New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31
LAWN TENNIS.

1t is the opinion Of those most closely
associated with lawn tennis that the
thirty-first season upon the courts of this
country. and that is the season Of 1911,
is to mark an epoch in the advancement
of the game. While 1t is true that Will
lam A. Larned stood out pre-emnently
above other players and scored his seventh
holding Of the all-comers' championship
on the historic courts at Newport by de-
feating Maurice +. Mclaughlin, it Is evil
dent that he is being closely pressed in
the defence of his well won laurels 1t is
in this respect that the Matchmaking in
fuence of the game Is demonstrating
itself From out of the Far West, the
IRENE border of the country on the Pa
ciic Coast, have come up group Of play
ers such as the dauntless Mclaughlin, the
cool and calculating Thomas e. Bundy and
the brilliant, though erratic Melville IL.
Long 1t is this group Of players that
Is setting examples for the leaders OF
the East to follow, and with the dawnng
of new order of things the championship
mantle appears likely to fall upon other
shoulders.
There are several reasons for this. First
of all, the game in this country reached
high pinnacle in popular favor during the
last year. AS d general rule the trade
connected with any sport Is the best
guide to its condition. and the information
supplied by the manufacturers of lawn
tennis goods leaves no question as 10 the
seasons great activity. Long before the
season waned the felt covered balls We're
at premium. Sometimes the little white
he haH at nd
ii was a common thing for players TO go
the whole round OF the sporting goods
houses of an afternoon. willing TO take
any old thing in the way OF a ball.
Then the revival of the challenging for
the Davis international cup was RESPONSE
BILE for the extra tlllip at the end or the
season The victory OF the Americans
Larned, Mclaughlin. Bundy and Raymond
u. Little-on the courts of the West Side
Tenss Club over the British Isles team
c. +. Dixon, a. II. Lowe ami A. h.
Beamish-followed by the journey of
Larned, Mclaughlin and Beals G. Wright
TO Australia, has indeed placed the sport
on a pinnacle that 1t has not hitherto
reached. Only the return of the world
famous cup 10 this country could lift II still
higher.
rarity responsible tor the impetus which
the game received is the prospect OF leg
isation generally conceded TO be for its ad-
vancement and likely TO be enacted before
another seasons tournaments are begun.
In two OF these measures England has been
the leader There comprehensive and ad-
equate amateur rule has been framed, and
the great Anthony +. Wilding. holder OF
the all-England title. has come out in no
uncertain way as to the champions playing
through the tournament, thus doing away
with the old-tashioned challenge match. Ii
Is said that Larned also favors the cham
pion playing through In all tournaments
In this country the. ranking committee has
the courage to break away from the Gus
tom OF more than quarter OF a century.
rating only ten men numerically and giving
to American lawn tennis players the most
comprehensive list the game has had in
many years. There is also the plan TO limit
the entry list for the national champion
ship. which will indeed be a welcome
change.
1t was only natural that In the surging
turmoil OF the seasons play there should
DO some reversals Of form The most nota-