The San Francisco call., 1904-09-17
TENNIS PROVES
ITS POPULARITY
Recent Tournament Shows
the Widespread Interest
Taken in PaStime Here

The completion of the coast cham
pionship tennis tournament at San
Rafael on Monday brought to a close
one of the most successful meets held
in years The number of entries great
ly exceeded that of any previous year
and there was no lack of class. Fifty
one players entered the mems singles.
AS rule about twenty-five players en-
ter the tournament and the fact that
there were twice this number in the
competition shows how popular the
game of tennis is at present. This In
crease is due TO a great extent to the
introduction Of the game at the park.
This gave the general public an oppor-
tunity both to see and to play the
game. The hundreds of spectators
and players at the park each Sunday
GlsproYe the old saying that tennis is
a ladies' game.
Since 1901. when George Whitney
was forced to retire, the champion
ship in both mems singles and doubles
has gone to players from Southern
California. For two years Bell and
Freeman divided the honors between
them, but this year both titles have
again come north. ]. Drummond Mac
Gavin has at last developed into star
and is the premier racket wielder of
championship and by beating Bell on
Monday he proved beyond a doubt
that he is the best tennis player in the
West, True, Bell was at a slight dis
advantage in the challenge match, but
the consensus of opinion is that Mac
Gavin would have won under any and
all circumstances.
While the players from the south
failed in the mems events, they GER
faft Of la f,a fl,o
events for women. The Sutton sisters,
as usual swept all before them and il
is safe to say they will be champions
as long as they play the game. May
Sutton is iIf q class by herself and
could give odds to any other woman
player in the country.
The first annual tournament for the
championship of the bay counties Will
be inaugurated at the park on the
25th inst. A cup has been donated by
Reuben II. Lloyd, TO be competed for
Until won three times.
All of the best players in the coun-
ties around the bay will compete and
there will be some high-class tennis
on the public courts. Champion Mac
Gavin will be seen in competition and
Will be strong favorite for first
honors. Percy Murdock, Will Allen,
+. n. Whitney. George Baker. Clar-
eDce NTrlIfn ana many OF the CdiIoT-
mia Club cracks will also participate.
The lady players of the park will
hold a class singles tournament to-day.
There is no first class at the park
among the lady players and play will
be confined to second and third class
players. In the second class Miss
! Anna Vodden is the champion. Miss
/ Travenar won the third class in the
last tournament
A banquet will be given in honor Of
Drummond MacGavin, the new cham
pion. next Saturday night. 1t will be
given by the California Tennis Club,
OF which MacG9vin has been promi-
nent members for years. and will be
held at the California Hotel.
The effort to bring four of the best
Eastern players out here to play in
the coast championship tournament
failed, but it is almost a certainty they
will play both here and in the south
some time in December. Ex-Cham-
pion Bell, who recently returned from
the East, states the Eastern cham
pions are anxious to play here and
arrangements to bring them out are
under way Larned. Ward Clothier
and Wright are the four who will
come to the coast.
e~ope