The New York herald., 1921-05-16
HAMMETT TRIUMPHS
IN TENNIS FINAL
His Skill and Control Prevail
Over H. D. Fisher,s Rare
Speed on Courts,
CHOP STROKE A FACTOR
Winner Comes From Behind in
Two of Three Deuce Sets
rs, 11-9, rs.
ny SAMUEL j. BR0oKMAN.

Crafty tennis, coupled with splendid
control and plenty of grit, won the Har-
lem Challenge cup for Alfred ID. Ham
NETT in the final of the annual tourna-
ment at the Harlem Tennis Club yester-
day. In Kenneth d. Fisher Hammett
faced an opponent who had the ad-
vantage in speed and hard hitting, but
skill aided by battling chop stroke and
we'll directed lob prevailed after three
Of the hardest sets Of the tournament
IL was easily the sharpest tussle of the
week, most fitting climax to compe-
tltion in which a we'll balanced draw
kept interest alive to the end. The
score was rs, 11-9, 7-5.
Placing with unerring judgment and
varying the length and speed of his
shots continually Hammett fairly ran
Fisher dizzy during the three sets
Fisher never let UP a moment and man
aged TO catch up with the most difficult
gets, but the effort tired him so badly
that In the final set he lost opportuni-
ties through sheer fatigue, Hammett
chopped, chopped and chopped. almost
on every stroke but the lob. the ball
bounding so low that Fisher often had
to scrape the ground with his racquet to
get his favorite drive. There was no
severity TO Hammett's strokes, which
little speed that it was little wonder
that Fisher was tempted to whale 1t.
He did. with the result that the ball
sailed out OF court time and again.
Chop Strike Induces Errors.
Ii was these errors. induced by Ham
NETS sklful placing and the sharp break
70 his chop. that cost Fisher the match
for he netted the ball 45 times to Ham
mett's 80. and drove 1t out of court 30
times to the winners SO. Failure to
control service was another factor
against Fisher. Fifteen times during
the match he double fauted and most
of them came at critical stages. That
he was able to keep every set in doubt
up 10 the final point despite the fire.
cuency OF his errors was due to the
fact that between nets and outs Fisher
sent the ball booming through for place
ment the speed and power of his fore
hand earning him 50 points 10 Ham
mett's 3. These figures tell the story
Of the match. Hammett's game was de-
fensive, but marked by superb control:
Fishers was aggressive but unsteady.
Outwardly calm, Hammett proved he
had plenty of fight in his makeup. He
came from behind in the first set when
apparently his chances of saving II were
hopeless and won It at IS. after Fisher
had led at al and %. On the SEQ
ond set, too. Hammett twice fought his
opponent off when the latter was within
4 point Of the set, once at 6--5 and
400 and again at Is and 1870.
in each case It took some remarkable
getting for Hamme:t to save the game
for Fisher was stroking powerfully In
the hope Of clinching the set in his
favor II was astonishing. however,
how deftly Hammett handled Fishers
speed. Many time Fisher coming up
10 the net to meet lob that was short
smashed for an apparent earned point.
but Hammett. anticipating Wen, bobbed
up IN the right place. sent the ball back
lob fashion and finally coaxed Fisher
into an error. Hammett never threw a
point away and never gave any up as
lost. Neither did Fisher. and 1t was this
earnestness and aggressiveness that held
2 large gallery interested for more than
two and 4 quarter hours