New-York tribune., 1906-08-23
WRIGHT AND WARD WIN
HOLD NATIONAL TITLE.
Yard to Retire from Sport t-Behr
Defeats Larned.
(By Telegraph to The Tribune ]

Newport, r. l. Aug 22.-Beals G. Wright and
Holcombe Ward won their holding of the lawn
tennis championship doubles to-day for the third
successive year. Their 4ctory was scored in
one of the most stubbornly and brilliantly con-
tested matches that the famous Casino courts
and the national championship tournament have
ever witnessed. Their score of three sets to one
az 6-3, Sc, 6-3 6-3 was not looked for by
the experts. and 1t offered opportunities for
speculation large sums of money were wagered
on the result as the Eastern champion challeng-
ers. Frederick B. Alexander and Harold H.
Hackett. were looked upon in form TO change
the holding Of the title this year. Sharing the
Importance of the national doubles contest was
that in the second round Of the singles when
brought about the defeat of William A. Larned
by his young rival Karl III. Behr, jr The lat-
ter in straight sets. Ga. CO, %.
Few OF the immense gathering Of spectators
If any. knew that Ward was playing his last
match as a champion here. he retires from
the sport. In his keeping, as his personal prop
erty are the gold cup that he won to-day and the
valuable silver and enamel vase Onered Dy
Colonel John Jacob Astor. and the duplicate or
which Dwight F. Davis holds as ne was then
Wards partner in the doubles. 1t is reported
that Wright will find new partner IN Raymond
D. Little next year.
There was nothing slipshod about the racquet
work of either of the pairs in the doubles Botn
were on edge. but even though they had had no
practice together Wright and Ward from the
outset displayed that wonderful smootbness OF
team work that has always made them so dan
gerous opponents TO those having aspirations
toward the national honorS. Their tactics were
unmasked In the first set when Wright began
the service. Never were Alexander or Hackett
to be allowed to work In their powerful passing
strokes IL II possible to hold them off. So
well did the attack prove that IN the first set
Alexander was made to appear weak and err
ratio, he was the target of both Wright and
Wards forcing plays, so that he hit the ball into
the net times without number.
the second set, despite the high lobbing and
steady driving of the champions to stop them
The exchanges were played out at lightning
speed and ii in these that on the chal-
lenger's side Hackett distinguished himself
he brought off many OF the points with thrilling
SmaSheS. Wright lapSed into unSteadineSS in
the latter part of this set, and Alexander and
Hackett balanced the score by winning at 6-3.
But the challengers unable 10 continue
the splendid burst OF winning speed in the third
set. Ward was compelled TO take the game upon
his shoulders, as Wright began TO fade under the
fast pace. Wards lobs TO Alexander resulted in
the saving of his side and probably the match.
Alexander timid bout smashing, as the ball
came down SO straight and his failure to cut
loose at this Juncture afforded Ward Opportu-
mites at covering his court which again al
lowed the champions to score at 6-3. The rest
after the third set benefited Wright. With the
challengers in good trim and making supreme
effort, the play very fast and Hackett's
prettiy played cross-court shots worrying
the champions TO a considerable degree. At
Sail Wright and Ward managed to break
through the service of Alexander by accurately
Placeu ShOtS. InlS was the beginning of the
END. for the chalengers were unable TO recover
as Wright came back into the game with re-
markable show of racquet execution, and the
champion cups were for all time at 6-3
In the singles match, in which the veteran
Larned met defeat at the hands of his young
rlval, Behrs the younger player proved the mas
ter OF the veteran at every point. Larned was
orten within stroke of winning games, only to
De passed ana Sutgeneralled by Behr whose clev-
erness at making quick and varied changes
caused him TO lead all the way and win in
sIralght sets The entire second round was COM
pi3fed. and the seTni-finals win be reached bv
saturday. The summaries follow
Championship singles csrst round)-R F. lowering de-
feated r. W. Thomas by defauIt-
Second round-w. E. PI.tnam defeated G. I Scott 60
60. 60: G S Bridghsm defeated A n Emerson by
90 S,l; n. C. Townsend defeated s Henshaw IS
6-s e-2: j. d; E. Jones defeated II Sinnons &c 6-2
default Gross dsfoatcd F e ma6ohey ne DP9F an 5efau
Ae8andaT es dfeaeS 8 T%sTsss TSnss55 s 80 s4
Ross defeated Adrian Iseln. 6-l 60 60 P B. HawI;
F G. coon rs 6S Ss 60 TqGs5y Rs5 dsfsa;s dsfsa;e9
Nobiit it harGea la "a S 81 + J Holt defeated p
jr by default; c. Wright defeated w F johnson S8
%. 6-2 e-4; 4 l. Hoskins defeated c. Gallatin 6-4
4E6.. 60 SO: r Leroy defeated p Fosdlck 6I4 IS
defaultedi NJ Bull tr.. defeated H B. Register IS
S2 I@5; A. G Way defeated A. N Reggie s-6. e-S
Little defeated Hodges by defau asaI; ssiIGaH d. D.
feated ] 4 Fowler: Ga e-s. 6-i H. NJ Earriman de-
fsafsS F. fSvsrhe e. m Foal%aSge o & By dsfauf P dsisasd
feated F H. Rowland e-s. e-s. 6Es 6-4 f-3'"s'' 'e
q Third rSund-R D. Little defeated r. H Dana. 6-2
Championship doubles challenge round-ToIcombe Ward
and Beals c. Wright defeated Fl. H Hackett and F. n
Alexander. e-3 3-e. 6-S Ga.