New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-26
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

court at the Meadow CLUB to-morro"
morning in the final round OF the an
nual invitation lawn tennis tournament.
Washburn reached the final bracket by
defeating Joseph J. Armstrong at 6-S'
80, 60, and the veteran Clotnier
sprang the greatest surprise OF the
tournament by decisively defeating
Roland Roberts, of California, by the
score of So, 60.
In the final round Of the doubles the
pairs that will face each otner are
William NJ. Johnston and Clarence D.
Griffin of California, national doubles
champions, and Richard Norris VIII
;ams. ID. and Richard Harte. The hrst
named pair vanquished Washburn ana
Ivle +. Mahan in the semi-hnal round
by score of 1-6, 6--l, "a, and VIII
Jams and his partner came through oy
n victory over Theodore r. Pell ana
Armstrong, scored at 10, 6-l, o-l'
Roland Roberts Favored.
BEFORE the men met in the singles
this morning there was a difference OF
opinion regarding the outcome Oh tne
Washburn- Armstrong match, for WASH
hurn had not had much opportunity lor
nractice in the tourney, whereas Arm
strong had been going we'll all week
But il seemed to be foregone con
clusion that Roberts would quickly ana
easily dispose of Clothier, man az tne
height OF his game ten years PACK.
/ When those who had seen Kooerts IN
/ that thrilling fiye-set battle with VIII
I Jams az Newport last week, in when
The youth from the Coast almost de-
feated the former national champion,
+ discussed Clothier's chances against
/ Roberts. few were inclined 70 give the
veteran n set, much less victory.
Judge of the surprise, then, wnen
| Clothier simply walked away with the
match, taking six games In row IN
/ tbe second set. But it was not the
same dashing, sensational Roberts OF
Newport who opposed Clothier TINS
morning. The young Californian played
much the same style of game taat ne
| showed against s. Howard Noshell at
+ Cedarhurst caller in the season, when
3 he was ..efeated in record time.
Not only was he lacking IN spirit TO-
dav with no sting to his usual dreaded
service but he was absolutely unable to
control his strokes, and when the nnsl (
noint was won Clothier had won mol
: fow victory. Apparently all that the
! form. national title holder had 10 DO
was 10 keep the ball in play and rely
mon mo Roberts smashing into the net or
! driving out of court.
Washburn at His Best.
Wasbburn was at his best in the
match with Armstrong, and Gle ily out
niaved the former Pennsylvania state
! champion. From beginni! 70 END there
was an almost amending series OF place
re,t shots. with Washburn generally
scorino the points. Armstrong rose
! snlendldlv in the second set and forced
| bis onnoren. at such pace that WASH,
burn wa. badly tagged when tie mai
Tho former Harvard player rallied,
however. after Armstrong had lead Oh
q 10 Q on games, and took the set at
/ 6-3 for the match. Washourn won
/ leg on the Meadow Club Cup last year,
and is generally favored to win against
/ Cloth:er tomorrow. ~.
/ II was weather in perfection Vha'
greeted players and spectators IN Ine
morning A brisk northwest wind PIE"
over the dunes from the ocean, but the
| hedges. he clubhouse and the can'as
bacEstop to nets combined to protect
the courts, and the players experienced
no trouble on that score.
The courts have dried out considera-
bly under the hard usage they nave
received during the week, and there
v,ae far more life in the turf, although
/ in spots to-day it had been cut up by
the spikes of the contestants. SpeelIi
stonds had been erected to the east
! ~ the championship court, facing the
J clubhouse. and these were hlied 10
canacity when Clothier and ROBERTS,
the first pair TO settle the question OF
supremacy. came forth from he locker
room.
Roberts Takes First Game.
Roberts started service and Won the
6rst game. with Clothier slow in get
, tine away from his baseline. But
riobt after the beginning of me sec
ord game the champion OF lSoo, see
! ;ng Eoberts was inclined 10 be erratic,
botb overhead and of the ground, be-
pan TO feed his opponent deep drives
and lobs. ....,,. .ho
vauno Coast star lost all control, ana
was utterly unable TO curb the fight
~ the bali. Ii he did not smash ear
back Of Clothier's baseline, he dumped
his ground strokes dismally into the
ret and when he came up TO yoiley
Il was the sar.e story. Clotnier ran
ont the next Ave games. Roberts, max
! ing a desperate stand, took the seventh,
ami then the Philadelphia Won the
ni1th. and the first set was his, at
6-3.
The second set saw Roberts even
more at sea, and he was not able 10
win a single Pc me. All Clothier mad 10
do was to Keep the ball in action long
enough and the Californian would be
almost certain TO make an error. When
Clothier won the last point, and the
set at Go, TIE gallery could scarcely
believe Roberts had succumbed SO
easily; yet there was the score, ana
there was the youth from the Coast
walking dejectedly from the court,
defeated fayorite.
Washburn Starts Service.
Then Washburn and Armstrong took
the same court, with Eddie Conlin. the
noted referee Of all big matches, in the
chair. Washburn started service, fac
ing the sun. aud Armstrong took the
first point on a dazzling 'cross-court
return of service. He went into the
lead at 40-l5 on points, but then the
holder OF the cup brought it to deuce
with two perfect shots for placement
down the side lines. The battle was
waged swiftly, but after deuce had been
called four times, Washburn took the
first game when Armstrong netted his
last return.
i Both men put cut on the ball, par
4 Il. JrtytpO otvi lou