The sun., 1919-08-24
NATIONAL SINGLES
I BEGINS TOMORROW
Tennis Players From All Parts
Of the Country to Compete
at Forest Hills.
AUSTRALIANS ENTERED
Championship Tourney Will
Wind Up Greatest Season
in History Of Sport.
AUSTRALIANS ENTERED
ny EUGENE n. o'coNNELL.

ny EOSbNE N. o'SoNNGhhs
with the playing of the annual tour
nament for the nationaa singles tennis
Championship Of the United States.
which begins tomorrow on the courts
OF the West Side Tennis Club at Forest
Hills, Long Island. the curtain will 30
down on the greatest season that tennis
ever has enjoyed In this country. About
this time year ago, when every one
was more or less mixed up In the busi-
ness of war, devotees of tennis felt that
this sport would suffer serious setback.
The one bright spot was the fact that
younger players kept coming out In
droves and many OF them gave promise
of future greatness.
II was felt that for high class tennis
America would have to turn to these
youngsters. Some few of the var babies
already have developed such strength and
craft that even now they must be rec
koned with as serious contenders. OF
these Vincent Richards, Frank Anderson
and Cecil Donaldson have shown up
especially we'll William T. Tilden I'd Of
Philadelphia, although out of the junior
class. is a comparative new conner to
the select circles of tennis. His victories
In the Seabright and Newport invitation
tournaments made him loom up strong
as a possible chempion.
While II was the youngsters who were
looked to to furnish the best Of the
competition, even right up to the ces-
sation of hostilities, It is generally con-
ceded now that the veterans will hold the
limelight for the present season at least.
Many believed that, although the war
ended in the early winter. few of the
former stars having had practically no
tournament play for two years, would be
able to get into shape for the 1919 tour
nament season, or at least In good
enough form to make them dangerous
contenders for the big title.
Veterans in Form.
The old timers, however, fooled every
body by getting back into their tennis
toys Just as soon as they had doffed the
khaki of the army or the blue OF the
navy. And what is more to the point
they have been going along in good style
and getting better with every tourna-
ment. There have been a number of
upsets of course, but because of the un-
settled conditions and the little oppor-
tunity for practice that the stars had
had, this could not have been otherwise.
The season has been the biggest in
tennis. however. because mote players
competed in greater number OF tourna-
ments and the play was watched by
larger galleries than ever before. As
a matter of fact so many players wanted
to enter the national championship that
the rule for limiting the number of en-
tries adopted in 1915 when the cham
pionship was brought to the West Side
Club from Newport. had to be revived.
OF greatest interest in the big tourna-
ment is the fact that three former
national champions will be in the fray
making an attempt at a comeback The
trio is made up OF Maurice E. McLoush-
lin of Los Angeles. champion in 1912
and 1913; Richard Norris Williams I'd
Of Boston, champion in 1914 and 1916.
and William NJ. Johnston of San Fran
cisco, champion In 1915. The present
championship cup is the eighth that has
been up for competition and should
either Mclaughlin or Williams win 1t
this year the cup will become his per-
manent possession as each already has
two legs on II. Johnston, William A.
Laraed aad Robert Lindley Murray. the
present national champion, each have
one leg on the bowl.
Comet on the wane.
In 1914 Mclaughlin. after having
beaten Norman E Brookes, then British
champion, and the late Anthony F.
Wildins in the international single
matches, fell before Williams in the
final round of the American champion
ship at Newport. 1t was the only match
that he lost that season. and In spite
Of his defeat in this contest the Cali
fornia Comet. as he was then called be-
cause of his speed. was placed first in
the rating OF American tennis players,
and in the rating of the worlds great
est players by English critics the Cali
fornian was also accorded the top place.
Mclaughlin attempted to come back
the following year, and reached the
on1v In he haatan hv John
ston, who was then only 20 years old.
In 1915 the erstwhile Comet failed to
reach the semi final round. He did not
play In 1917 or 1918. and din not ap-
pear in singles competition this year
until the Newport tourney. in which he
was beaten by s. Howard Voshell OF
Brooklyn in five sets in the third round.
Mac played in the doubles at Boston and
showed improved form, but stayed out
OF the Southampton tourney to rest up
for the championship.
Williams, after failing in the cham
pionship tournament of 1915, came back
and won the 1915 title. Like McLough-
lin, he did not play in 1918 and only
very little in 1917. In his matches this
year he has not met with much success,
but he, too, has displayed some signs
OF returning form lately.
Johnston, after winning in 1915, fall
tered in the Anal round before Williams
1910 ana was out OF INC
two following years Johnston looks
20 be the strongest of the three in spite
of the fact that he has lost twice to
!, Tilden.
Mclaughlin Honored.
To Mclaughlin, doubtless the most
popular tennis player in America, is ac-
corded the honor of opening the tourney.
The officials Of the tournament thought
It only fitting that he should receive
this distinction in view of the place he
holds in the tennis hall of fame. When
Mac" steps onto No. court at o'clock
with Arthur Cragin II is safe to say that
the championship enclosure will hold the
attention of many followers of the game.
They have been watching his recent
progress with the keenest interest in the
belief that he is coming back to his old
time form. AS he has been practising
when weather permitted 1t is certain that
he will give the gallery plenty OF shots
10 admire
At 3 o'clock the feature match will
bring together on court No. 1 Conrad
B. Doyle OF Washington, d. c., and s,
Howard Voshell Of Brooklyn. DOYLE Is
one OF the best players in the country
although his lack of tournament compe-
tition has handicapped his progress 10
high place in the ranking. On clay
he is hard man to beat and on grass
he should go very well because of recen,
practice. Voshell. OF course. is a player
OF great ability and experience, as his
record shows. That they will put up q