The little champion started with
rush and in the first set Florence won
only one game. The latter improved in
the second set and to the surprise of
all ran the score to Al in her favor.
This was more than any woman in the
East had done and May, fearful lest
she should lose set for the first time
in her career, put more speed into her
strokes and won five games straight
Florence, although beaten, was not
disgraced and has the satisfaction Of
hIOWluB lldl 10 Oln6T- -WOIidu pidySI
in the United States could have beaten
her but her sister. Miss Moore, the
ex-naticlal champion, did not get more
than two games in any set against May
and in one match failed to win a
game. Florence gave her sister the
hardest battle of her career and the
little champion had anything but a
walkover. 1t is we'll known that a
Sutton never gives a game away, so
the games Florence won We're earned.
The finals Of the mems doubles were
not particularly classy, but was inter
esting from start to finish. 1t was as
close match as one would care to see
and the rallies were exceptionally long.
The old game of "get the balls back"
won the day for Allen and Baker. They
won the first two sets and it looked
like a straight set'' match. In the
third and fourth sets Whitney and
Griffin steadied down and also COM
menced a safe game. These two sets
Whitney and Griffin won quite easily
and when they led at 81 and 40-15 in
the final set victory seemed assured
them. Baker was about to give 1t up,
but the old warhorse Allen stayed with
1t and pulled out the set when it looked
lost to them. They won four straight
games, giving them lead of 3d. Whit
ney and Griffin made a last effort and
tied the score at 5-5. The next two
games and set went to Allen and
Baker
Outside OF an occasional brilliant
stroke by Whitney the match consisted
chiefly Of lobbing. Had young Griffin
been possessed Of more experience the.
result might have been different. Allen
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