New-York tribune., 1910-05-22
HALL LOSES HARD FIGHT
Beaten by Cragin for Harlem
Lawn Tennis Trophy.
PLAY FIVE DRIVING SETS
Opponents Speed Beats Down
Winner for a While, but Lat
ter Bides Chance.

For a fine showing of COURAGE few lawn
tennis finals have equalled that for the
Harlem Cup singles, which William B.
Cragin jr., won yesterday. on the clay
courts Of the Harlem club. at 131st street
and Seventh avenue. Cragin defeated Wal
ter Merrill Hall. Sc. 6-3. 1--6, 0-6, e.
Seldom has such a gruelling conflict
waged across the net, and but for the
dogged persistence of the winner in the
face of smothering voliey shots and passes
down the side lines in the third and fourth
sets from Halls side of the net another
ending would have been recorded. From
the fifth game of the third set TO the first
game OF the fifth, inclusive, Hall made a
straight line of wins. His slashing net
play was inyincible. Cragin could not ap-
proach him on speed. but he kept covering
court for all he was worth. Finally Hall
began to weaken, and as he did so Cragin
drovet him away from the net with loos'
and so scored tie match.
Just how closely scored this contest was
may be CLEANED from the recapitulation OF
the score: Three sets to two, q games Tor
the winner to % for the loser and a total Of
142 points to al, bare margin OF one ace.
Despite the fact that both Cragin and
on the court, they took a few minutes
rest and then won the deciding set or the
postponed doubles final In this portion of
the tournament they defeated Royal d.
Ritchey and Julio NJ. Steinacher by score
of 6I, 6-3. 3-6, Is. Halls overhead
smashing and his crossing shots, combined
with the splendid steadness of Cragin,
to the success of their side.
Ci1 fnn ROVdl u.
Ritchey. and the doubles by DIR. William
Rosenbaum.
The final of the consolation also produced
an Unexpectedly good match. returning r.
L. Baggs, of the West Side Club, the win
ner by the score of Sc, Ga, G-3 over
Irving Hartman, of Bedford Park. The lat
ter's Ieft-handed strokes bothered Baggs in
the beginning, especially as Hartman hit
the ball with terrific force.
The cup final between Cragin and Hall
contained some peculiar features. At the
beginning Hall endeavored to establish a
net game. In racing for position he slipped
so often that he became disconnected and
almost peevish, SO that the match was
while the lines and surface were
brushed. This seemed to put Hall in bet
ter mood, so that he balanced sets with
OFdSln. he 1aQeu peTCepIlDly IOWdIu the
end. and while Cragin had also had his
slump he maintained his game better and
was able to make the needed spurt at the
close, which Hall could not withstand.
The summary follows:
Mems cup singles (fnal and cup round)-
ill Hall, s-6, 6-$. i-6. %. e.
Mems cup doubles (fnal and cup round)-
william B Cragin; {r. and Waller Merrill
defeated ROVal ID. RitCheY NJ.
5teinacher 6-1. 6-3. 3-6 10.
Consolation singles (second ound)-Irving
Hartman defeated George Hamlin, 81. e.;
Arthur scheffer defeated Walter D. Chase by
default; Harry Fitz Patrick defeated DR. Victor
Meltzer,- &c. 6-I. 7-5;, Gustave steinacher
defeated r. Schenck. 6-2: 6-2; R. L. Baggs
defeated c. l. Cole, 6-1, Cd.
Third round-Harry Knight defeated Robert
Taylor, by default irving Hartman defeated
Fl Arthur Schefer, e, -; Harry Fitz
Patrick defeated Gustave Steinacher, by de-
FAULT r. L Baggs defeated G. Legge, 6-1.
s..
semi-hnal round--Irying Hartman defeated
-eated Harry Fitz Patrick, 60. 6-2.
Final round-R. L. Baggs defeated Irving
Sc. ca. 6-3