Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-06
MIOUGHLM TRIES
TENNIS COMEBACK
Won First Title on Famous
Newport Courts Where Mod
ern Tennis Was Developed
and Perfected
N A Wy STARS PL 4 Y
BY SPICK HALL

TT is thoroughly in harmony with
L lawn tennis lore that Maurice +.
Mclaughlin. the Comet from the Coast,
should attempt his comeback on the turf
courts of the Casino at Newport. 1t
was there that the once unbeatable. red
haired Californian lcaped into fame by
defeating William 4. Larncd in the all
comers tournament in 1911. 1t was also
there that Dick Williams. of Philadcl
pha, astoundcd the tennis world by
beating Mclaughlin for the title in the
summer of 1914 after Mac had trimmed
Norman Il. Brookes and Anthony Wild
ing in the Davis Cup matches.
The present invitation tournament at
Newport, in which Mclaughlin is en-
dcavoring to prove to tennisdom that
he isn't through, is one of the greatest
events of the season, not excepting the
all comcrs which will be later at Forest
Hills, Long Island. Stars from every
section of the country, from (anada,
Japan and Australasia. are entered. IL
is true that yesterday the committee
was forced to scratch the Australians
in the singles because they could NOT
reach Newport until tomorrow, put
they will be seen in action in the dou
blcs against Americas best.
Past Glory Renewed
With this array of stars competing
on the courts this week, Newport has
rcgaincd. at least momentarily, the ten
mis- fame that once was hers eNcinS-
lively. 1t may be said that the present
game of lawn tennis was developed on
the Casino courts from the old back
court game played in Europe and later
brought to this country.
The first American court was built
at Newport in 1873 and in 1881. when
the United States National Lawn Ten
mis- Association was formed, Newport
was chosen as the spot for the hrst
all -Comcrs tournament. The title that
year was won by X. ID. Sears and sue
ccssfully defended for seven consecutive
seasons. He finally retired because of
an injury.
| SIocum Second Champion
II. W. Slocum was the second tennis
titlcholdcr in the United States. lie
retained the honor until 1890 when D.
s. Campbell, by brilliant vollcying. a
| new method at that time, won the title.
Campbell is the man who first put into
execution the dashing net game that has
since become the foundation of the
style of play made famous by the speedy
Californians. Campbell, after holding
the title for three years was detroncd by
Robert y. Wrenn. who is usually given
the credit for putting the game on its
present scientific basis He worked out
the balance of voleying and ground
strokes and also was the originator OF
the sound tennis theory that shots down
the center of the court are most eitectlve
because the opponent in this situation
has n smaller chance of making a pass
because the angle Of play is smaller.
H. d. Hovcy broke in the American
titleholders class, downing Wrcnn after
the latter had been four times winner
of the allcomers.
Whitman Arrives
IIovey held the title only one year.
He was ousted from the lofty seat on the
pinnacle of American tennsdom by
Malcolm D. Whitman, whose reign last :
ed for three years. Then it was that
Bill Larned arrived on the scene. to
begin and continue one of the greatest
tennis careers of all time. For over
twenty years Larned was rated among
Americas first ten and was noted
throughout Great Britain. France ant
Australia as one of the worlds greatest
exponcnts of the game. He played in
all of those countries and at various
times defeated the best that they could
offer.
Iarned dropped out for while dur