The San Francisco call., 1908-09-22
Fair Tennis Experts in
Brilliant Match
Sutton Sisters and Miss HOfck-
kiss Elecfrify Enthusiasts
at CIaremOnt Club
By Grant Smith

Iennis enthusiasts of Alameda county
were given an opportunity yesterday
to see the famous Sutton sisters and
Niles, Wright and Johnson. the eastern
experts. in action. These star players
appeared on the courts of the Claremont
country club in the afternoon, and,
needless to say, standing room was ct a
premium
Usually the mems events are much
more interesting than the women's. but
1nls 1s was not the case yesterday. MISS
May and Miss Florence Sutton played
an exhibition doubles with Mrs. B. o.
Bruce formerly Miss Ethel Sutton) and
state Champion Hazel Hotchkiss. Two
sets were played, each side winning
oles match ever contested. hereabouts
and, although the contestants broke
even, as Is customary in two set eXhi-
eition matches. the opposing teams
lought Tor every point and had the
spectators wild with excitement.
MISS May Sutton and her sister won
the nrst set, 6-4. The second provided
the excitement Mrs. Bruce and Miss
Hotchkiss led at ga and three times
had vantage, but could not score the
coveted point. At SIS they had even a
bigger lead, the score reading 400 in
their favor. The Sutton sisters put up
great exhibition at this stage and did
not allow their opponents another
point in the game. Mrs. Bruce and
the set by score of SIS
l.lstead of being the usual pingpong
game put up by women, it was as
fast and exciting as most matches
sterner sex. OF course, May sutton
was the center of attraction, but by
no means outshone the other contest
ants. Mrs. Bruce and Miss Hotchkiss
played brilliantly at the net, while
their opponents did their most effective
work from the back court.
Wright. Niles and Johnson, together
with Sumner Hardy, had the misfor-
tune to follow the ladies in the court.
While this match was interesting. the
edge had been taken off by the splen-
did exhibition OF the women which
Niles and Wright opposed Johnson
and Sumner Hardy, and won two sets
out of three. The score was 6-3, 6-2,
take set from Niles and Wright, who
have played on the same side of the
net for some time and were at their
best yesterday. With nothing at stake,
than in the tournament at Del Monte
and impressed the spectators much
more. favora bly,. Hardy played bril-
liantly in spots but was unsteady
Johnson's peculiar chop, which he
takes few inches from the ground
and over which he has almost perfect
control, was the feature of the match.
peculiar thing in connection with
the visit of the Fasteners is that John
son is considered the poorest of the
three by the fans of the east, yet he
made by far the best showing at Del
Monte, and the local enthusiasts, one
and all, declare him to be far superior
to the others. When he brings his net
game up to his back court game and
takes on little more speed he will be
in line for Larned's title.
The easterners will not play in San
Francisco. but will leave for Los An
geles today, together with the Sutton
sisters. After a stay Of two or three
days I'm the southern part of the state
they will depart for the east.
While the easterners Will retul II
with no new titles and no scalps tied
to their belts, they made great hit
with local followers of the game by
their gentlemanly demeanor while on
the courts. They lost with good grace,
although their defeat must have been
keen disappointment to them. The
California champions, no doubt, will be
given a big boost in the east when the
visitors return home, and 1t is quite
likely that national champions will be
sent here the next time the east in
vades the west for titles.