Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1917-11-03
MURRAY IS BEST
OF net PLAYERS
He Won Right to LaureIs at For.
est Hills Tournament.
Was MOST ERRATIC PLAYER
Tendency Of Highly Efficient Men to
Mix Flashy Tennis With Careless
Playing Is Brought Out Quite
Strongly.

Robert Lindley Murray of Niagara
Falls Is the country's best tennis play
or for 1917. lie won the right to the
laurels at Forest Hills when he took
the final round from Nathaniel Niles
of Boston, and although no title went
with the victory, Murray is the tech.
meal champion.
Strange as 1t may sound. Murray
was one of the most erratic players
who competed in this years event.
There was only one player of the first
class who played II more careless
game. That player was X. Norris
Williams. 3D.. the national champion,
who was far off his game.
The erratic work of these two play
ers on the turf courts of the West
side Tennis club was particularly
noticeable, and II brought out more
strongly than ever the tendency of
highly efficient players to mix ilnshy
tennis with what appears TO be care
less playing.
Winner Must Take Chances.
But If Murrny's playing this year
Is to be taken ms the standard of eff.
cheney on the courts. II Is evident that
the tennis player who wins Is the one
who takes long chances. Speed In
covering the courts: spllt.second iudg.
ment of shots and superior driving
power are the things that count with
the average tennis player who wins
A few. like Murray. depend also on
lightning-like service to defeat their
| opponents. yet Murray. and Williams,
who. despite his defeat this year Is
still most brilliant performer, appar.
entity stand out in tennis ranks be-
cause Of the sporting chances they
take.
| Murray lost many game this year
on double service faults. Williams
played an inferior defensive game be.
playing the ball for the lines, n trick
of tennis ut which he eXcels. Niles
the runnerup, played consistent
game. but played safe. and depended
on his gcncrnlship. He took few
chances unless he was forced to TAX,
them. And this sporty. more careless
brand of tennis won out with Murrny''
victory.
Many Players In France.
Many of the country's best tennis
players will he In France before long
The ranks will he thinned out unless
the war ends before another season
rolls around, because II will he prac
ticnlly impossible for such players n
Williams. Griffin and Johnston To mr.
range furloughs In order To compete
II they are abroad. For this reason
Il Is timely to mention several out
standing stars In the younger crop a
players.
Foremost among these players i
John II. Strnchan of San Francisco
Strachan fought his way to the semi
finals, only to he eliminated by Muir
ray. who won this years event. ]
was Strachan's first big tournament II
I'm the East. and he proved To the sat
isfaction of the tennis fraternity tina
he is Il probable future champion.
Charles l.. Garland, the nineteen
ycar.old Pittsburgh phenom, IL anotl
or player who will bear watching
while Harold ThrOckmorton Of Eliza
beth. n. j.. appears to bear the STAN
of future t.tlcholder. or the JUNO
stars who will make n bid Ia succcc
Garland ms national junior champio
Fritz Bastian, the indianapolis you'll
stands at the head of the list.