Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-24
GREAT TENNIS YEAR
RICHARD WILLIAMS LEADS;
M'lOUGHLIN is SUPPLANTED
- ondcrfui decrease of Interest In the
tamt--Japuncse Champions Give
Interim: ioMnl Tone to MatchcS

In reviewing the season OF 1917. the
United States National Lawn Tennis
N*S"ciation has prepared data to show
that the playing period of the past
months was the most remarkable In
the history of the court game in this
country. The report states, in part:
The tournaments sanctioned by the
association showed an increase Of III
psr cent In 1916 over 1915. In 1915
.hc ranking committee examined the
records of 2,69I players. TO determine
who should go into the first ten This
year the figures were 4,5O6 an inc, ease
or "a per cent. When it Is consid cred
that these refer only to players COM
pctinc In tournaments officially sanc-
toned and therefore. take on accoun,
of thousands who enjoy the game ,ut
who do not go in for tournament con-
petition, the Increase is noteworthy
In 81. Louis. for instance, more th,n
:o"Oo permits were issued to users NJ
'uunicipal courts in the parks. Prob
nblE not 100 of these players appeared
IN sanctioned events. liS WushinEton
ID. G.. more than 5000 permits went
20 users Of public courts. and In Clcve.
Land the number was about 1900. Such
reports. from cities widely srpar-
atcd. snow tennis players no longer
are colonizcd For years the game has
Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. but now
IL is sweeping inland with rapidity.
Although the European war pre-
vented Davis cup matches. the pres
encc Of lchiya EumaGac and Hachi-
Shir" Mikami. Of Tokyo Japan. gave
an international flavor to many tour
namentS III this country kumagae's
remarkabi" playing resulted in vie.
tories In the Newport. New York State
ana Central States tournaments. and
ended by his being ranked No. = Mi
kami went into Class III. OF players
from thirty-"ne t" forty. Public in
tercst iii Far Eastern tennis has been
further stimulated 10y the 1000 mile
trip undertaken 10y Harold Throck
morton and George NJ. Church who
left short tim" ago To play for the
championships of the Orient.
The Year was marked also by the
passinI Of a remarkably popular figure
when Maurice T.. Mcl.oushlin OF Los
Angeics. was moi ranked. because he
failed 10 compete in enough tourna-
mentS. This was the first year since
he broke into the First Ten in
1902 that he did not win u place. In
500 he was No. +. and subsequently
end No. in 1878. Although THE
Comet probably will play tennis for
years to come. most followers Of the
game doubt that he Will ever he able
10 fcEdih the iiGh RANK that he has
:onsistentiy held during the wears in
which lie has been the most Spcrtac-
ular figure IN the tennis world
IN the administrative work of the
national association the most import
ant feature WAS the development Of
play for youngsters. eliminating in
the junior ard the boys champion Ships
competition for these titles was inau-
curatcd on sectional basis. nbou:
ninety tournaments being held, in
which some 100 players took part,
OF nCtional championship for users
Of public courts. under the auspices OF
the National Municipal Recreation Fed
GRAFTON. This provides tournaments on
4 sectional basis Tor players who use
municipal courts. twelve cities enter
ing in 1916. ST. Louis defeated the
New York team In tho finals. and holds
for one year the trophy offered by the
national association.