New-York tribune., 1918-06-26
Former Title
Holder Beats
Schoolboy Star
D;onne and Bennett Clash in
Close Match in Middle
States Championships
By Fred Hawthorne

Walter Merrill Hall, who held the
title in 1911, advanced q step nearer to
,he championship yesterday by defeat
;pc Gerald Emerson, the New Jersey
scooo. boy star, in the fourth round of
IN. mems annual Middle States cham
pionship singles, on the clay courts of
the Orange Lawn Tennis Club at
Mountain Station, n. J. Hall is now in
the semi-Anal round.
Hall won in straight sets, at 6-3,
6-l. and there does not appear any
one in sight in the lower half of the
draw to prevent his going straight
through to the final round, unless it be
Lindsay Dunham or Allen Behr. and
their chances seem slim.
The greatest struggle of the day
occurred when G. A. l.. Dionne, of the
West Side Tennis Club, met R. P. Ben
nett, runncr-up for the New Jersey
state title last week, in the round
before the semifnal. The match was
left unfinished, as both Bennett and his
opponent ran out of gas; in other
words, they were so short of wind
after their gruelling struggle that both
agreed an armistice would be a pleas
ant thing. The match will be resumed
this afternoon. Bennett took the first
set, ct IS. and Dionne the second, at
SO, but there was a lot of exercise
before these results were obtained.
Bennett Gets Big Lead
Bennett played circles around his
opponent in the first half of the
opening set, leading at SO on games.
For once Dionne's steadiness seemed to
have deserted him. and he made an
unusual number of errors, as Bennett
kept him on the run going after clever
placement shots. But Dionne suddenly
remembered his proverbial rule of the
court. Keep them going back until
the other fellow tires" and he began
an uphill fight, the equal of which has
not been seen this season. until he
actually brought tho games even. at
5-ali.
But just as he succeeded in getting
his above water, Bennett put on lit
tie speed and. cutting off his opponents
side line shots, took the last two games
for the set at 7-5. In the second set
the local player again went into lead
on games and the score stood at 5-3
needing only a single point for the
match. but he couldn't beg. borrow or
steal it. Dionne began to get every
thing back, playing his shots without
speed but with deadly accuracy, and
after Bennett had been five times
within match point, the West Side man
eventually won the set at 8-6, bring
ing the match all square.
Hall was entirely too experienced
and resourceful, for young Emerson,
and although the latter began with
such an excess of speed and hard
hitting that he led at al on games
in the first set, the former champion
soon got his shots working smoothly
and took the match in short order
Many times he eased the ball past
Emerson as the schoolboy made head
long dashes for the net position. The
Younger player threw away several
chances for scoring clean placement
aces By his anxiety to "kill" the ball.
DR.. Rosenbaum Cleans Up
DR.. William Rosenbaum, whose
career on the courts has not been
devoid of tennis titles, came late to
the scene of battle, but cleaned up
everything placed in his path and
Ward Dawson, of California, let the
doctor pass in the first round by de-
fault, and H. M. Balch went down to
defeat at 6-2, 6-3 in the second. In
tho third round DR.. Rosenbaum elimi-
mated young "Bridgey" Arnold at 60,
81, accomplishing most of his work
by clever volleying from inside the
service court lines.
The women's championship singles
Will start this afternoon with score
or more Of the most prominent of the
metropolitan stars entered, including
MISS Eleanor Gross, runner-up for the
national title last week; Miss Helene
rpoilak, Miss Marie Wagner and Mrs.
Stuart Green.
lhe summaries:
MEMS MIDDLE STATES CHAMPIONSHIP SIN
GL.IE
Firss round--Dr william Rosenbnunn won from
ward Dawson by default
second round-Sechiro kashio defeated H. NJ
WOO 81, 6-2 Rosenbaum defeated N NJ Bslch
-. e-S. Lindsay Durham defeated A. r. Kaiser
-; David George defeated Auguste Roche
Third round--G A. L. Dionne defeated F. w
snnaenaofi 90. 6--l; Il. !. Bennett defeated Vim
Soy Soy Arsumteau. 6--l. e--3: Rosenbaum defeated
easated David George Sc 4--e ct
-, ourth round-Wxlter Merrill Hall defeated Ger
Aa Emerson. 6-3. 6-l.
hhN's MIDDLE STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
Iifst round-CArl Russell and H. W. Holbrool;
Sel rom @. II, Miles and t. A. Clark, by default
secVhd round ltrs, round hyes)--Allau c. Bra
-. aad A Roche. jr.. won from A. Deane AID
yslnes by default: kashio and Allan Behr de-
'seied '" d. Pritchard and Dr. Widmer 62. 6-S.