The San Francisco call., 1909-01-10
THE BAD WEATHER
KEEPS EXPERTS
OFF COURTS
Recent Wet Spell Has Damp
ened the Ard0r of Local
Racket WieIderS
By Grant Smith

The long wet spell has kept the ten
mis- enthusiasts off the courts for some
time, but when the weather does clear
they will come out in greater numbers
than ever. An effort was made last
Sunday to run off a handicap singles
tournament on the Golden Gate park
courts but the threatening weather
kept most OF the experts at home, and
only FIVE matches were played.
The courts dried up early in the after
noon and good progress could have
been made had the entrants figured
that the courts would dry so rapidly.
The fact that 4S players affixed their
signatures to the entry list shows that
the popularity of handicap singles has
not decreased to any extent This is
the largest entry list in several years,
and is due to the fact that the poorer
players have been given more consid-
GRAFTON by the Handicapped of late than
of the 'dubs" have figured quite prom
inently in recent handicap events,
hence the large entry list.
While few of the championship
division may feel that the handicapper
has been unduly severe with them of
late they have no reason to complain,
as a victory for a lower class man in
a handicap singles event is hardly
within the memory of the present day
experts. The increased handicaps have
made the work of the cracks a little
harder. but the outcome has always
been the same and no doubt Will be in.
this tournament.
M'LOUGHLIN HAS ADVANTAGE
The present contest is the second of
a series of handicap singles for the
Nathan-Dohrmann cut. which was won
year ago by Maurice McLoughIin.
The eX-champion has lighter impost
than he had a year ago and for that
reason looks to have the event at his
mercy. Mclaughlin is wonder under
handicap conditions and seems to be
able to concede almost any odds to all
OF the inferior players. The limit men
inspire no fear in him, but men like
Foley, who received small handicap,
are his most dangerous opponents.
BY the way, Foley played great ten
mis- last Sunday in mis- match with
Hardeman when he felt so inclined.
The ex-champion did some beautiful
driving. and when he did not loaf.
played pretty stiff game. Young
Hardeman. at that, would have beaten
him but for lack of nerve, due no
doubt to very limited tournament
experience. This youngster has the
makings of a great player. his strokes
and build being all that could be de-
sired. He has a wonderful amount OF
speed and fairly good control over it.
He seems to lack self-confidence and
the lighting spirit that makes cham
pions.
Play will be resumed in the handi-
cap faday ne All Of the best a .ne pafk
the exception of Champion Melville
Long and Carl Gardner, are entered.
the competition should prove a most
interesting one.
HARDY's ELECTION POPULAR
The election of Sumner Hardy to the
presidency of the California lawn ten
mis- club will, no doubt, awaken that
organization from its long sleep. The
club was never more prosperous or the
membership larger, but the lack of
moving spirit caused an abandonment
of tournament play that is fatal to
the game. Hardy was the prime mover
of the Pacific states lawn tennis as
sociation for years, and the success of
that organization is due to his efforts
Hardy will no doubt see that live mon
are put on the tournament COMMITTEES
who will arrange a schedule and see
that IT is carried ont