The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
DOUBLES CHAMPIONS
FORCED AT TOP PACE
Grant and Shafer Finally Win
Over Alexander and Pell
in Semi-final.
THREE SETS NECESSARY
Indoor Tennis Title Holders
Start and Finish Well,
Losing in Middle.

wyiie c. Grant and q. c. Shafer,
present doubles champions at indoor lawn
tennis reached the final round In the
national championship tourney yesterday
at the Seventh Regiment armory by de-
fcating Frederick b. Alexander and Theo-
dore T. Pell two sets to one in the semi
final round. Tho title holders will be
opposed In the final round to-day by
Gustave r. Touchard and W. b. Cragin.
Jr, who moved out by winning In straight
sets from George 8. 0roesbeck and John
c. Mckay.
The victory Of tho championship pair
was not unexpected. although there were
many spectators of the Alexander -Pell
combination working during the earlier
round who felt that this pair had an
exceptionally good chance. The nrst set
was one OF those whirlwind Affairs which
furnish thrill "A minute. All four OF the
principals worked at top speed and most
OF the points were gained after long hard
Noiieys The advantage seesawed from
one side TO the other. and up to the time
That the set became deuce at all one
team looked as good as the other
AT this stage Of the game, however,
the superior team work OF the title
holding combine began to assert itself
and II was IA matter OF only a little
time until Grant and Shafer had an
nexed the next two games, which gave
them the set at IS. During these two
games Alexander and Pell seemed a little
tired. for they did not 70 after the bali
with the enthusiasm they had displayed
earlier
That the latter pair failing at the close
or this set could not be attributed to
fatigue was demonstrated by the form
they showed In the second set This WAS
practically repetition OF the opener with
conditions reversed. The two pairs battled
along on even terms through tn, earlier
games hut the champions fell by the way
side as play progressed. while Alexander
and Pell forged ahead. winning by a two
game margin at "a
| Win the score in games and seta
squared the Alexander-Pell combination
took new lease Of life. Both of the
players started at terrific speed and made
good showing. but in their overanxiety
to score points they let teamwork 70 and
played as individuals. Besides this they
became Inaccurate. Grant and Shafer, on
| the other hand, worked together more
| smoothly and with greater steadiness
gradually moving on to Ga victory.
In the other sssmi-fi final round match n
was conceded generally that Touchard
and Cragin would beat Groesbeck and
Mckay. The latter team. however, showed
unexp, cted strength and gave Touchard
and Cragin hard night To take the sets
At s-3 and IS
/ King Smith and W. r. Cragin, Jr..
reached the final round Of the consola, ton
smith won from Walter Hazard, s-2
IS. and Cragin vanquished H. W
, Robinson, So. 50 IN. final round Of
the cons.oaton singles and the champion
snip singles will be played on Monday
/ The summaries:
Championship Doubles--Semi final round
--GustaNe r. Touchard and ". Is. Crngin
Ir, defeated George s. 0roesbeck and John
c. Mckay. IS. IS; Wyie G. Grant and
O. G. shater defeated Frederick H. Alex.
ander and Theodore r. p-ll. - &c. s-3
Consolation Singles-se final round
King Smith defeated Walter Hazard Ga
Is; W. Il, Craxin. Jr. defeated II. w.
/ Robinson. e-2, 60.