Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-29
WEST SIDE CLUB
TENNIS WITHOUT
REAL FAVORITE
For First Time in History
"Dopesters" Refuse to
dope" Ultimate Victor
OZARK HORSES" ARE MANY

bU q StuU Correspondent
WEST SIDE TENNIS CLUB, Forest
Hills, l.. l., Aug. 29.-At every great sports
event baseball boxing, football, golf, tennis
and what not, there is usually favorite.
In baseball or football one team is gener-
ally believed by a majority of critics to be
stronger than the other, and in boxing, one
individual is credited with having some
little advantage over another that will make
him pronounced favorite.
In golf or tennis one man out of the
multitude is picked to win because at his
command he has greater variety of
strokes, say, or perhaps a better temper
ament, or even perhaps because of spen-
did physical condition. Sometimes there
is more than one favorite, but nevertheless
some man or men is or are picked to go
through the field.
Mclaughlin Succeeded Larned
This condition existed in tennis until this
year. When Bill" Larned was at his best
it was universally agreed that all he had
to do to win the national championship
was to throw his bat" into the court.
Then 'Maurie" Mclaughlin arrived and the
same thing was true of him.
Last year three men stood out promi-
nently from among the 12S contestants for
the national tennis crown, McLoughlin,
r. Norris williams, 3D. and Karl H Behr,
the internationalst. Although all three
were beaten on successive days by slight
2O-year-old Californian, one William NJ
Johnston they nevertheless were "doped"
in the preliminary dispatches from the
scene of action as the favorites.
But this year witnesses most unusual
condition-a national tennis championship
without a favorite.
This condition is due to several things,
but as a matter of fact, the reason may
be summed up something like this:
First The "in-and-Out" quality of the
play of TitIehoIder Johnston and former
Titleholder Williams.
Second. The unknown quality of Me-
Loughlin's present game.
Third. The presence of "Itchy" Kuma-
gas, the Oriental champion.
Fourth. The ability of Davis, Church,
Murray, Armstrong, Dawson and few
other young players to rise to tremendous
heights with disconcerting regularity.
Johnston's defeat at Newport at the
hands of Kumagae and Williams's two re-
verses at the hands of Griffin, together
with Wiliams's defeat of Johnston In the
East and West matches, complicates tho
situation. Ordinarily these two would be
mentioned as the leading favorltes.
Johnston and Williams
Johnston has rough road to travel be-
fore he reaches the final. while Williams
has but Griffin in his path. But Williams.
according to his past performances. would
rather meet any three other men than
tackle Griffin.
Mclaughlin has played no singles
watches this season. What shape he is in
to wade through the fast field in the lower
half of the draw win not be known until
he gets down to business
Not one Of the really real eontenders
would venture a prediction as to the
chances of Kumagae. The Jap has beaten
Johnston, and was beaten by Armstrong
which may mean whole lot, or only a
little. Church, whom Kumagae plays in
the second round said that he was in
shape to give the Oriental a hard battle
but other than that he said nothing.
Any member of the group of younger
stars is likely to strike one of the fancled,
but not necessarily favored players. on an
on day and sound the death-knell of his
hopes. This is not only likely to happen,
but almost certain. Every star eliminated
by one of this group viii improve the
chances of the rest. But still no one may
be found who is willing to predict who will
meet in the final next Tuesday afternoon.
Most everybody wants Mclaughlin to
win. but deep down in their hearts they
don't think he will