The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-11-22
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
er for 1917. He 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 chaESfion.
Strange as it may sound, Murray
was one of the most cratic players
who competed in this years event
There was only one player of the first
class who played more careless
game. That player was r. Norris
Williams, 3D., the national champion,
who was far off his game.
The cratic work of these two play
ers on the turf courts of the West
Side Tennis club was particularly
noticeable, and it brought out more
strongly than ever the tendency of
highly efficient players to mix flashy
tennis with what appears to be care
less playing.
Winner Must Take Chances.
But If Murray's playing this year
is to be taken as the standard Of eff
cheney on the courts, it is evident that
the tennis player who wins is the one
who takes long chances. Speed in
covering the courts; split-second judg-
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.
emily stand out in tennis ranks be-
cause of the sporting chances they
take.
Murray lost many a game this year
on double service faults. Williams
played an inferior defensive game be-
cause he lacked his usual accuracy in
playing the ball for the lines, trick
of tennis at which he excels. Niles,
the runnerup, played consistent
game, but played safe, and depended
on his generalship. He took few
chances unless he was forced to take
them. And this sporty, more careless
brand of tennis won out with Murray's
victory.
Many Players in France.
Many of the country's best tennis
players will be in France before long
The ranks will be thinned out unless
the war ends before another season
rolls around, because it will be prac-
tically impossible for such players as
Williams, Griffin and Johnston to ar
range furloughs in order to compete
if they are abroad. For this reason
it is timely to mention several out
standing stars in the younger crop OF
players.
Foremost among these players Is
John r. Strachan of San Francisco
Strachan fought his way to the semi
finals, only to be eliminated by Muir
ray, who won this years event. II
was Strachan's first big tournament In
in the East, and he proved to the sat.
isfaction of the tennis fraternity that
he is a probable future champion.
Charles L. Garland, the nineteen
year-old Pittsburgh phenom, is anoth-
Ter player who will bear watching,
while Harold Throckmorton Of Eliza
beth, N. J., appears to bear the stamp
Of a future titleholder. Of the Junior
stars who will make bid to succeed
Garland as national junior champion
Fritz Bastian, the indianapolis youth,
stands at the head Of the list.