The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-26
CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES
NOW DEMAND ATTENTION
Church and Mathey Appear Best Combination East Can
Offer to Repel Johnston Griffin Team and
Others From Coast and Middle West.

Larned and Clothier. II they should re-
peat their combination. would be danger
Gus candidates. although they did not
make a strong impression at the Tuxedo
meeting.
There are also a number OF less ex-
perienced teams that may be In the run
ming, but from this field Hackett and
PEI seem 10 have the best chance.
No matter how L%ongwooi may result.
though. IL does not seem likely that the
Eastern winner can he considered a
dangerous competitor in the Chicago
series. and 1t is doubtful II any OF the
western or southern teams will be a
factor in deciding the championship.
Mathey and Church should be at the top
or their game then and they seem almost
sure to meet Johnston and Griffin at
Chicago on grass. The result OF this
match should decide which pair will
challenge Mclaughlin and Bundy at
Forest Hills. 1t was planned originally
out I'm California for Johnston to play
with John Strachan. and this combina-
ton was thought to be still stronger
than Johnston and Griffin. who came
east to Chicago last year. with
Strachan Johnston also beat Mathcy and
church In the recent California matches.
nut again this was ON asphalt and IL
Is well known that This surface was
a heavy element In favor OF the Coast
players. At the last minute 1t was found
that Str1chan probably would not he
able to come East this season and Griffin
was substituted as Johnston's partner.
The chief hopes OF the East for a
chance In the challenge round seem to
hany on the play OF Church and Mathey,
hou II is possible, Of course. thai
the winners from Longwood may de-
velop strength euoug to upset this
schedule. But what their chances are
n q HnAN 49, - GA 40.
matter oS mystery. Last year the Coast
pair were beaten by Pell and Behr by
the narrow margin of i-6. g.. 1T,
ID. 6-S. and then Church and
Mathey beat Pell and Behr In A close
four set match.
Grimm and Johnston have come on
distinctly. according to reports from the
Coast. and the victory of Griffin in the
Exposition tournament over Champion
Williams. even though II was on asphalt,
showed him to be a player OF danger
Gus qualities. Williams beat Murray
the day before he lost TO Griffin, and
Murray was ranked fourth In the coun-
try last season, 80 It was not due en-
tirely to the court that Griffin proved
so strong. Johnston. too, apparently
has improved since he was In the East
before, and he took Church into camp
handily in the East W.. West matches
this month. while Griffin slaughtered
Church on asphalt by I'll, al.
Just how much the long trip upset the
form OF the Fasteners and how much
their play will improve when they get
back on grass and into their best shape
II "A matter of speculation. Ii must he
remembered that the Coast players be-
gin their season much earlier than we
DO IN the East n they were at their
best during the Exposition matches.
while our players had not yet rounded
into their championship form. While
comparisons are discouraging. IL must
be admitted the chances for success for
an Eastern team at Chicago are not at
the minimum by any means.
II they do fail. and Johnston and
Griffin fulhl expectations and qualify
for the challenge round We shall nave
reached the climax NJ the West m In
vasion OF the tennis field when the
championships are played at Forest
HIS. In the challenge round in doubles
we should then have only four Coast
men. while the strongest candidates for
the singles will be Westerners almost
certainly. Williams. Church and Rehr
Will have to do some tall hustling to
stand off the challenges Of Mclaughlin,
Johnston. Griffin, Bundy and Ward
Dawson, a newcomer from southern
California, who also will make the long
trip to play here.