The New York herald., 1921-03-24
EARLIER START FOR
GRASS COURT PLAY
May BE Necessary to Avoid
Conflict Of Tennis
Fixtures.
BY SAMUEL ). BROoKMAN.

Undoubtedly the biggest problem the
schedule committee of the United States
Lawn Tennis Association has to solve
Is the distribution of the leading grass
court tournaments of the season so as
not to conflict with the championship
dates already announced. Beginning
with August Is there is to be a con-
tinuous series of title play, including the
women's championship at Forest Hills,
the national doubles at Longwood, the
Davis cup challenge round at Forest
Hills and the mems singles champion
ship at Germantown Cricket Club OF
Philadelphia. This series will not be
completed until September 90.
If the grass court fixtures are to be-
gin as usual with the Seabright event
on August /, with Newport to follow as
usual or August s. and Southampton on
August Is. the latter tournament would
conflict with the women's national
championship at Forest Hills. 1t may
be argued that since Southampton Is a
mems invitation tournament II would
not be exactly conflict OF tennis events
if 1t were held the same weeks as the
women's. championship. The point is,
however that Mile. Suzanne Lenglen Of
France is possible. perhaps probable.
entrant In the women's title tourna-
ment this year. Her appearance at For
est Hills would arouse such widespread
interest in the championship that the
Southampton tournament would lose
some OF It's attractiveness.
One solution Is to start the grass
court season week earlier than usual,
July 20, instead of August /. Some one
has suggested that inasmuch as Newport
has been promised the Davis cup Anal
round. which is almost sure to be held
in this country, the Casino could af-
ford to hold its annual event, together
with the Davis cup final, the same week
as the womens championship. New
port in that event, would have spien-
did counter attraction. The schedule
committee may see some merit In the
suggestion, but the logical step appears
10 be an earlier start of the grass court
fixtures and no conflict at all.
The schedule committee Is to make its
report to the executive committee on
Saturday, April 2, and on that day the
associations solution of the problem
will be announced.
A campaign against chronic defaulters
in tennis tournaments has been started
by the newly formedl Metropolitan Ten
mis- Association. which is formulating
rules TO eliminate a practice that has
marred competition considerably in re-
cent years. IL has been nothing unusual
for nearly % per cent. OF the entrants to
fail to appear In some tournaments and
committees have had their troubles post
poning matches In the belief that some
player or players had been detained un-
avoidably and would have satisfactory
explanations. Delinquents from now on,
however, will find that a more or less
severe penalty will be exacted. To be-
gin with, a player will have to send his
entry In his own handwriting along with
his entrance fee. Then II he defaults
without satisfactory reason the associa-
tion will have the power after second
Offence to debar him from further play
for the season in the tournaments of
tho district.
The rule covering this point reads as
follows ANY player who shall be re-
ported TO the secretary Of the associa-
tion as having defaulted on his entry In
two sanctioned tournaments In a current
season shall be so notified by the secre-
taTy and be asked 10 give a reasonable
excuse. In the absence OF what the
tournament and rules committees shall
consider n reasonable excuse the player
shall be debarrcd from further competi-
ton in tournaments or team matches
played under tho auspices Of the assoc
citation for the balance Of the current
season. and all clubs and LEAGUE mem
bers or the association shall bs 20
notified by the secretary"