The San Francisco call., 1905-02-04
TENNIS EXPERTS
Are PRACTICINC
Championship of Alameda
County Is Expected to
Prove Exciting Event
PLAY ON PARK COURTS
Two Tournaments Will Be
Completed To-Day by the
Ladies and the Juveniles
PLAY ON PARK COURTS

The principal tennis tournament
scheduled for February is the annual
singles event for the championship of
Alameda County. This tournament
will be played as usual on the 22d at
Alameda The event will be held
Jointly by the various clubs of Ala
media County. The present champion
is George Baker of the Golden Gate
Club The latter beat Percy Murdock
of Alameda in the finals last year.
Coast Champion MacGavin also par
ticipated in the tournament, but was
in poor form and lost to Variel. a man
whom he outclassed.
Murdoch, in his best form, is easily
the cleverest player in the tourna-
ment. Last year he played his best
early IN his match with Baker, but
fell down toward the end. Baker is
steady player, who is always in
practice. Murdoch does most of his
playing in summer and consequently
is not at his best at this time of the
year. 1t is safe to say the champion
ship lies between these two experts.
Aside from Baker and Murdock the
players who stand a chance to win are
George James. Herbert Long, Clarence
Griffin, Charles Foley and Melville
Long. OF these players James is prob
ably the best. He hardly did himself
justice at the park last Sunday, when
he lost to Brabant. His defeat was
the best thing that could have hap
should improve steadily. II Murdock
or Baker lose to an outsider it will
probably be James.
Herbert Long has been standing
still of late, but in the last two weeks
he has improved considerably. He
will undoubtedly make a first class
player and is liable to cause surprise
at any time.
OF the younger players Melville
Long is the most promising. He has
improved wonderfully in the last
month and by next September should
be near the top In the tournament at
the park he was placed "3-6" below
scratch. This is not justified by any
form he has shown on the public
courts, where heretofore he has al
ways been above scratch Despite the
handicap Long will prove hard TO
beat.
Griffin and Foley are the most
promising young players at the park
Although Foley beat Griffin in
straight sets the latter Is considered by
his clubmateS the stronger PLAYER. The
two are about evenly matched, with
the difference slightly in Griffins IA
vor.
Another youngSter who has bright
future on the courts is Harold Gabriel
He is the youngest player of the lot.
but is by no means the least clever.
He plays a fast game, but is inclined
to be wild. When he grows a few
inches and steadies down he will be a
top notcher.
After several postponements the
handicap singles tournament was
started on the park courts last sun
day. There were an unusual number
of defaults and also a few surprises.
Chief of the latter were the defeats
of James, Neil Baker and Clarence
Griffin.
The first round with the exception
of one match and about half of the
second round have been completed.
The men who have reached the third
round are George Baker. Howell,
Marius Hotchkiss, G.. l.. Hall, A. Bra
bant, A. Mcfarland and c. Teller.
The following second round matches
have not been played: Vensam VS..
GayneSS, H Long VS.. Miller. Single
ton VS.. Roche. Sobey VS.. j. Baker or
Marvin. Palmer VS.. Howell, NJ. Long
VS.. Jewell, Lemon vs. Turner, Gabriel
VS.. Morton and Sayre vs. Lozano.
George Baker. the most heavily
handicapped player, looks to have the
best chance to win. If he meets with
uOuUie III HIS lldll II VIII OC with thc
Long brothers. Both have chance
to beat the park champion.
In the lower half the most likely
candidates are Harold Gabriel. Mari
us HotchkisS and A Brabant. The
last two named are evenly matched
and play from the same mark. Ca
briel will receive a slight handicap
from them and stands an excellent
chance to reach the finals. Morton is
a new man. who is on the same mark
as Brabant and HotchkisS. He may
upset calculations.
Two tournaments will be finished on
the park courts to-day. In each there
is an unfinished semi-final match.
These and the finals will be played
One tournament is a ladies' handicap
singles and the other boys handicap
doubles.