The Washington herald., 1907-12-15
Increasing Interest Shown
by Tournaments.
QUALITY FAILS TO IMPROVE
Although Several of the Rest Players
Have shown brilliant Form at
Times, the General High Quality of
the American Has Not Been Con-
sIstentIy Sustained in Matches.

unsettled opinion as to whether the
American game has attained 10 a higher
standard during the tournament season
Of this year
That there has been an abundance OF
tournament competition and an increase
in the entry list appear to be the most
cheering sign Of the times for those who
are of an optimistic disposition These
optimists even point to the fact that
there has been much really brilliant
racket work, even if the generally high
quality Of the American game has not at
all times been sustained This was evil
dent in the complete triumph Of William
A Larned in his third victory for the
national Championship. Larned. the vet
eran Of nearly two decades, stood out
over all OF the other players Of the sea
son.
While the Americans met the defeat
expected in the matches for the Dwight
F. Davis international challenge cup,
Beals c. Wright and Karl II. Behr
proved a stronger team than any one
had looked for; indeed. the margin be-
tween victory and defeat was narrow,
lawn tennis players in a negative sort of
way. indicating that some Of the younger
men who are on their way to the topmost
flight Of players in this country appear
likely TO surpass the veterans OF the old
days. Behr's work was most interesting
abroad, as the scores Of the Americans
matches against the Australasians at
test. In the first round OF the singles
Norman E. Brookes defeated Beals c.
Wright e-4. 81. g. and Anthony f.
Wilding defeated Karl II. Bebr S.. ca,
S-6. rs. 6-3. Expert English critics
agree that had a smash of Behr's passed
over the net, instead Of into it. in the
fourth set, the entire story Of the inter
nationals this year would have been
changed and the Americans might have
carried home the trophy. Miss May
Sutton's success on the English courts
was some consolation for Americans.
Doubles n Success.
The doubles during the season marked
a step in advance with the advent Of the
winners Of the Southern championship
TO the competition. It had also been the
intention 70 obtain pair from tine far
West but this remains for another sea
son. As the holders of the doubles title.
Beals c. Wright and HoIeombe Ward.
had previously announced their intention
70 default, the tournament. in which the
South. West. and East met on the courts
Of the Crescent Athletic Club. actually
decided the championship. On the first
day Harold II. Hackett and Frederick
b. Alexander. who had iourneyed all the
way 10 Chicago to win the Western title
champions. 6-3, Go. Ga The Western
ers then met the Southerners and scored
with equal ease against Grant and Thorn
ton. 50. g, 81
In other of the important tournaments
Henry Z. Mollenhauer, Theodore Roose-
Welt Pell, and Robert lie Roy indicated
that they are attaining high-class form.
Mollenhauer was a finalist in the Long
Island championship, the challenger of
tho New York Lawn Tennis Club open
singles, and flnalist OF the Metropolitan
championship. lie Roy was somewhat
late in starting, but he finally rounded
out brilliantly. Aside from his being a
finalist in the National AT Newport he
was finalist at Southampton and won
the State championship at Cincinnati n
w. Niles also gave evidence Of attaining
a forward place. but. following his win
ming Of the Harvard championship late in
April. his good work was not sustained
because Of his being unable TO get into
good physical condition. Right at the
close of the season Edwin z. Larned. the
younger brother of the national cham
pion, distinguished himself by winning
the New Jersey State honors on the
courts Of the Morristown Field Club
WOmen's Play Improves.
In one respect-its development Of the
women's play-the season was most re-
markable. Everywhere the interest in the
women S game showed a marked increase
The eliminating point was the victory
OF Miss Evelyn Sears. Of Boston. who
won the womens national champion
ship on the courts of St. Martins Green.
in Philadelphia. In this match she de-
feated Miss Carrie 3. Nicely, of Cincin-
natl and Chicago, by the score of 6-3
CO. Miss Nicely had previously put out
Mrs. Barger- Wallach, who was the final
ist year ago.
summary Of the principal tourna-
ments follows:
United States national chanpionship singles q,
Newport, r. Nv. A. Laned challenger heat
W. ]. Clo.hier, holder. by default In final Iarned
beat r. L Roy. GO. 60. 81
United States national championship doubles at
Crescent Athletic Club-F 3. Alexander and n
n Hackett. chailcngers. beat H. Wand and b a.
Wright, holders. by default In finals f. B. Alex-
ancer and II. H. Haczett. Western champions beat
W. A Larned and W. j. Clothier Eastern cham
pions. 5-3. 90. O., and Grant and Thornton
southern champions. &c. 81. 81
Dwight +. Davis International Cup matches at
London. England-first ties-N. Z. Brookes. Aus
tralasiR beat T. G. Wright United States %
Ga. 81; A +. Wilding Australasia heat X a
Behr. United States 10. 81 s.. rs. 6-3: Rebr
and Wright. United States. beat Brookes and Wild
ing Australasia, IS, I2-l0 &c, g. 6-3; B. G.
Irr,fsa Gt-4.
tralasia, 6-s 6-3, 6-3 IS; y. l. BIookes Ans
tralasia. beat K II. Behr. United states. "a 6-l
G-2 Cup ties-N. Z. Brookes beat A. W Gore
England. - 81, -; a. +. Wildmg beat H. X
Barrett England. 10 O.. 6-3 -: A. W. Gone
England, beat A. +. Wilding Sc IS Is 60.
y +. Brookes beat n X. Barrett. England 60
90, %; Gore and Barnett, England beat Brookes
and Wilding. SO. %. rs, 81 l3-n
United States national indoor championship. mems
sngles-T. r. Pell beat w. G. Grant SO Ga
81 l-S. 60. Womens singles-Miss T. II Moore
beat Miss Marie Wagner. GO. - e. Mems
doubles-F b Alexander and II. II. Hackett beat
w. G. Grant and H. L. Westfan. rs. 6-l. sc
Long Island championship at Kings COUNTY t1ph
Brooklyn-Men's singles-IrTing G. Wright beat H
n. Mollenhaner. So. SIS. 2s. s-3 Mems doubIes
w. G. Grant and H. L. Westfan beat l. C. Wright
and H. Torrance ia. SIS IS. 6-l
Metropolitan championship AZ West Side tlpb
New lork-Aiens singles-F j. Alexander holder
beat r. ID. Little. challenger, 6-3 e. 81 So
Mems doubles-f. b. Alexander and h. H. Hackett
l.. N0SffaI
lengers. 81. 80. o..
Middle States championship at Orange y. l.
Mems siugles-W. A. Lamed. holder beat II ID
Little. challenger. So e-3 60 60 Mems dom
bles-H H. Hackett and r, ID. Little beat G. p
Watson. IT.. and +. W. Leonard 60 80 al g.
Womens singles-Aliss G b. Nicely beat Miss Marie
Wagner. 81. 6-3
View York state Championship. at New York A q
Mems singles-H- H. Hacket. holder beat n l.
Westfal. challenger los, Ga, rs Mems doubles
w. c. Grant hd u l. Westfan beat H. Tallant
and W. V. b. Lyons b. default