The San Francisco call., 1904-03-05
RAIN INTERPRETERS
WITH TENNIS MEN
They Have Events OF. Import
ance to Decide and Hope for
Fair Weather Conditions


The fact that it has rained for the
last four or five Sundays has made it
difficult for the tennis players here and
across the, bay to hold their scheduled
events. The committee in charge of the
Alameda County. championships has
done we'll, running off matches with
surprising speed considering the unfa-
vorable weather. Last Sunday the sin
giles event was narrowed down to six
men. Three Of these are evenly
matched. while the others have little or
no ,chance of annexing the champion
ship. That Percy Murdoch will be one
of the contestants in the finals is a GER
tainty. He meets the winner of the
Otis-Ambrose match in the semi finals
and is sure to beat either of them. In
the other half there is. much more un-
Certainty. Charles Dunlap has OBJ
tained a place in the semi finals and
will meet the winner of the Variel-
George Baker match Dunlap has not
much chance of beating either of these
men. He should. however. give a good
account of himself and if at his best
might win. A great battle is expected
when Variel and Baker meet this after
noon. On account of having beaten
MacGavin last Sunday VarieI is a
strong favorite. Baker is a steady
player and can always be depended
upon. Variel is a much more brilliant
player but, like all others in this class.
has off days. If he-is not at his best he
is liable to be poor Variel played the
best game he has yet shown in his
match with MacGavin. True, the latter
was not playing his best, but VarieI
deserves great credit. as he has played
but little of late and was thought to
have poor chance of beating the
lengthy crack. Baker played fine tennis
in the doubles against MacGavin and
Variel.
Now that MacGavin has been dis
posed of the most likely candidate for
championship honors is Percy Muir
dock. 1t was thought from the start
that the main struggle would be be-
tween MacGavin and Murdoch The
latter has always been considered a
good first class man. but never accom-
plished much until last September. He
was runner-uD in the coast CHAMPION
ship singles, and made Bell, the cham
pion, play his best to win. Murdock
has always possessed beautiful strokes.
but has lacked steadiness. His drive is
q trifie wild and his overhead work not
up to the standard. If he can play any
thing like the game he put up in Sep
tember neither Baker nor Variel would
have a chance to beat him.
Murdock showed last Sunday that he
is in great form. OF course. it was ex-
pected he would beat Clarence Griffin
the young crack from the park, but no.
body thought he would do it by so one
sided score. Griffin plays good tennis.
and any one who beats him as easily
as Murdocl did must be a PLAYER of
championship caliber.
In doubles by faISthe strongest team
on paper is MacGavin and VarieI. Be.
fore the tournament it was thought
that Variel would give MacGavin but
little support. Since the defeat of Mac
Gavin at the hands of his partner their
chances of winning the doubles cham
pionship are considered much better
These two players should win the
doubles with little difficulty The Baker
brothers. considered by many to be
their most dangerous opponents. were
disposed of on Sunday, and from now