New-York tribune., 1905-06-09
WITHIN DEFEATS WARD.
LARNED ALSO BEATEN.
Lazcn Tennis Stars Fail on the Cres-
cent II. c. Courts.

Hard hitting work with me racquets was the
order on the courts of the Crescent Athletic
Club at Bay Ridge yesterday as the turf was
heavy, and it gave the players of the Ameri-
can challenging team powerful lot of arm
swings tc bring off the points. The conditions
in measure contributed to at least one unex-
pected result as Hocombe Ward. the national
champion in both singles and doubles and the
leader of the American team was defeated
rather easily in straight sets by the unbeaten
ex-champion, Malcolm D. Whitman The
was 6-3. 6-3. The manner in which Beals c.
Wright has been rounding out his game was
well demonstrated in the three set contest in
which he defeated William A. Larned, the
champion. by the 6-S, 6-3 81. The
doubles champions. Ward and Wright. over
whelmed the pair composed of Larned and Whit
man, the score being Go. 6-3
1t the first day thaC the American team
has been able 10 appear the courts since the
matches of Monday afternoon. and they all
eager to get in some fast play. this week is
the last opportunity they Thave for practice be-
fore leaving this country for England. The
courts were so wet that the singles match sched-
uled Tor the morning between Wright and
Larned was held over until the early afternoon
Larned won the first and second game by
drives, both off his forehand and backhand
down the side lines for passes Wright worked
chop stroke In the third game that caused the
ball to drop quickly after it crossed the net
his game for the moment and poor Judgment as
to speed gave the game to Wright on nets and
outs. BY keeping to this line of tactics Wright
got the lead at "A games, but he was un-
able to hold his advantage. and with the games
seesawing between deuce and vantage Larned
won the set at S-6 by burst of his swift and
accurate volleying at the net
Steadfness in the second set on the part Of
Wright brought 1t to speedy ending, he
played the ball all around Larned and won at
6-3. In the deciding set Larned worked hard to
wfn but his returns were faulty at critical mo-
ments He led In the scoring up to SIS on
games, and 1t looked II he had the victory
well in hand Even with the games at 5-4 in
his favor he was unable to beat Wright off from
the net, where the latter volleyed with force and
Skill bringing the games to deuce at 5-all after
Larned had twice been within stroke of taking
the set The rallies were all brilliantly played
at the end of this set Larned tried for place
and passing shots which Wright more than off,
set by his good smashing and crossing of the
ball, until he won at 81. The point scores Of
the sets follows: 43-a6 33-2S and
61-60.
Whitman was up to his oldtime form in his
match with Ward. He covered his court thor
oughly and Ward could not find place that
was vulnerable in which to place the ball. From
his side of the net Whitman played safe at all
when a fair opening was presented. The point
score was 31-22 and 35-32.
The doubles match was one-sided all the way,
as Ward and Wright worked smoothly together
and took the points without half trying from
Larned and Whitman The overhead strokes
of Wright were the feature of this match, and
his smashing to the side lines at sharp angles
gave Ward splendid opportunities to drive for
passes through the centre of the opposing court.
The matches scheduled for to-day will bring
Ward VS.. Wright and Larned Whitman in
singles and Alexander and Hackett VS.. Little
and Fisher In doubles.