The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-09
HARRIS FLORIDA
TENNIS CHAMPION
Defeats Craig Biddle Three
Sets Out of Four in Brilliant
Final Match.
WINNER is FAR STRONGER
Philadelphia Plays on Nerve,
but Opponents Deadly
Net Game Wins.
SpeciaI Dsspntch to Tnn SLY.


PALM BEACH, Fla, March S.-Craig
Biddle OF Philadelphia met defeat to-
day in the final of the annual tennis
tournament for the singles champion
ship Of Florida. The new title holder
10 Fred II. Harris of Brattleboro, VT.
former New England champion. The
contest went four sets, Ga, 4-6, 6--l,
6-l.
The large gallery OF society folk
which expected to see championship ten
nis was not disappointed, for the match
sparkled with fine play.
Biddle started in very carefully, but
with considerable speed which won him
the first set. After that he was like
horse on the home stretch straining
every nerve to keep his lead. The other
mans superior strength, however, left
him master OF the situation after the
second set, which was the fastest OF the
four. both players gong a furious pace
Harris was deadly at the net, on lobbs
in particular. and anything short of mis-
court he smothered for points. His
smashes were beyond handling. These
two stars presented striking contrast.
Biddle's tense expression never relaxed
fraction of a second throughout the
contest. suggesting that he was draw
ing on his nerves to the limit. The
other man moved freely and easily, and
except that he had fine form. romped
like bull in "A china shop all over the
court.
Harris started serving in the first set
and won the opening game with a loss
OF one point. Biddle took the next two
games as Harris drove three returns
out of the court in each.
BiddIe Makes Two Errors.
In the fourth Blddle erred twice and
Harris passed his opponent very handily
for two points and the game, after
30-15 was called. The next three games
also went to the Vermont man.
In the sixth and seventh he killed off
lcbbs with terrific sma shes from inside
tho service line. Biddle took his own
service in the eighth and Harris finished
the set with the loss of only one point
In the following game.
The second set Biddle opened by win
ming his own service and Harris re-
peated for the second game. The third
and fourth went to the Philade lphian.
who was using his sharply cut short
returns 10 good advantage. Harris
broke through on the NTH.
Then followed the, longest game OF
the match with Harris serving. Deuce
was called Ave times and as many times
Biddle held the advantage but could
not get the next point. Harris finally
won the game as his opponents returns
fell just outside the lines.
Harris then took things decidedly easy
and lost the seventh and In the eighth
he drove two out and then pulled him
self up and ran out the game, making
the score 4 all. Blddle was going ex-
ceptionally well and won the odd game.
Tho tenth went TO deuce and the adj
vantage was Biddle's as Harris's return
landed out of court.
The final point came on a stroke which
found the net.
Smashes Way to Victory.
with the match even, Biddle started
service In the third set and made II a
love game. Harris returned the compli-
ment and then put in all his power be-
hind his strokes and smashing his way
along played beautifully in every respect
capturing the next five games. Biddlt
tried in vain to check his opponent
making some remarkable gets.
Again. in the last set, Biddle took Tho
opening game, Harris continued play
ing at the top of his game for the re-
mainder of the set. however. and Their.
was no stopping him. He volleyed vel
and overhead he killed off the lobbs will
machnelike precision.
On the seventh game Riddle made
every effort to break through and die
the first two points A minute later
with the score at $40, 1t looked n,
though Biddie might pull out the game
but the game went TO deuce and the fina
point came on a smash overhead acros!
court, which was far out of Biddle'!
reach.