New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-21
JIMMY O'NEALE
ROUTS WASHBURN
ON THE COURTS
Writer on Tennis Shows
He Can Weld Racquet
as Well as Pen.


Even the greatest have their slack
moments. So IL was that Watson VI.
Washburn, eighth IN the national sin
giles ranking, lost in the finals Of the
Harlem Tennis Clubs annual open ten
Is tournament at the clubs courts,
135th Street and st. Nicholas Avenue,
yesterday afternoon TO James $.
O'Neale. The scores were "a, 6--S.
2-6, 60, 6-3.
At times in the upset match Wash
burn flashed brilliantly, but most Of
the time he was erratic, and Melted
many of his slap drives. His service
went well all afternoon, but in other
departments Of play he assuredly was
not up to his best. O'Neale, on the
other hand, played better than at any
time in his career
Each man continually tried for the
lines, shaving them close at all times.
In consequence there were fewer long
rallies than usual in a five set match
though at times the ball became an ami
mated shuttlecock.
Slap-drive Fatal.
Washburn, who j. slow starter
took on l.. c. Crowley in the semi-tinals
just before he met O'Neale. and won
6-3, Cd, after Crowley had again
played good tennis. The slap-drive
however, was too much for Crowley
who hit it low into the net repeatedly
Washburn. however. did not show
the benefits of his warm-up with
Crowley when he faced O'Neale in
the finals, for the West Slider dropped
the first set lie led at 3-lf but could
not hold the advantage. O'Neale's
drives began to go well, and he hit
/ for the side lines. playing at this
stage perhaps his best tennis Of the
match, though Washburn took another
| gae, making the tally "a. O'Neale
ran out the last four games OF the
set, Washburn getting only one point
each in the last two.
A peculiar feature Of this first SCI
was the fact that no game went 70
deuce. Each man went in streaks, nip
ping the lines or making errors FOL
several points in succession. Hence
/ IN no game did the loser take more
than two points. The total point score
of the set showed little difference be
tween the two men, O'Neale gettlni
% points and Washburn but two less
! O'Neale continued his winning streai
for the first three games in the sec
ond set. Then Wsshburn began e
I show a part of the game Of which h'
/ is capable His slap drives took M
more sting, and he became more ag
gressive, following his service to the
net. 0'Neale led at ii, but thereafter
/ the best Greek scholar Harvard ever
/ had. and the holder of the Beck prize
"a te most brilliant man in Columbia
/ Law School began to apply his learning
I TO tennis. He ran out the set, O'Neale
being unable to pass Washburn of the
latter's delivery.
The third set was a repetition Of the
last part Of the second, Washburn win
ming at 90. His service had sting and
was well placed, and his yolleying was
revelation. After rest, change OF
clothes and shower for O'Neale and
oniy rest for Washington, the fourth
set was on, with Paul Goold, the artist
still in the umpire's chair.
Loses Love Game.
Washburn's splendid streak evident
I ly strayed somewhere between sets. lie
could not get going again, dropping the
fourth frame at love. O'Neale, on the
other hand. with everything 20 gain and
nothing 10 lose, worked hard and forced
&
O'Neale's second winning streak eN-
tended over the first four games Of the
last set, making ten games in all, be
fore the impassive Washburn began q
get going again. Perhaps he was stu
thinking Of the quasi-contracts eXami'
nation he had had that morning at CO.
/ lumbia Law School, but in the first four
games he showed only a quasi amount
OF the tennis Of which he u really
capable.
ONeale led at 10 when the West
Slider took q deuce game. O'Neale won
the next at love, thus leading at 5-l
with his own service 10 come. Inc
next game was a heart-breaker, O'Neale
four times having advantage, with but
one point needed to win the match.
Washburn, impassive and cool as
ever. pulled out each time, and finally
took the game, and the next one also
At this stage il appeared that the rank
ing man was at last about to strike his
form. but O'Neale elinched matters by
winning his next delivery after game
that went three times TO deuce.