The sun., 1919-08-27
PATTERSON WINS
AFTER DROPPING
FIRST TWO SETS
Australian Triumphs in Up
hill Tennis Battle With
Alexander.
M'LOUGHLIN A VICTOR
Comet Eliminates A. s. Cra-
gin With Ease in National
Title Tourney Inaugural.
M'LOUGHLIN A VICTOR
NJ EUGENE n. o,CoNNELL.

in lawn tennis since the first national
championship tournament was played
back In 1881. But It is doubtful II in
any tournament. titular or otherwise, so
much variety ever was crowded into an
opening days play as was jammed into
the first round of the thirty-eighth an
nual tournament which opened yesterday
on the West Side Tennis Club courts at
Forest Hills. L. 1.
The crowd easily was the largest that
ever has seen early play, and 1t was
an enthusiastic one. The competition
was Of the highest class. although of
course there was some poor or indiffer-
ent tennis mixed up with the good, and
even the weatherman. in order to liven
tlirgs up a bit and add what excitement
he could. sent along a shower that was
hummer while 1t lasted and sent along
cold blasts of wind afterward that re-
minded one of football weather.
Sometimes It has happened that the
best OF the tennis has not been staged on
the grand stand courts. Yesterday. how
ever the tennis displayed on the out
side courts was not nearly as high class
as what was witnessed In the main en-
closure. Furthermore. it frequently mas
happened that while the tennis on the
championship courts has been OF a high
type. 1t has been devoid of interest. But
1lOs even the NtT1eSl IrONlCe at ISnnlS
could have failed to become enthusiastic
lover the brilliance of the matches In
which Gerald L. Patterson of Melbourne,
Australia, the British champion. de-
feated Frederick B. Alexander. or that
in which Conrad B. Doyle, of Washing
ton. downed s. Howard Voshel of
Brooklyn, the metropolitan champion.
Five Set TussIes.
These two were five set affairs, PR-
terson taking his victory in an uphill
night, at 80, 5-6, 6-f, 6-2, 6-2,
while Doyle earned a well deserved VIC
tory at As, 6-3, 6-3, 81, Ga
Nor does this take away from the other
featured match-the match which
opened the tournament-that in which
Maurice Z. Mclaughlin of Los Angeles;
/hailed five years ago as the greatest
player In the world. defeated Arthur s.
Cragin in straight sets, at 6--3. 60.
6-2. Not only was this match Of in
terest because Mclaughlin gave real
signs of an ability to come back. but
the play itself sparkled with some re-
rnarkablv fast and accurate tennis.
In addition to Patterson, Mclaughlin
and Doyle, stars who advanced were
Robert Lindley Murray. holder Of the
national title; William T. Tilden I'd,
Philadelphia Ichiya Kumagae Of japan.
Watson NJ Washburn of New York,
Charles s. Garland of Pittsburg. Richard
Norris Williams I'd of Boston. Theodore
r. Pell, and in fact all of the others
who were expected to win. The first
round therefore was remarkably free OF
upsets.
The day brought out a veritable three
ring circus, and many who had hoped
to look at some of their favorites who
had not been lucky enough to get place
in the draw which would have brought
them to the main courts found or wanted
little chance to look elsewhere than at
the featured contests.
The fact that the weather man showed
a kindly disposition in the morning.
when he sent out a nice warm sun to dry
the courts and put things in condition
for the start of the big tournament. made
It evident that big crowd would turn
out to see the play Many who had been
unable to get season tickets came down
early so as to get what choice there
was Of seats for the days play. How
ever, when 1t began to cloud up Just be-
fore noon some had misgivings apd
either remained away altogether or tele-
phoned to the club to be assured whether
or not the tournament would be stai ted.
No Detail Overlooked.
The committees in charge left no stone
untuTned 10 nave everything III snip
shape order to get things OF to smooth
start. Long before the time to play ar
rived the clubhouse and courts resem-
bled a beehive of activity. Ushers were
being instructed in their uutles around
through the stands and on the courts
themselves ball boys were being ad-
rnonished in the ways not TO do things
Furthermore. the turf seemed just teem'
ing with expert gardeners who were put
-. - ala oxyt,.
surface.
The result was that when the gates
were thrown open to the public at noon
time, the whole machine was working In
perfect order. Not a thing from the
flags of various nations which fiuttered
from their poles around the grand
stands, to the smallest blade of grass
on the courts, was ont of place. And
to the dyed in the wool follower of ten
mis-. one of the strangest things Of all
was that even the players seemed to
sense the fact that everything had "a
be done in order. and so they were all
on hand to play at their appointed hours
AS a matter OF fact, the crowd in the
early part of the day did not give any
hint OF the f6ct that It would be record
breaking for the opening days l,ay
Those that went down to the courts "a
get the best seats offered in the daily
sale did not make much OF an impress
sion on the huge stands. However
when Mclaughlin and Cragin went out
on the courts to start the tournament
at / O'Clock, the stands were more than
half filled. and before the last of the
feature matches was staged compare.
1vely few seats were unoecupied.
Two Remarkable Contests.
Because Of the great interest always
attached to Mclaughlin, undoubtedly tn
most popular champion who ever wore
the tennis crown, and also because hi:
patch opened the tournament, Il might
y just as well to touch upon his vic
pry over Cragin first This in spite ol
the fact that the tennis In both OF The
6ther featured matches was consider
ably better. In fact. II is a toss up as tS
whether the Doyle-Voshell or the Par.
frson- Alexander contest furnished th'
crowd with the most thrills, They wer,
both wonderful tennis Tits and no fol
over of the game vino saw the play Il
Aot congratulsting himself to-day tha
rhese contests were not played simu.
tbneously. t3@
Mclaughlin, although his service wal
Fill far below the calibre of that whicl
y other years earned him the sobrique
N the Comet" had all of his- othe
trokes working 40 well that the on
boxers were astounded as well al
Hleaaed His driyaa had fine aama OLD