The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-17
ONE CALIFORNIAN MEETS
DEFEATON CASINO COURTS
Ward Dawson Beaten in First Round of Newport Tour
ney by Young NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Makes
Griffin Work Hard to Win.

NEWPORT, Aug. 16.-with the excep-
ton of two or three matches he opening
days play In the invitation lawn tennis
tournament at the Casino turf courts
here to-day was not o~verstartling. As In
practically all tournaments, straight sets
ruled to-day. while the men Of less talent
were being eliminated.
The Western invaders Jared we'll.
There were four OF them entered and
only one OF them was defeated, Ward
Dawson. and his downfall was the big
surprise of the day. Rowland Evans.
Jr., of the Merton Cricket Club. Phila-
delphia. too tho measure of the young
Westerner in straight sets at "a. 6-3,
GO. The young Philadelphia, whose
record on the courts does not stand out
boldly, showed some pretty tennis and
plenty OF native talent. He knew that
Dawson's one particular weakness Is his
forehand drive and he played to IL con-
tinually. AS a result Dawson could not
get any power into his returns and left
the way clear for Evans to score points
AS assiduous as Evans was In keeping
the ball on Dawson's forehand he was
more so In keeping It low so that the
Californian would not have a chance for
an overhead smash at II.
Clarence J. Griffin. another of tho M
tive sons, was hard put to win his match
from Lyle Il. Mahan of New York, the
tallest tennis player in captivity. 1t took
the Californian five sets to win at e.,
Go, 6-s. 6-S, 6-3, and II was not
until nightfall that the match was COM
pleted. Griffin, who Is short and pudgy,
| was in remarkable contrast to his oppo-
nent on looks. and in the first two sets
on play. The Californian had no dim
Guilty in passing Mahan at will in the
first two sets. He ran up a lead of q
love in The third set n II looked as II
he would be another to gain his second
round bracket on straight sets. Mahan
however. at this stage OF the game awokt
from his lethargy and carried of hvt
consecutive games before Griffin realized
what was happening.
The Californian then went after his
adversary seriously and tied the set, bu,
Mahan was fighting mad. and although
Griffin kept with him until the set had
eone to deuce twice. he could not hold
the New Yorker in check any longer and
the set went TO Mahan. The latter
claimed that he had difficulty In seeing
the balls and wanted the match held
over until tomorrow. but the committee
suggested that the affair be finished wi:r
new balls.
Griffin too was anxious to get the
| contest out Of his system, 80 the mer
started the fourth set without ever
taking the rest which Is usual after
the third set, Griffin was anxious &c
rush the thing through and played
at top speed, that is as near top a,
a tired man could. but Mahan played
tn. best tennis that he displayed dur
ing the course Of the match and pulled
! this set out too after IL had gone Il
deuce twice. IL was nearly I O'Clock
when the fifth set was started n 4
! was difficult even for the spectators L
see the ball. Both of the men were
! tired, but Griffin had a little more lief
than Mahan and pulled out the victory
William VI Johnston, who, with Crit
fin, will challenge Maurice f.. McLough,
lin Thomas c. Bundy Of California
for the national doubles championship
won his match rather easily from Ralpl
L.. Baggs OF New York at 6-l, 60
Go. Bags vas in wretched form
when he met Johnston, for the latter di,
not arrive at the Casino until late II
the afternoon. and Bags after waitinl
more than a reasonable time went on
and played for a couple of hours IL
the terrific heat. lie had left the courts
and donned his clothes when John