The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-19
TENNIS DATES NOT
EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
Too Many Tournaments in
Spring, Very Few After
August.
by SAMUEL ). BRooKMAN.


Why do local tennis tournaments end
abruptly every year with the close Of
the national championship early in Sep
TENDER? As rule there are our or
rye weeks OF good tennis weather TO-
lowing the title event at Forest Hills
yet competition in the metropolitan dis
trict during that period is almost nj,
Earring the Castle Point event at Ho
ocken and the team tournament played
on Sundays only. there have been no
events or even passing interest locally.
The interesting point IS that condi :.
tons during the neglected pediod arc ia,
superior to those, that prevail in the
spring. when 1t takes a long period for
the winter moisture to quit the ground
Yet clubs frequently are vyinx with
zach other for spring dates and appli-
cations at that stage are SO numerous
that the national association in allotins
dates finds 1t difficult to avoid conflicts
During June and July there are Some
times three tournaments going on sinful
taneously within the confines of tho
local tennis district.
The argument has been advanced that
tennis interest lags after the nationa.
championship, but the fact of the matter
is that as participants only small per
centage Of tournament players are con-
cerned with the championship. Golf
interest does not lag after the title
events OF the links. and the tennis player
does not really forsalse the game in Sen
tenaber. In the absence OF tournaments
he Is out on the courts Of his club play
Ing improMptu matches and he does NOT
put his tennis racquet away until the
frost Ia IN the afr But there In no
frost in September and there is little
doubt that another two or three tourna-
ments during that month and the early
days OF October would draw satisfac-
tory entries.
In recent years there has been rush
OF tournament play from May to July
and then comparatively little local COM
petition during the vacation months OF
July and August, during which the
prominent tournaments at Sea Bright
Newport, Longwood and Southampton
command all the attention. Surely there
can be better distribution Of tourns-
ment dates for the metropolitan district
It Is doubtful whether William I. TIL
den Cd will be on hand to defend his
national indoor tennis championship,
which is to be played at the Seventh
Regiment Tennis Club next March. Fol
lowing the Davis Cup challenge round
at New Zealand during Christmas week,
the Americans are to appear In numerous
tournaments at the leading clubs of
Australasia before embariing for home.
and Tilden may not reach New York in
time to participate in the tournament
After the long journey from the Anti
podes Tilden probably will not care about
playing anyway. His absence will en-
nance the chances of Vincent Richards
recovering the title he held year before
last. when he defeated Tilden in the
championship round.
Where the women's national indoor
championship will be played next March
is still a matter OF doubt Heretofore
II always has been held at the Seventh
Regiment n week or two preceding or
following the title event for men. Sew
enth Regiment made its usual applica-
ton for tho tennis fixture last February
at the last national tennis convention.
but opposition developed for the frst
time. Ilongwood Cricket Club of Bos-
ton, which has a number of splendid
indoor courts. moved that the award or
the wornen's event be postponed for the
next annual meeting In February, 1921,
and the motion was carried Since then
the Longwood club has been sounding
It's members on the ACCESSIBILITY OF MAX
ing a bid for the title event. 1t is not
known just what the sentiment in the
Boston club Is on the subject. but since
the Seventh Regiment club already has
the mems championship the chances are
that q bid from Irongwood for the
womens tournament would be success
full.