The San Francisco call., 1908-05-24
TennisSeason Opens
for Championship
Best Players in City to Meet in
Scratch Singles for the
Grant Cup
By Grant Smith

The tennis cracks will usher in the
1908 championship season today with
the annual open scratch singles event
for the championship of San Fran
cisco. Play will be called promptly
this morning at 10 clock. and those
not on hand when their matches are
called will be defaulted.
The present holder Of the title Is
Maurice Mclaughlin, who also holds
the championship OF the coast in both
singles and doubles and the state
championship title. The San Francisco
championship was inaugurated In 1901,
when Feorge r.. Whitney carried Of
the honors. This was one of the last
titles held by Whitney, who was forced
to retire after the championship sea
son of that year. Whitney was sue
ceeded by. Grant NJ. Smith. The latter
was called upon to play through the
tournament In 1903. He was beaten by
Norman Hodgkinson in the semiflnals.
Drummond MacGRvin in the finals.
In 1898 a handsone three time cup
was presented to the association BY
Joseph D. Grant. MacGavin had the
distinction OF having his name en-
graved on the trophy first. After 1903
the champion stood out and played the
tournament winner in the challenge
match. MacGavin, like Whitney and
Smith. held the title only one year.
He released il to Percy Murdoch In
1904. Carl Gardner took the cup and
title from Murdoch in 1905 and surren-
dered them to Charles Foley in 1906.
The latter was beaten by Maurice Nc
Loughlin last year, and thus it will be
seen that no player has ever yet been
able to retain the title to the cham
pionships of San Francisco for more
than one year. The question is, will
McLoughlin successfully defend his
title or will still another name be
added to the list? 1t is the first time
In the history OF the game on this
coast that a three time champion ship
trophy has been competed for, as many
as seven years and Still not be won
by any player more than once Al
the present rate the cup will not be
disposed of for Is years to come.
Maurice Mclaughlin suffered his
first defeat last Sunday since he an
nexed his numerous titles. That it was
at the hands of eX-Champfon Melville
Long occaSioned no surprise. The lat
ter gave Mclaughlin his hardest match
when he won the coast championship
last year. Last Sundays match pre-
sages an early return to his best form
on the part of Long, and he looks to
be the most likely candidate for the
tournament honors.
Close followers of the game agree
almost to a man that Mclaughlin will
be opposed to either Melville Long or
Carl Gardner in the challenge match
OF course, such experts as Herbert
Long, Charles Foley and George James
can not be denied "a chance. Gardner
has been playing the most consistent
pion. Long at his best is unquestion-
ably McLoughlin's most dangerous
rival.
George James and Charles Foley. who
IN future will represent tho Olympic
club in all championship events, drew
together in the first round. They
should furnish good match, as James
is in excellent, shape and Foley is said
to be rounding to nicely. One of the
two is sure to win place in the semi
finals. Melville Long and Harold Ga
briei are also IN the upper half, and
the other semifinal place in this half
will 60 to one OF them. Long II al
most sure to beat Gabriel.
In the lower half Carl Gardner will
find Harold Getz the only stumbling
block to a place in the semifinals. The
fourth seminal place will probably go
to Herbert Long. He has only to beat
Fred Adams, who has not proved very
dangerous of late. Aside from Nc
Loughlin the four best players In the
city will come together IN the semi
finals and the concluding rounds should
prove unusually interesting.
II possible the tournament will be
completed to the finals today. It is
doubtful however, il the committee will
succeed in getting further than the
sernifinais. In that case the seniflnals
would be played next Saturday morn
ing and finals In the afternoon. The
challenge match is scheduled for next
Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The