Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-03
HENNESSEY is
AWARDED HIGH
TENNIS PLACE
Local Star Ranked Twenty
Second in 1920 National List
of PrOminents.
RECORD FOR THIS STATE

Johnny Hennessey, indianapolis tennis
flash, today set a record for the court
artists of Indiana when the ranking list
of the country's players was announced
by the National Tennis Association,
showing him holding the twenty second
berth.
This is the highest any Indiana player
ever has ranked. Charlie Trask, Hennes-
sey's well known teacher, heretofore held
the honor by virtue of a thirty eight
position bestowed on him some several
seasons ago. by the National Assocla-
ton.
Hennessey won his high position IN
the tennis world during the 1870 season
by playing the greatest tennis that ever
has been witnessed on Hoosler court
He blasted his way through the Haw-
thorn inyitational, Indianapolis cltF,
Indiana state and Indiana, ONO anu
Kentucky tri-State tournaments, anu the
inter city league games without haVln :
anything near close coMpe,Lt5ioAfs o, "'t' +
then went to New York and fouSht
Roland Roberts, who ranks eleventh nVe
hard sets before going down 70 ue tl !
in the fourth round OF the hatlouHi
championships.
JOHNNIE TAKES
LENGTHY GAIN.
TIennessey was ranked fifty-ninth at
the close Of the 1919 season, with trl'z
Bastian. Indianapolis boy who cap1alhed
the Indiana University court team last
year, one place ahead Of HIM bas'l4 Il
had the edge on Hennessey during tuS
1919 season. but in 1920 Johnny defeated
Fritz in the Hawthorn, city ana Hlhte
tournaments the only ones IN when they
met. Bastian did not 20 to the national
meet He Is not ranked among the ursJ
forty players as announced by the ma
tional body. ,-, T..
Word Of Hennessey's great playing in
his tournament conquests last season was
scattered 10 all parts Of the tennis world
and many persons interested IN nun
thought that he would rank someW mere In
between fifteen and twenty on the ma
tional list. A strong point In TINS arsu,
ment was the fact that after his hard
tussle with Heunessey, Roberts had easy
sailing to the semi finals OF the national
tournament.
Hennessey suffered only two defeats
during the entire 1920 season, one OF
these being in the national, aud the other
In the Florida State tournament, when
he lost his semi final battle with lchiya
Kumagae. Japanese star, who ranked
third In 1919. Hennessey made the brll-
liant southpaw from Japan snow ms Iutl
speed for four sets on carl floheT
Miami courts before he accepted the
short end Of the set Victories. He LEFT
for Florida on one days notice and with
out an hours training, the meet being
staged during last March. Hennessey
boarded his train here on sunday after
noon and played his first game In the
Florida tournament the following
Wednesday, yet he went TO the semi
finals and made the Jap wonder hustle
to win from him. kUmagae Is fourth
in the 1920 ranking.
Resides being singles champion or the
city. state aud tri-State tournaments
last year, Heuuessey, teaming with FRITZ
Rastian won the doubles champ ionship
Of each OF these events Hennes sey and
Bastlan are not rated among the doubles
combinations.
no ARGUMENT
ON FIRST TWO.
The singles ranking shows Bill TiIden
Of Philadelphia and Billy Johnston OF
San Francisco ensconced in the coveted
position Of No. / and No. 2. just as
every tennis follower expected. After
these leaders, considerable shifting has
occurred from the ranking Of the lead
ing mems singles players for former
years r. Norris Williams ~ Boston
who headed the list I'm 1916, appears IN
third place, and lchiya kumagae is rated
fourth.
Walter T. Hayes OF Chicago, who held
ninth position in the 1919 ranking, ap-
pears as eighteenth for 1920, his drop be-
ing the greatest OF all ten leaders last
season.
In the mems doubles. Johnston and
Clarence peek Griffin OF san Francisco
lead for the third time since they first
leaped to team prominence in 1915. Mrs.
Molla Bjurdstedt Mallory returns to first
place In the women's ranking.