Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-04
Local Player Defeated Hunter Man In One OF The Best
Il Matches Seensln The State In Years, 81, SO, rs;
Wilkerson And Van Hook Star Contested A Close
Battle, Though Only Two Sets Were Played; Dinner
Tonight; Official Meeting To Follow.

Elton defeated Muir in the hotties,
struggle of the state singles tourna-
81 ment this morning. though Muir de-
;afeateI him in the open play Tuesday,
the match being played to deuce, 81,
Sc, s., and Wilkerson won from
BlatherWick in wi straight but even
lY matched sets by 6-3, rs. These
were h semi-final games and put
the two local men. Elton and. Wilker-
son into the finals, which will be
contested Friday or Saturday morn
ing.
Interest was so keen in the matches
that none of the other players sched-
ufed to meet this morning entered
Into competition until the completion
Of the two state singles semi-finals,
Elton and Muir played one OF the
hardest sets seen on a North Dakota
court in man years. Every inch. SO
70 speak. of the play was contested
to the utmost by both of the men.
Consistent hard hitting featured the
tight from the start and some of the
%cleanest. fastest work of the tourna-
ment was displayed. Each az adept
In the handling of q racket, they ex-
tihit.d . knowledge of and ability in
the game that commanded the admir-
alton of the side-line enthusiasts. APP
plause sounded again and again dur
ing the match upon the execution by
one or the other of the players of a
perfect return against odds or a place
stroke excellentiy and effectively
played.
Second Semi-Finals.
The match between Wilkerson and
Blatherwick prove close, the first six
games Of the first set going alternate
~ to the combatants. In the second
set Wilkerson took the lead and a
Blatherwick to q 81 score. Blather-
wick rallied, played excellent tennis
and won four games straight, making
deuce set. Wilkerson won the
eleventh game only after deuce play,
and took sthe twelfth by a safe mar
gin, Blatherwiek getting only n
point to his credit. Steady play with
a long fight for a majority of the
points marked the match throughout.
The two did not fight as fast a match
as did Elton and Muir. but the play
was more consistent and. steady. Ex-
perience in the manipulation of the
racket could be seen on h part of
both men.
Finals.
In order to give the players in the
state finals chances to complete their
play. in the open events, the final
match has been set for Friday or Sat
urday morning, more likely the lat
ter. Wilkerson won out in the 1920
play, getting the state championship
over Elton, but lost this yea at
atS8Crookston to Muir, whom. Elton
succeeded in defeating this morning
None Of the ~self-asserted prophets
who always give a tentative outcome
to- a match are silent about this one,
as there are as many points in favor
OF the one as of the other.
match of interest was scheduled
this afternoon at O'Clock between
Hancock and Muir in the open events
Hancock la never been defeated so
far in the tournament. winning from
both Wilkerson and Elton. Enthus-
lasts are banking on Muir giving the
invincible Chicago >man a fight for
honors.
Dinner Tonight.
This evening at $50 o'clock at the
Commercial club rooms the visiting
tennis players will be the guests of
the Grand Forks enthusiasts at a ban
quet. Following the dinner a bust
ness session will be held and plans for
the 1922 tournament will be discussed
and officers to serve for the ensuing
years will be chosen.
"A reception was held in the Com
mercial club by the club members for
the visiting tennis players and their
ladies. A luncheon was served and
the Grand Forks Ladies' orchestra
gave a concert.
Hancock Elton.
One of the matches in the open play