New-York tribune., 1907-07-01
BIG LAWN TENNIS WEEK.
Middle States Championship Begins
T'o-day-Nc1g Rule Threatened.

With the beginning of the Middle States lawn
tennis championship tournament the pictu-
Mountain Station n. J., to-day, the experts will
actually begin their preparation for the national
all comers championship at Newport. This is due
to the fact that it is the first of line of tourna-
ments upon turf playing surfaces which continues
from to-day up the Mecca of all lawn tennis
asplrants, the nationals at the famous Casino.
William A. Larned will defend his title and cup
after defeating Frederick b. Alexander holder, in
the challenge match after four gruelling sets The
ex-national champion is paired with the national
champion William j. ClOthier, in the holding Of
the doubles cups which they captured from the
Prtnceton-Yale veteran combination. Frederick B.
Alexander and Harold H. Hackctt a year ago
The appearance of the ranking quartet. Clothier.
NO. !; Larned, No. >, Alexander, 10. 4. and Hack
EFT. No. 4 is therefore assured. addition there
is to he Holcombe Ward Edwin P. Larned, George
H. Miles, Raymond d. Little. Theodore Roosevelt
PeIl, T. B. Hawk William b. Cragn, jr. Richard
stevens and host of the collegiate and local eX-
perts.
The womens matches form an important part
OF the tournament and Miss Helen Homans is the
present holder Of the title, although il is probable
that she will not defend owing to the injury that
she sustained early in the year. Miss Marie Wag
ner. Miss Eleanor Souther Miss Edna Wildey
Miss Day and Mrs Louis 5. COe are among the
most famous ones who will strive gain her title
by the default Mrs Louis s Coe and Mrs d F
Platt of the Englewood Field Club are the hold
ers of the womens doubles titles
The matches except the finals and challenge con-
tests will be decided by the best two out of three
deuce and vantage sets Hocombe Ward the ma
tional ex-champion and former holder of the Mid
dle states championship, will referee, and
associated with him viii be T. B. Souther. X P
Gordon George II. Niles, II. c. Hoskier and Ed
win F. Larncd
newcomer to the line of tournaments will he
uShered In on the courts of the Ocean Country
CIun Far Rockaway. Long Island. later in the
week beginning July T. and continuing for three
days or play This meeting is 10 attract the young
er players who have not vet won their rankings
ana gives evidence of lacking nothing in number
of entrants nor in the enthusiasm of pav
The proximity Of the New York state lawn tennis
championship. which will be held upon the rTravers
Island courts OF the New York Athletic Club this
year lof the nrSt time. mas led to general
hauling of the playing surfaces so that they are t
Tor the most important Of the big champion shin
events TO he held In this state Rufus Davis chair
man Of the committee in charge Of the Tournament
has already obtained the entry of all Of the pron1i
ncnt PLAYERS of the country who will seek ~ west
from Harold Fl. Hackett the singles title which he
Won last year when the tournament was held az
staten Island, and the doubles from Theodore
Roosevelt Pe and Harry Torrance New and val
liable cups have been offered by the New York
Athletic Club for the meeting. which is under the
direction Of the United States National Lawn Ten
mis- Association.
Another change Of the vexatious foot fault
rule IS threatened and again il is from EnEl nd.
Sir Alfred HicksOn has served notice through the
English association that he present a new rule
TO do away with the present one which has caused
so much dispute in this country and abroad He
viii also ask, done when the change was
made three years ago. that the United States also
adopt the rule so as 10 make the rules Of the two
countries the same and standard Sir Alfred Eick-
sons rule viii make 1t necessary for the server 70
md with both feet firmly upon the ground behind
the service line. That this will detract from
the present play ilustra by offering the
perfect service Of Reginald F. Doherty and Hugh
l. Doherty as examples The present rule reads:
It is not fault II one only OF the servers feet
do not touch the ground at the moment al which
the service Is delivered
The object OF the rule is 10 do away with the
running start for the net so that the player may
gain position Of advantage. This is so usual in
this country that the experts here believe that II
win greatly handicap them and seriously retard
the American game, which depends so much for
its success in getting 10 the net rapidly and win
-.,4vf ~ rf,ff -trr " ala
vclopod by Bob Wrenn when he winning his
national and other championship titles.