New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-20
NOW THE MECCA
Battle for Lawn Tennis Title Is
On This Week.
INNOVATIONS ARE PLANNED
Expert Linesmen and Umpires
Will Officiate-Honors May
Change Hands.

Lawn tennis players from every section
OF the country are turning their faces
toward the picturesque turf courts OF the
Casino. at Newport, r. L. where the
thirty-frst annual deciding of the all
corners national championship il singles
and the challenge match for the doubles
honors will begin tomorrow M0ndav and
continue through until next week. Already
there is the promise of some remarkable
innovations for the tournament Not only
is the entry list of record proportions. I'm
that Il contains nearly every player named
at the toy Of the ranking list. but the eS-
ecutive committee has arranged for lines
men and umpires, and also for accommo-
dating the contestants.
Following the harsh criticism OF the last
annual meeting the officials have turned
their attention TO the matter ~ linesmen
and umpires. and during some Of tho re-
cent tournaments. notably that on the turf
courts OF the Meadow club, at Southanp-
ton. Long Island. last week. petitions were
circulated requesting the names of volun-
teers. Henry W. Slocum, the oldume ma
tionaI champion. had the list in charge at
southampton, and he did well in cuiistinS
recruits.
10 is planned 70 conduct the arrangements
for linesmen and umpires along tine same
lines as in the European tournaments a
first and second prize Is 20 bo awarded 10
those who officiate most ably. the COM
petitors 10 cast votes. thus registering their
opinion as 10 tho qualifications of those
who undertake the duties.
Considerable attention is being paid TO
the matter OF accommodations and of ob-
tanning reasonable rates for meals The
project OF turning tho Coyne school into %
club seems 10 he meeting with favor. From
present indications. the house, which is
about twenty minutes ride by trolley from
the Casino viii be filed. for the rate OF
go a week Tor room and board is attractive
after the unreasonable charges which
many have experienced while at Newport.
in fact the demand for rooms during ire
period Of the tournament has never reached
such proportions as it has this year
1t may be that there is an undercurrent
OF feeling that this is 10 he the final year
Al Newport, fo- the opposition seems ONLY
10 be resting. and there are indications 81
hand that the effort 20 dispIace Newport
will be renewed with q more complete or
Earization long before the next annual
meeting is held. next February
Another thing that attracts attention Is
the possibility that at least one and POSSIBLY
both. OF the national championship titles
may change 10 new holders William A
I.arned. the six times holder Of the national
singles title is not in the best Of FORM
That is nothing new. He has apparently
been the same at this time IN several years
past. and each time has recovered suiii-
GENTLY TO carry through the challenge
match
I.arned is practising diligently, not only
in preparation for the defence Of his ute
but also for the international preliminary
ties against the Britons, which will hold
the courts Of the West Side Tennis Club
in this city the hrst week Of next month.
From the developments at southampton
this week the general impression prevails
that Larned will be successful in the chal-
lenge match and that the title VIII rest
with him for the seventh time.
The only question is whether or not the
innovation Of a day Of rest between the
hnal Of the all corners tournament and the
challenge match will 50 work for the re-
cuperat!on Of the challenger. whoever he
may be. as 10 make him a more formidable
adversary TOT l-dTUcf llld'l lflFi'iDifs
ir a feature which will be watched with in
tense interest all over the lawn tennis play
ing world for England and Europe have
been stirred over the challenge match prob
lem without arriving at any solution Of
the subject To the credit Of the Anerl-
cans. Il must be set down that this nation
has made the first move toward solving a
vexatious problem.
As a betting proposition, the odds are
considered about 3 to that the national
doubles title will change 10 new holders.
Gustave +. Touchard and Raymond .. Lit
tie. who won the right TO challenge by win
ning the Eastern doubles championship at
Longwood last month and later beating
the other sectional champions. are known
10 be in rare good form Both are playing
the strongest lawn tennis Of their long
careers upon the courts. On the other
hand. Frederick B. Alexander and Harold
H. Hackett, the four times doubles cham
rions. showed their lack of practice to-
gether on the courts Of the Crescent Ath-
letic Club i'm the course OF the New York
state championship tournament where they
were defeated in one OF the earlier rounds
As the players stand on the threshold Of
the all Corners IL is certain that many Of
the veterans will fall by the wayside, for
in the tournaments this season several
promising younger players have come 10
the front Newport will test them.