New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-26
Tennis Players Too May
Need Some DOubIeheQderS

thought that Harvard Dick Ia Just
about due 10 snatch the national tito
at Forest Hills. this summer. Will
Jams has been on the threshold as the
countrys very best for several years.
IL will be remembered that he defeated
Maurice +. Mclaughlin for the ma
tionsl championship at Newport In
1914. just after Mac had been the ma
tional hero of the Davis Cup matches
However. that year. as every year SINCE
he has played in this country, Will
Jams was ranked second. not first.
Next Saturday the sixth annual open
tournament for the North Side cham
une challenge cup, will start at the
versity Avenue. The big trophy, which
was put into competition last year.
was won by Francis T. BAY Hunter,
the sturdy Cornell captain. who is
tuning up at the Long Island cham
pionships for tho event. The cup is
TO become the property of the player
winning il three times. not necessarily
i'm succession. Entries for the tourna-
mcnt close at $3.50 Friday afternoon,
with little Joseph W. Mersereau, But
terick Building, telephone 5000
Spring. or 2452 Devoe Terrace, tel
cphone 1861 Fordhsm. Mr. Merse-
reau is chairman of the tournament
committee. which includes also w. NJ.
Fischer, one of the most interchangeable
tennis fans in the country; Embree H.
Henderson. the mixed doubles player;
Fred VI. Letson. father of the boy who
won the Long Island and the Staten
Island junior titles this spring, and
+. Harris James. a tournament tourer.
Closely interested in the tournament
is Franklin P. Adams T. "A
member Of the University Heights
Club and prospective worker in both
singles and doubles, especially in the
latter. in which he is entered with US
as the Tribune team. Speaking Of F.
p. A., we are able TO state authori-
tatively that the current conception
that this persistent player has only
one racket is untrue. Mr.. Adams has
two bats, and one of them is new.
There has been general complaint of
rackets and stringing around the cir
cult this year. Most of the best gut, IL Is
explained, Is required for surgical pur-
poses in Europe, the muddy" string
ing being left for home consumption.
The inferiority of the strings requires
that, in general, they be a bit thicker
70 have the required strength. In con-
sequence, some Of the veteran experts,
who have been accustomed for years
TO a racket weighing just so many
ounces and a fraction, are bothered by
the extra weight Of the strings and
swing just n trife late on their shots,
which often go an inch or so out in
stead Of clipping the lines.
At any rate, that's an alibi for some
Of the cracks. There is difficulty, also,
in getting the proper cuttings for the
wood in the rackets; the grain is not
so good as in former years, and the
resiliency and strength are less.
Prices show q tendency TO go up.
The wet weather this month has
played havoc not only with tourna-
ments, but also with tennis balls. We
know one club secretary who, disgust
ed with the lack Of bounce in the balls
supplied the club, went hotfoot down
town to the dealer 10 register a siren
uous kick. He logged some of the
balls with him, and journeyed on
bus. The sun came out, and he clam
bered above, holding the ball package
under his arm, where the sun warmed
and dried them. When he indignantly
attempted TO demonstrate to the deal
er the lack of bounce in the balls they
bounded beautifully.
81 turned tail like a dog and skipped
out quickly" says the secretary.