Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-11
DAVIDSON IS DEFEATED
LOSES VIRGINIA TBAN1sl CHAM
PIoNsHIP TO ALLEN.
He Yet Has Another Equal Chance to
T r.
at Norfolk Meet. .,
ec:ay Hisnotch IN The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star Ia
NORFOLK. Va. June 1I.-In the fifth
days events of the Virginia championship
lawn tennis tournament on the grounds Of
the Norfolk Country Club. John c. David
son Of Washington, after a hard battle with
awful weather against him, was defeated
for the Virginia championship by Harry F.
Allen of New York, seventh ranking player
in the United States
Last year Davidson defeated all corners
and won the trophy offered to the man who
can win 1t three times. This does not have
to be won consecutively. so Allen and Da-
wilson now have an equal chanee for 1t. Inc
weather conditions were very bad indeed
high wind sweeping across the court from
the northeast, making accurate playing pos
Sible to experts only.
The grounds were somewhat slow on ac-
count of the heavy ram OF the preceding
night but in spite of these drawbacks the
playing was by far the best ever seen in
Norfolk.
Clever Playing.
Davidson's terrific drives and clever back
hand work called forth considerable APP
plause, but apparently nothing was too diff
fcult for Aliens perfect form. Forehand,
backhand at the net and lobbing In all, he
seemed equally sure until to the eye of the
uninitiated it did not seem that such
game could be beaten.
Davidson made a desperate rally in the
second set, and 1t looked for a while as If
he would get the set, but the wonderful
steadiness of Allen proved too much for
him, and after finally pulling the games up
from 40 to So and then to II, he lost by
a score of 81 The final scores for the
match were ga, OF and 80.
Game No Test.
1t is a fact as Allen gracously said when
shaking hands with Davidson after the
game: This game is no test" What he
neant was that whoever might win in a
game in such beastly weather was not
necessarily the strongest player
Mr.. Davidson said: Il thought the bad
Gather rather favored my playing" So 1t
may be seen that each of these splendid
players was earnestly inclined to discount
his own game.
The crowd played a game Of hide and go
seek with the storm. The sides Of the
courts would now be a seething mass of
humanity and then only the upset chairs
would grace the side lines. Harry-"Old
chappie," as some Of his friends call him
was disinclined to have the rain spoil his
spotless costume, but finally the contest was
on, and he forgot the color of his trousers
In his mastery attempts to return some
Of Davidsons cross court drives.
Ladies' Championship.
The ladies' championship of Virginia was
won by Miss C. B. Nicely of Chicago, who is
the western champion, from Mrs. Wallng
ton Hardy, who was last years champion
of both Virginia and Maryland Both ladies
We're severely handicapped by the strong
wind, but the playing was first-class, as
was expected from two such well-known
players pitted against each other.
Miss Nicely plays strong neck game, but
in the latter is not the equal Of Mrs. Hardy,
whose backhand game is superior to any
thing ever seen here. The severe wind
had something to do with the score, it
made the back line game more difficult
Had the day been a calm one the prOba bill
ity is that the score would have been Il
much closer one. Miss Nicely won in
straight sets as follows: e-3, 60.
Finals Played Today.
Only two other sets were played one be-
ing the semi-inals in the championship
doubles between Davidson and Glazebrook
of the south in doubles and NJ. A and A
NJ Agelasto The former champions won
by score of 81 and Ga. In mixed doubles
Allen and Miss Nicely defeated J. s. Tay
lor and Mrs. Wellington Hardy by the
score of 81. 6-3.
Today the finals for the championship
and for the mixed doubles will be played
off, which will close the tournament, as
owing to the time consumed in the cham
pfOnship matches the handicap tournament
it is thought, will be called off.
All the Washington players will return
home tonight, leaving here by the Norfolk
and Washington line at o'clock, and ar
irving in the national capital early tomor-
row morning
Taking it all in ALL the tournament just
closing has been the most successful of the
kind ever held in the state Of Virginia.