New-York tribune., 1919-05-31
Behr and Binzen Niciors
in Doubles; Murray to
WELD Racquet To-day
BY Fred Hawthorne

Not since the days before the world
war, when the greatest of California's
stars OF the courts invaded the East
and met in net battles with our ranking
best, have the clay courts of the Sleepy
Hollow Country Club, at Scarborough
on-Hudson. been graced by the pres
ence of such notables Of the game as
played in the clubs special two-dav
invitation singles aud doubles lawn
tennis tournament yesterday afternoon
Clarence J. Griffin, former doubles
champion of the United States, who
returned from France only few weeks
ago and leaves again on Tuesday to
play on this A. L. F. lawn tennis team
in Paris, defeated Harold A. Throck-
morton, of Elizabeth, n. j., in the SIN
giles. by Il score OF Sc, 6-3. In an.
other singles match Van Dyke Johns,
Of California. vanquished Harold L.
Taylor, national junior champion, by a
score OF 6-3, St. These were the
only two singles matches played.
Griffin and George Myers Church.
vino was ranked as No in 1916, his
last year of tournament tennis prior to
entering the aviation service, were de-
feated in the doubles by Karl H. Behr
and Elliott Binzen, the sets going al
IS, 4-6, IS, and in the other
doubles match Throckmorton and Fran
els I. Hunter trlumphed over Johns and
Taylor at S--6, 2-6, 8-6.
All the events were distinguished By
2 briliancy OF play that had not been
seen on these courts s~nce Willie f.
Davis, the meteoric Californian, won
the Gold Challenge Cup in the singles
in 1916.
This afternoon the tournament will
be completed with matches in the
singles and doubles between Robert
Lindley Murray, national champion;
Willis Davis, Church, Griffin, Behr,
kohns, Throckmorton and Leonard
Beekman. and on Sunday there will be
d special exhibition doubles match be-
tween the best Of these stars.
Grifin's playing yesterday, in view
Of the fact that he has hardly held a
racquet in his hand since going over
seas almost two years ago, with the ex-
ception of few matches in Paris and
some weeks ago on the Coast, was re-
marhabe. IN the doubles he was the
same old reliable Peek" whose court
cunning was so instrumental in win
ming the national doubles title for him
self and William NJ. Johnson. 1t was
the tall Church's wildness that enabled
Behr and Binzen to win.
Behr gave one of those thrilling ex-
hibitions of sharp volleying and heavy
smashing that made him one of the
most attractive players on the courts
to watch, before the war. He was the
same dashing, fiery player as of yore
and yesterday he held the let position
with much of his former wizardry
while the gallery sitting under the
trees was frequently moved to en-
thusiastic applause. Binzen backed his
famous partner TIP splendidly, his play
overhead being above the average, and
between them they battered out vic
tory.
Grifhns lobbing, although not SO
frequent as we have become ac-
customed to seeing in the former
doubles champions work, was al
most uniformly good, and many was
the time that Behr and Binzen mis-
Judged these balls and crashed them
into the net. On the whole, however
this winning pair held command OF the
critical stages.
Church, who has hardly felt rae
quet III three years, was both very good
and extremely bad in this match, a.
was to be expected. Some of his block
volays were dazzling, and he charged
the net with his customary reckless
ness, often winning the points with
one decisive shot, and again clubbing
in a manner that was astonishing te
see.
In the singles match between Griffin
and Throekmorton, the former I'm,
lnrnuad On h{n AnrhIaa alas ...AA.