New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-15
HACKETT KEEPS TITLE.
WESTF4LL'S HARD FIGHT.
Makes PIucky Stand for State LG7on
Tennis Cham pOnship.

Harold II Hackett- of the West Side Lawn Ten
mis- Club. defeated Herbert l.. WestfaH, Of the
Kings County Club. in the challenge rophd Tor the
New York state lawn tennis championship on the
courts of the New York Athletic Club, at Travers
Island, yesterday The score was 1o-S 81 10
1t was brilliant. hard fought match and IN two
of the three sets the challenger had d c'thhldl1
ing lead but HaCkett wore him down ny S'e'dy'
consistent play
Fackett won the title last year on Staten Island,
going through 10 the challenge round Whlch ne
won by default from F. c. Anderson, the chal-
pion of 1904. No tournament was held in $50 ne
victory yesterday gives Hackett two legs on th1
silver bowl offered last year by the staten iSit''i
Cricket and Tennis club
The idea which ruled after the match was that
westfaT made n mistake in forcing the game as
much he did. He tried to gain points 10y shaIp
driving, a device which does not do well with
Hackett. The latter can place and smash hetter
than T. G. Anderson. for instance, and d repetition
of the tactics which won on Saturday for NestIail
in the final round against Anderson were ms
applied when II came To facing the state champion
Hackett at the net. took all OF Westfalfs hard
drives with great compacenCy. and turned them
off for points by clever placing Hackett did par
tiCularly well with his slow places from just under
the net and smashed well. In another feature TOO.
be much the better. He had complete mastery
the short lobs and earned points often when
Westfall hurried to the net by nicking the hasene
with 1oateT over the chalengers head and out
of his reach
The match was called shortly before noon, with
big gallery hand The first set was fun OF
action. the opposing styles of the players being we'll
exemplifed Westfall pounded the bail hard. while
Hackett did not seem have the same power I'm
reserve usual and apparently being swept
aside. When the score was Il in favor of the
challenger the gallery began to figure the set lost
for Hackett They reckoned. however, without a
knowledge Of the admirable Judgment and skill Of
the holder.
He set himself to the task of getting points. and
Westfall put all the more steam into his drives.
The result was that the challenger failed to make
the situations fit. He was unwilling 10 wait for
openings. but tried 10 play Hackett's game and
his own. The holder soon profted by the impetU-
osty OF his rival and the games were brought 70
q III 4
Of game and game. Hackett and Westfall IN turn
having chances TO get the set, but falling by point
At all, however, Westfall appeared TO
have shot his bolt for the time being, and Hackett
the next two games and the set at 10-2
The hard fight in the first set promised great
things for the Of the contest 1t showed
Hackett and Westfan better matched than had
been expected The second set did not equal the
first, however, contest. WestfaIl scored four
games but Hackett always held him safe and
won at 6+
Westfan is renowned for his fighting quality
and in spite OF being overmatched. ne went out IN
the third set with all the strength and skill at his
command. He played about the same as in the
first set. hitting the ball at top speed Hackett
naturally had 20 yield 10 such tactics In the early
part Of the set. and the challenger carved out a
lead at 6-3. almost before any one could realize
that he had a set so nearly in hand Hacketts
fine knowledge of the game came 70 his rescue
here He did not have 10 coax Westfal 10 the
net hut as the latter came up the ball went sail
ing over his head Of reach. for several we'll
earned points Hacketts effort resulted In the
winning of two games. which squared the set at
all.
The remainder Of the match short and
sharp. Once terms for the third set HaCkett
turned loose the full battery. He took the next
two games clevery and the set at T-5. West
fall having little or no chance 70 make fight OF IT,
Last year Hackett In winning the semi-fnal
round had to play against Karl H Behr. the inter
national player He had Just such another strug-
gle. Westfall showed decided Improvement over
the work he did in the Middle States tournament.
where 3. 4. Little put him ont IN straight sets IN
The first round.
The New York State title has been in conpeti-
ton since 1s91. although tournaments have not
been held every year. Previous winners were.
1891. F. II Hovey; 1892. W. T. Knapp; 1898 CIar-
ence Hobart; 1894 Clarence Hobart: 1895. 1896 and
1897, tournament. 1895. Malcolm n. Whitman:
1899. Malcolm n Whitman; 1900. Malcolm n.
Whitman 1901 Edwin Z. Fischer, 1902, 2. =. Alex
ander; 1898 = Z. Alexander: 1904. r. &. Alexan-
der 1905. tournament; 1908 Harold II. Hackett