The Washington herald., 1915-02-08
Restriction to Be Put on En-
tries for All-comers'
tournament.
PLAYERS QUALIFICATIONS

With the radical departure from
thirty-four years of continuous policy
in abandoning the Newport Casino
Courts as the scene of the annual
tournament for the national lawn ten
mis- singles championship. interscholas-
tic and doubles title rounds the exc
cutive committee OF the United States
Tennis Association faces a problem of
serious Importance to the tennis play
ers in the United States. The Ques-
ton Of a change in the location for
the all-comers championship occupied
so much time in discussion at the
annual meeting on Friday night that
there was desire on the part Of the
delegates to leave many of the less
important matters to the discretion Of
the Executive committee.
One of the arguments advanced by
the Newport adherents was that a
change to the West Side Tennis Club
at Forest Hills meant an unwieldy
entry list 1t was pointed out that
the average number of contestants at
the Newport tournament for the past
five years was about 125, but this
number would probably be quadrupled
with the tournament at Forest Hills.
With five hundred or more entries it
would be impossible to complete the
tournament in two weeks, and as the
result the event would lose in pres
tige, as many of the leading players
would be unable to devote so much
time to the event.
To Restrict Players.
1t was proposed to bridge the DIM
Guilty by adopting a qualification or re-
striction on the entries. Walter Merrill
Lyo T.
ranking players for the past five years
winners of intercholastic and State
championships. semi-finalis,s in import
ant tournaments. and a few other
players who desire TO compete. either
from desire to learn more Of the game
or because OF an expectation TO win.
This meant about 900 players to be ell
gible for competition. 1t was also stated
that unless some restriction was placed
on the entry list a number of players OF
mediocre caliber would send in their
entry in order to secure cards OF sd-
mission for the tournament, or as one
delegate termed them admission
seekers"
The fact that the membership OF the
West Side Club Is 800. and that 95,OO1
players Of more or less ability are resi-
dents Of the metropolitan district, was
urged as a necessity for some drastic
action In the matter. The question was
considered too serious for discussion
among the limited number Of delegates
present. many of the latter having left
afterNthe announcement Of me Forest
Htlls-Newport vote. and the whole mat
ter was referred to the executive COM
mittee with power to adopt a satfsfac-
tory plan.
This latter arrangement will be diffi-
cult Of accomplishment. If the identity
Of the tournament Is preserved. and II
Is continued as the "All comers," with
out any restrictions. the entries may
reach as many as a thousand. while. on
the other hand. II the qualification
clause is adopted II may hnd consider
able opposition from many Of the poorer
players. The executive committee has
been saddled with a ticklish PROPOSE
tion. When brought to face the dim
culties Of the situation the delegates
were glad Of an opportunity to shift the
responsibilities onto other shoulders.