New-York tribune., 1920-01-01
New System =
OF U.S.N.L.T.A.
Is Explained
Rating Of Players Well Re-
ceived Throughout Coun-
try, Says Committee Head
Bv Fred Hawthorne

In answer to the storm of criticism
..;sed by the annual report of the
y ,.nk;ng committee of the United
states National Lawn Tennis Asso-
e;stion. in naming the first ten" men
md women players of the country for
1919. Abraham Bassford jr., chairman
NJ the committee, issued statement
Yesterday in which he explained the
working Of the system.
According to Mr.. Bassford, the rank
ing seems to have been well received,
surprisingly so, when it is considered
shat 1919 was married by many upse's
IN the resumption Of tournament play
: sfter the war. In discussing the mat
.er yesterday. the chairman remarked;
aWhile there has been more or less
General conversation about the rank
ines, 1t is significant chat the Office
. of the national association has &C.
ceived exactly six inquiries as to
nlaces in the list. Two of these re-
lated to players not ranked because
their records did not show enough
tournaments; two were from players
not ranked because their rates did
not entitle them to & place. although
they were very close; one was regard
ing a player who was thought to DE-
serve higher place, and the last was
about player whose name did not a.
pear upon the original list, owing to
typographical error.
Few Protests Made
"This shows not only shat the bulk
Of the tournament players have fol
lowed. the application OF the system
with reasonable understanding. but also
that in the main they must agree with
it's results. Otherwise there would
have been more protests as to the posi-
tions assigned. Therefore, il would
appear that much Of the adverse COM
ment on the ranking has been based on
misinforma,iou or misinterpretation Of
the ranking committees job"
"The committee works under definite
Instructions he said. adopted by the
annual meeting Of the national associa-
ton ard published for the information
u ell who are interested. These rules
eliminate from Iteration all un-
sanctioned matches, whether they be
interclub, post-season or foreign
events, and require the committee to
conhne itself strictly to the actual per
formances of players in the current
season. Play in 1918 has no bearing.
on the 1919 ranking, nor are indoor
events considered.
Furthermore, the committee cannot
rank on its opinion Of players relative
ability, nor on ancient history. nor on
, what might happen if A played B. 1t
/. IS limited to consideration Of the
emAtches played in sanctioned tourna-
ments; defeats are considered as we'll
ss wins and the whole record is an
average OF the seasons play. This
is the only fair means OF attaining an
equitable result. in the committees
judgment, Tor 1t puts the premium ON
performance rather than reputation or
opinion and giyes every player credit
1cr every sanctioned match he plays
against rated player, whether he wins
OF loses.
In all cases where there is reason
70 think injustice has been done or
players record has been omitted for
sone reason. the chairman said. the
committee would be glad to have them
brought TO its attention. The task is
difficult one at best. and the com
mittee welcomes any constructive ad-
wee or suggestion. In this connec-
ZION, said Mr.. Bassford. it is well to
bear in mind that the ranking system
attempts the following:
,.a) The analytical consideration Of
al sanctioned matches between rated
players, except those matches Played
indoors.
ID The system of comparison is
BASED on the simple fact that as gen