New-York tribune., 1922-05-28

West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills.
g The straight-set victory came a.
somewhat Of surprise TO the gallery
that thronged the clubhouse veranda
and overfowed on to the lawn, directly
back Of the clay court upon which
the match was played. Before the
match began it seemed to be the pre-
vallng opinion that Larned and Hack
EFT would win, and almost everybody
conceded that it would require at least
four sets to decide the winners.
am afraid this belief was largely
founded on sentimental reasoning, If
there is such a thing, for those who
figured along those lines were plainly
over duly impressed by the past rec
ords of Larned and Hackett, who, be
tween them, have won more national
honors IN their time than any other
players in this country
Larned and his partner started
auspiciously, taking the first two
games without great deal Of diff
Guilty, and so easily and neatly, so
quietly, that they appeared more fog
mldablc than they really were.
Larned, in particular. was impressive in
J
ball away" with such fnesse that you
found yourself mentally fitting back
some fifteen or twenty years TO the
days when Larned was supreme on
American courts.
Advantage Only Temporary
But this was only a temporary phase
Of the match between the veterans.
As long as the ball came within easy
reach of his steel racket the former
national singles champion was lawless.
His method of handling short lobs
was mastery. for he concealed the
direction of these smashes by light
/ ming twist of the wrist at the mo-
ment of impact, angling the ball in
the most unexpected directions. and
no sharpshooter was ever more sure
of where the bullseye was located than
the great veteran.
But as soon as Hardy and Campbell
started to concentrate their combined
attack on Larned the famous old in
ternationalist weakened and began TO
lose his marvellous accuracy. Hsckett
had few chances Of getting into the
play, Hardy and Campbell taking great
care to keep the ball away from him
most Of the time.
Hardy, realizing Larned's weok point.
began Systematically TO play trap shots
/
back near the base line. On most OF
these the old champion did not even
attempt to make the return. and when
ne did It was generally 10 stumble for
word, slow of foot, and lab the shot
as he tried to scoop the ball up.
Campbell, whose work throughout
was mastery. also involved Larned in
continue! difficulties by whipping re-
turns down the side lines for clean
Of bo
ternatlonallst managed to get back
but as q rule when he was forced to
run for a ball his returns were faulty
His strokes refused to come off prop
erly when he was under pressure.
Pace Becomes Too HOT
1t is a fact that cve--iu his days
as champion larned was never happy
in the doubles game, and yesterday he
showed no greater liking for the team
play. His ground strokes. wnen he
could get set for the shot, were about
as perfect as they ever were, and his
control was magnificent on such oc-
casions. but all this deserted him when
the pace began to grow hot.
1t seemed to me that Hardy was a bit
better than Campbell n the match, al
thougl. there was little 20 choose be-
tween the two. Campbell Lad little
more power in his finishing shots and
was trhe faster Oh h.s feet, but
Hardy Nas ever o. the alert for the
openings, and his cunning IN trick,ng
Lalncd " short returns when the lat
ter va anchored hear the bass line.
was responsible for ;he winning OF
many points.
Hackett did not have many oppor-
.unities TO distinguish himself since
most 81 inc p aE was directed at
Larned ; position. but ne was usually