The sun., 1907-08-18
HACKETT AND ALEXANDER win
ONE SIDED CONTEST IN CRESCENT
A. G. TENNIS DOUBLES.
victors Probably the National Champions.
~ There IN o Probability That ward
and wright wUl Default at Newport
Tourney-GOOd Placing and Driving.

Tourney ey-Good Placing and Driving.
In contest wofully one sided Harold Fl.
Hackett and Frederick b. Alexander, holders
Of the Western lawn tennis doubles title.
defeated the Southern champions. Nat Thorn
ton and Bryan NJ. Grant OF Atlanta. Ca.
yesterday on the turf Of the Crescent Athletic
Club at Bay Ridge. The Southerners only
won four games out Of the three sets. as the
final score was 8-2, e-l and al.
To the minds Of the majority Of the lawn
tennis followers the match decided the title
In the doubles for this year, Hackett and
Alexander by their victory succeeding to the
national championship previously held by
Holcombe Ward and Bcals G. Wright
Whether or not the latter pair will default,
the challenge match with which the Newport
tournament opens next Tuesday appeared TO
be In doubt. A. l.. Hoskins OF the national
executive committee. who acted as referee
Of the match. said that it was not at all certain
that Ward and Wright would not defend and
that the great doubles match might be the
inaugural feature OF the Casino courts as in
former years.
Possibly the question will not be settled
until the players arrive in Newport to-mor-
row. Wright entered with Raymond D.
Little for the Eastern doubles at Longwood
and was defeated. IL is said. however. that
there is no rule to debar him from defending
with Ward should the pair and the officials
decide that the match must be played.
At all stages of the contest yesterday
Hackett and Alexander held the ascendancy.
This pair that journeyed to Chicago to win
the Western title displayed in all depart
ments of the game that they unQuestionably
hold the supremacy as a tennis doubles pair
of all the teams on the courts this season.
Hackett WAS as self-contained as he had
been on the previous day In the match against
William j. Clothier and William A. Larned.
Alexander, on the other hand. appeared
erratic at times. This was evident by the
power which he put into his strokes. Often
he hit the ball much too hard. and in conse-
quence his total OF errors on nets and outs was
in excess of such points lost by his partner.
The Southern pair were outclassed Both
Thornton and Grant are unaccustomed TO
the technique of handling the swift voleys
and smsshes OF such men as Hackett and
Alexander. The stop yUolley appeared 1n- Hn-
hit the ball out Of court times without num-
Der. Actually they went down TO defeat
Sn se aaesete on and
scored total OF ss points for the match
against 90 for their opponents.
best Of the match and representative of the
playing throughout. Grant opened the ser
thee the net wf With nppiHs cross court shots e that
the points touched deuce before Hackett
sndi Alexander won. Then Hackett followed
lost his service. Then the Southern pair
steadied a bit and against Alexanders un-
certainty they scored their frst game of the
match the tally showing al against them.
IL was by placing and driving that Hackett
and Alexander won their points Occa-
sionally as the Southernres came up to the
net they iobbed over their heads. Thornton
handled the ball well. but Grant was wild
on his returns. and he was soon the target
for both of the Western titlewinners, who
kept the ball going to him at every oppOr-
tunity. On his side Of the net Alexander
was nearly as wild as Grant. but Hackett
was able to step in and save many of the
games by his splendidly placed drives. so
that the Southerners we're never danger
ousy close.
Thornton contributed to the interest Of
the match in the last set by repeatedly
smashing the ball sharply across court at
such an angle that both Hackett and Alex
ander were compelled to run wide of the
court. Once he cut the ball OF 80 closely
to the side that Alexander In running up
to get the ball overapped the net post He
got the ball back but Immediately announced
to the referee that the shot was foul his
few were aware that he had passed over the
The point score Of the match by games and
sets follows:
Haeset. a and !, ,A,lsnsnderss ! : 80 .-@-ss
SECOND SET.
a1.n, aaSSe,, ana and 4ssSn1oD os1snders #SSs #
THIRD SET.
Hsckett and Alexander. 3 = go $50
Grant and Thornton. I-I5-I
L HOSkins philAdelnhia