The New York herald., 1921-02-19
RACQUETS CHAMPION
OFF TO GOOD START
Clarence G. Pell Plays Con-
vincingly in First Rcund of
Title Tourney.
BY SAMUEL j. BRooKMAN.

Clarence c. Pell made an impressive
start In defence of his national amateur
racquets championship yesterday on the
courts of the Racquet and Tennis Club
of New York. In three straight games
In which he never was extended, the
title holder defeated l.. du Pont- Irving
giving an exhibition of court strategy
and of swift, startling recoveries that
convinced large gallery of his ability
to make as strong a defence as ever of
the title he has held for several years.
There were others, however. whose
play was only a shade less convincing,
notably Jay Gould. the court tennis
champion. who Is representing the Phila-
delphia Racquet Club, and Fulton Cut
ting Of the local club. both of whom dis
posed OF capable opponents without the
loss of a game. A field Of sixteen en-
trants was reduced to eight but only
five matches were played. A. c. Cassis
Of Montreal, the leading player in Can
ada Stanley G.. Mortimer of New York
and +. II. Reynolds of Chicago advanc-
ing by default OF the five contests de-
cided four were won by local aspirants.
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, Clarence c.,
Pell. II. Hadden and Fulton Cutting, and
the other by jay Gould, who. although
is resident of New York. So far as
numbers are concerned. therefore, New
York has decided advantage.
Gould Match Attracts.
Chief interest appeared to centre in
the first round effort of Jay Gould.
When the court tennis champion took
the court early in the afternoon against
Eric s. Winston Of the home club the
spacious gallery was well filed. Win
ston Is the racquet wielder who few
Ix.-. - -
pionship at squash tennis. During the
last two seasons he has forsaken squash
for racquets. and his work in club
tournaments has been successful enough
to prompt him to enter q racquets title
event for the first time.
Against the average entrant Winston
indicated that he could hold his own.
He had plenty Of speed In covering
court and his stroking was smooth and
spirited. but when it came to tactics
Gould's superior experience proved too
much for him. Time and again Gould
caught him out of position in the rallies,
sending the ball yards out Of his reach.
Whatever advantage Winston may have
had in speed of foot was more than
counterbalanced by Gould's wonderful
anticipation of shots. The latter some
how always appeared to be in the right
place at the right time. His control,
too. was better and he dropped very few
points as the results of telltales or
misses.
Gould held the upper hand from first
to last, but his most scintilating exhibi-
ton was that in the second game, when
he outscored his opponent Is aces to /,
counting all his points in two hands.
Opening the service In the second game
the court tennis champion started
whirlwind pace that Winston was en-
trely unprepared for. Gould placed ten
points to his credit before his rival could
force him hand out" Winston then
counted single point. but had to yield
the service again to Gould. who ran
five more points in jiffy. Winston re-
covered his early form in the third game,
but he was unable to hold the lead and
Gould won with plenty to spare, 15-7.
Isl, 15-7.