Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-15
.S0UTAR CAPTURES
THE OPENING SET
Wins 6-5 From Fairs in PLAY for
Court Tennis Crown at
Racquet Club


plOn, took the first set from G.. J.
tPunch) Fairs, former court tennis |
champion, in their match in the |
maj round of the tournament for the
professional court tennis championship !
Ihe match was staged at the Racquet
Club. playing beginning at noon. The
score of the first set was 6-5. As the
point score indicates. there was not
great deal to choose between these play
ers in the onening set. Here is the
score Of the first set
ESiFs FSHfsF '::,,.:.: 5ddad99G94 40
The battle between Soutar and Fairs
was a tile between the formers railroad
service and the latter's heavily cut de
livery, The essential difference between
receivingIhc delivris is that the one
mas to bcNtaken on the backhand and
the other with n quicker stroke on the
bankhand. Both styles have many sun
porters. but in the final analysis the
effectiveness of either is really up to
the individual.
First Long One
The first game was long deuce affair
taking fully ten minutes to be played.
Soutar finally took this game by driving
into the dedans, although Fairs had
several service aces. Soutar nut on
speed and took the second game at love,
but Fairs came back and annexed the
third by driving clcverly into the dcdans,
although he lost several easy chances to
score.
e,
At, Soutur uncorKed lot OF speed IN
.ne lourth game ana won IL by driving
S,NrI"i times lor aces INTO the corners
Sou'ar ihcr"aseu ms lcau oN winning
M.ne M ilth gann 10 rove gettihg one on
.he Rrine. Inc siNth ana seventh
sum1es went toet airs; o9ular douDiT-
1nu,..lns I.,s on service aha iaiiiiG 10 hanuie
rulrH wen placeu shots. me SiSh.h
gaine Which Soutar won went TO deuce:
airs loSt ms chance wnsn Is racquet
seW OUT Oh Is hahu INTO 'he he'' giving
oou'nr IN easy KILL
Fairs won the ninth and tenth games
en- service. but in the eleventh Soutar
came to himself ard by wonderful shoot
ing into the corners and dcdans ran it
out to 10 an dwith it took the first set.
,,, ,,,..s.os
'
Elevators bulged with sportsmen So
cally prominent. and there was a
never ending parade of those eager to
see this curious game of court tennis
up the marble staircases OF the eXclu-
Sive Racquet Club shortly before game
tlmG'
orctics wore rho essential articles Of
dress. The huge and gloomy court was
bathed in sunlight filtering through the
glass roof high overhead, the sunshine
Of perfect winter day, which was in
fine contract to the light of the other
days in the tournament. The court
which from the seats behind the cage
like galleries resembles n great. deer
swimming pool without water. is un-
heated. Spectators gathered early as
Soutar and Fairs. in turn, tried out
some of their choice shots-the hard
white cloth ball smacking hollowly
against the high walls of the arena
often bringing scattered applause before
the match from the seats. which have
been selling as high as S33 apiece fol
the matches
Outside there was a constant buz;
: Of banter and betting. There were many
who favored the youth, stamina, spee'
and remarkable natural ability of Sou
tar, of racquets fame, who has beer
playing the ancient game OF court tennl
in earnest for little more thah year.
But just ms many were or the opih
ion that this was to be the come
, back of Fairs, the champion OF 100
! and 190S-the ''prettiest master o