New-York tribune., 1920-08-03
Griffin, Roberts, Davis and
Miss Tenant Win Open
ing Matches at Seabright
By Fred Hawthorne


fornia' nd the East began the annual
battle Of supremacy day on the turf
courts of the Sea Bright Lamn Tennis
and Cricket Club when the invitation
tournament got under way, with thirty
two players in both the mems and
womeE's singles.
Clarence G. Griffin, former national
doubles champion; Roland Roberts, ma
tional clay court title e-holder, and Willis
E. Davis, all from the Coast, came
through successfully in the opening
round, although both Roberts and
Davis we're forced to three sets before
they could clinch their victories ovor
Commander w. S. Anderson and Will
lard Botsford, respectively.
Roberts won by score Of 6-3, 81,
6-3, while Davis triumphcd at G-4,
3--6, 8-6, over Willard Botsford oY
New York. Botsford squared his match
at 5-all on games in the third set and
! Davis had to crowd on every ounce
Of speed and hard hitting he possessed
to take the last two games.
Eastern Experts Advance
Watson NJ. Washburn, Dean Mathey,
5. Howard Voshell and W. J. Clothier,
former national singles champion, we're
among the most prominent of the East
| erners to show to the front
In the women's division Miss Eleanor
Tennant was the lone representative
from the Pacific Coast. She defeated
score Of G-3, 60. The visitor was
going particularly we'll in the last set,
forcing the net position persistcntly in
the face Of her opponents well-placed
drives, and volleying strongly or smash
ing, 40 the occasion demanded. The
California girls chop strokes on the
soft turf were source Of almost con-
tinual annoyance to Mrs Wilbourn,
who found 1t hard to dig the ball up.
Miss Marion zinderstein, national
cley court and metropolitan champions
Miss Florence Ballin, New Jersey State
and Long Island title-holder; Miss
Marie Wagner. runncr-up for the lattor
event; Miss Leslie Bancroft and Miss
Edith Sigourney, Of Boston. and Mrs.
De Forest Candee and Miss Clare
Cassel. Of New York. were among the
other leaders who survived
All the players were loud in their
praise Of the condition Of the famous
Sea Bright turf, which this year is bet
resilient. The playing surface on the
grandstand courts is one Of the cher
ished possessions of the Sea Bright
club: every blade o. grass being
Englis born-that is. it was imported
from England in the early 'S0s, and
hence has q reputation to live UP to.
Players Tear Up Turf
The tournament committee, headed
By Holcombe Ward and Bernon s.
Prentice, was in a state Of mental an
guish, however, as the spikes of the
players tore Up the turf cruelty.
Weeks Of grooming and care were re
ceiving rough troatment from the
spikes, but there was no remedy. ex
binding up the cuts and bruises as
soon as the courts were vacant for the
day.
Robert Lindlcy Murray, national
champion Of 1918 and one of Caifor-
MAS most spectacular players, is cx-
pected down here or Thursday, and it
may be that he will find a place in the
mems doubles if the field is not out too
far toward the final brackets. If TOO
late to play in the tournament proper
the California "meteor" will engage in
some exhibition matches.
Roberts advanced to the third round
OF the mems singles, for in the FIRST
round he defeated Philip Vandeventer.
OF New Jersey, at 6-2, Cd, and later
III the day took the court with Com
mander Anderson and got bad scare
before be was safely through. do
not think that Roberts Is anywhere
near the form he will need later at
Newport and at SOUTHAMPTON if he
hopes to uphold his reputation.
This afternoon the young Californian
was having trouble with his low back
hand continually, nor were his fore
hsnd drives going any too we'll, until
the last few games. when he seemed 60
gather himself together for final er-
fort. Roberts's overhead play and his
volleying were also below the form he
mas shown on previous occasions, but
all this, of course, may be due to his
sudden change from clay to a turf sur
face.
Davis's volleying Faulty
Davis's match against young Bots
iord had many points Of similarity to
; the Roberts-Anderson meeting, for the
tall Californian was faulty on his vol
leylng and his ground strokes were not
reliable enough to enable him to take
his usual plunge for the net position,
especially in the face of the very ac-
. curate driving down the side lines that
l botsford was bringing off
The games went to Gall in the final
set before Davis, steadyng, could take
the last two games that ended the very
: keen struggle.
Peck" Griffin, the smiling and de-
bonair, defeated William Ingraham
Harvard interscholastc champion. by a
: score Of 60, Ga, being forced to a
5 merry clip by tho schoolboy in the sec
. ond set. In the opener lngraham was
plainly laboring under G nervous
strain at the thought of facing player
, of Grifin's reputation and made a con-
stant succession of errors. But when
5 this had worn off the youngster came
to sudden life, hitting everything with
: all his power and making many spec
! tacular shots, only to be eventually
tanned hY Griffin'a cool and accurate