New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-28
LARNED HOLDS TITLE
STATES OFF CLOTHIERS
STRONG BID.
Challenger Beaten insFi0e-Set Match
and Holder TalesrLasun Tennis
Blue Ribbon for Fifth Time.

Newport r. l.. Aug. 27-Ably demonstrating that
he is the most finished wfelder OF the racket on
The American courts, William A Larned success
fully defended his holding OF the national cham
pionship honors to-cay. In FIVE sets OF cleverly
scientihc. although sometimes one-sided playing
Larned defeated his challenger William J. ciothier
81 g. s., l-6, 81 Altogether the winner OF
the twenty-nirth all-comers proved himself a
rterling adversary 70 the champion. Yet al no
stage. except in the third set was he really sue
cessful in forcing the champions game and the
effect OF this was that Larned PLAYED with superb
briliancy for a few games and then sandwithed
ir some mediocre tennis that could not be classed,
even by the most favorably inclined. OF cham
pionship calihre.
The entire match, however. revealed Isarned as
The peer OF all OF the Americans and that al an
age which allows him 10 be called a veteran for he
stands the Nestor OF the American courts az
this time. Clothier's performance in his bid for
the hOnors which he held in 1905 just enough
70 add sufficient excitement 10 avoid dulness AS
81 was, Larned scored the first and second sets
easily. Clothier establishes a good lead In the
third set. only TO have Lsrned overhaul him in the
best tennis OF the match: but he finally. The
fourth was an entire let-down on the champions
part He FUSED SO much with a lot OF shots from
his base line that % a procession for the chal-
lenEer. In the fifth Clothier developed a strongly
defensive and offensive game He was match
for Larned at the net however. and while this set
filed with good rallies Larned won. playing al
q smashing pace
To what extent Larned outpIayed Clothier is
evident by the point totals. which give the champion
40 Clothier's u6 But Lsrneds service not
up the usual standard OF effectiveness, for while
he won service aces he lost doubles faults, as
against Clothier's and Larned outplsyed his
challenger almost two one. his total being 60 10
Clothier's IS. Larned made IS outs 20 his oppo-
nent's a. and 30 nets 10 % Altogether. Il at
the net that Lsrned exceled. for at all times his
back court work was uncertain. This was the only
trace OF the poor form which Larned had shown
earlier IN the season. and which prevented him'
from competing or finishing in the few tournaments
Ne has entered
Larned started the first set by winring three
games Then Clothier took the fourth. and Larned
ran out the set with two love games and one In
which he allowed his opponent but one point II
was excellent tennis Larned's part. his net
game easily scing Clothier. In the second set
Larned continued his = ong play, and Clothier was
able 70 score only -lTles, the third and sixth
The third set was quite q different story.
Clothier slashing al close range, ana won two
games Then Larned took one. and Clothier fol-
lowed with two With the 4I against him,
Larned braced and won four games I'm succession.
allowing Clothier only three points. bringing the
score TO 50 Clothier took the next. ana the games
were deuce. Larned not playing the game he
had shown In the first two sets. and clothier took
the vantage game at a. and then ran out the set,
taking the game, with Larned at deep court and
driving poorly.
After the usual ten minutes rest the players
again appeared on the field. Larned serving He
lost the first game and the second, but took the
third This was ali he secured in the set. He
not playing his usual net game. but was evidently
trying a back line game. in which he was not very
successful. netting the ball frequently. Mainly
Larneds errors. with a few well directed place
strokes Clothier game. after game. until he
had the set 81 IL OF Larneds char
acteristic slumps the set gong 10 Clothier not
much MS earned points as on his opponents
errors.
il was different again in the fifth set Larned
returned 70 his net game and played all around
cothier He allowed him but one game. the
ono which Clothier took on Larned's service
love. The play was close and exciting. but Larned
had the better OF IL throughout. and won handiy.
The point score and analyses follow: