The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22
Glory Enough
Without First
Tennis Title
Failure TO Win National Cham
piOnship No Disgrace to
Coast Players
By GRANT SMITH

Dy OKAINl - WI II
While the defeat of Coast Cham
pions Maurice Mclaughlin and George
James at the hands OF National Cham
pions Hackett and Alexander in the
challenge match on Thursday proved
a great disappointment to local fol-
lowers OF the game. the result was
rather expected. To a majority OF the
fans hereabouts the defeat OF their
idols was forecasted BY their poor
showing against the champions in
practice match about 10 days ago.
Had James and Mclaughlin made a
good showing in practice against the
champions the failure OF the former 70
land the big title would have been
more OF a surprise. In view or the
fact that the team from this state
failed 10 take a set II looks as II the
champions possess a bit too much class
for them
Hackett and Alexander have held the
national championship in doubles for
three years. and the fact that the coast
players. although falling TO win set,
forced them to three close ones. proves
that they were not badly outclassed.
Many local fans were misled BY tne
easy victory OF James and McLougnlln
in the national preliminary doubles
only one set, both matches being taken
BY them easily. The sectional cham
pions. however. hardly looked 10 class
with Hackett and Alexander.
While the local tennis men are down
cast over the defeat Of James and Mc-
Loughlin in the doubles and that OF
Long in the New York state tourna-
rnent they have the satisfaction or
knowing that il took the cream OF tns
champtouship division in the east 70
NM a atom TO their winning streak And
local followers OF the game have rea-
son TO feel proud OF the Cali1ornl@
DIavers They won the northwestern
cbsrnionsbip in both singles and
doubles and the western singles. James
and Mclaughlin won the national pre-
liminarv doubles and viii therefore,
rank second to the national champions
Long got as far as the seminars "a
the New York doubles, where ne was
beaten by Little, who uitinatsiy "oN
the tournament.
The Young California players did all
that reasonably could have been eN-
pected OF them and even more Heu
thew won the western championship
only. the local fans would have peea
pretty well satisfied Their repsl-5,,l repeals,l
victories IN the first two weeks md0o
their chances OF winning one or thS
national titles look exceedingly sooo-
FIowever., there must be big gap be-
tween the first two divisions IN ths
east. The second division proved easy
for the Californians. but the champions
were quite a bit too strong Ior theil.
OF course the national singles TOUT
nament has little more than peg IN, aiiA
an OF the California boys are STU IN
the running. but they are conceded ht
tie chance TO carry or the ute ~
course they can not be denied a chance,
but hone does not run as high as PC
did before Long was so badly beaten
bv Little and James and McL0uEhiih
lost 10 Hackett and Alexander. Long
and Mclaughlin have an OUTSIDE
chance at least 70 win the tournament
II either succeeds in doing TINS ne
would stand little or no chance agalnsl
W. A Iarned II the latter plays as Wen
IN the challenge match as he did last
wear. He is reported 70 be showing
rather poor form. bnu he could be rar
from his best and still win out. 1ucS-
ing by the game he played year ago.
Even II the California players fail
70 win q place IN the nnai5 they VIII
receive a royal welcome When they re-
turn home They have done even bet
ter than their most ardent admirers
expected when they left here. and their
victories were accomplished under con-
ditions none too favorable They went
from the fast asphalt to the slow grass
courts and their game, no doubt. lost
were playing under weather conditions
that may have had much to 10 with
their defeats around New York. Tho
extreme heat. which they fortunately
missed during the first two weeks. no
doubt put them at a disadvantage. The
California cracks rely more upon speed
than anything else and the grass courts
and excessive heat, no doubt. took the
speed on their game The easternerss
on the other hand. are used 10 tie
grass courts, and rely more upon stead
been played on asphalt and IN n mild
climate. the coast players, no doubt,
would have brought back one OF the
national titles At any rate. they made
a wonderful showing and sOrne OF them
will surely be ranked in the hrsr I've.
After the national singles tOurna-
ment the coast PLAYERS viii participate
in the international singles at Niagara.
They will return just in time TO play in
the annual coast singles championship
at Del Monte. which starts early next
month. The event this year viii ba
OF unusual importance because of the
fact that Long regained the title from
Mclaughlin last year after losing il
to him the preceding year. It is al
most a certainty there VIII be a third
meeting between them. and the Ques-
tiOn OF superiority VIII be settled The
outcome OF the tournament viii also
have a decided bearing on the national
ranking OF the pair eor 1903.