Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-13
AMERICANS SEE
VICTORY AHEAD
TENNIS EXPERTS BELIEVED TO
BE 0vER-C0NFIDENT
DoHERTY BROTHERS. ABSENCE
CHANGES OUTLOOK
Yankee Players RetrogressIng and
Larned Only One Who Is Ger
tain to Make Good in
Coming Tourney

American followers of lawn tennis
find inspiration in as rosy a prospect
of the return to this country of the
Dwight F. Davis international chal-
lenge cup, now held in Australia, as
could well be imagined. This is the
result Of the recent action of the Ma
tional associa ton in bringing about the
playing of the preliminary matches at
Longwood, Mass, this month by Eng
land and America. after the dashing
to the earth of the plans for the in
tended visit of the famous Doherty
brothers and the gee bungling which
made it appear that no international
matches would be decided in this coun-
try this year. This state of affairs is
the result of the wave Of indignation
which was manifest in England when
it was known that the association there
had planned to pass the international
challenge by a default.
That English players should nave
protested is not to be wondered at,
when the fact Is known that England
had practically bound itself by promise
to the Australians to compete for the
cup this year. So between the prom
Use, indignation and no available play
ers, the association found itself In as
pretty a pickle as could be imagined.
Then along came the American asso-
citation with an offer of $500 for ex-
penses for a team of Englishmen, If
they would visit this country and en-
gage in the international cup prelim-
mary ties.
Crack Players Arrive
The solution of this difficulty was so
plain to the English association. which
was thus able to do all 1t should have
done and at the same time still all
criticism, that the opportunity to re-
habilitate itself was grasped and j. g.
M. Richie and J. G. Parke were imme-
diately nominated as the best men for
the team. These men arrived in this
country last week, and from their rec
ords it is certain that they are worthy
of the task intrusted to them. But
most of the Americans do not view II
that way. Anything short of the in
vincible Doherty brothers means
walkover to their minds.
1t will be we'll for those who take
the latter view of the coming interna-
tional matches on the picturesque
course of the Longwood Cricket CLUB |
of Boston, where the contests Will ne
held Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
II, IS and 10, to remember
that our own national championship |
finished only a few days
ago and that 1t did not reveal any Won
1er1uI Improvement III lOlhis pNb
or the reverse. on the part of those
supposed to stand as the bulwarks OF |
The American game. On the other hand,
the two wielders of the racquet whom |
England Is sending to this country are
campaigners of the courts and |
have been grooming and polishlng
their game in some of the best man
aged and most important tournaments
If the whole world this year-notably
oil t0lIrnA-
nents this year, in each of which they
won successes. Richie also won the
London championship.
AS IL stands only their supremacy III
these tie matches will mean their Jour-
,eving on to Australia, and even In
there was doubt that they
would make the extended Journey.
Not WaIkover
When entering upon competitions OF
his kind it is we'll to remember past
history and performances. With VIII
lam Aymer Larned, the four times ma
.ional champion in singles; Beals q.
Wright, former national champion,
Frederick B. Alexander, runner-up III
he all Corners national tournament o.
his year. and Harold II. Hackett, Win
Alexander, the national champion ~ ~
he doubles, as the American team IL
. probable that the English invaders
viii drop from the international cup
contests of this year -
Yet it is well not to disguise the fact
hat the representatives of this coun-
ry are tender and uncertain 10y.
rhe records of their recent matcnes d
Newport fully indicate that there is
Tot any semblance Of sure walkover
'bout the coming international COM
,etitions and that the only one OF the
our men who may be depended upoi
hon. Larned, who. after many sea-
ons upon the lawn tennis courts
lands supreme and altogether unap-
,roaehable as to his game and method.
Going back into past RECORDS reveals
he fact that Richie already has adj
mustered singing setless defeat and
owe defeat to Beals G. Wright when
an sit in a sulky and hold the lines can
rive him a mile in 2:10 You can