The New York herald., 1922-12-31
JOHN AND BRAINERD
WHITBECK VICTORS
Youngsters Establish Family
Tennis Record in Indoor
Title Events.
LIMIT SETS REQUIRED
Ernest Kuhn Keeps Junior
Final in Doubt Up to Last
Stroke of Tussle.
ny SAMUEL ,. pRooKMAN.


Two national championships fell
Simultaneously to the prowess OF two
youthful members Of the Whitbeck
family of Bronxville yesterday. While
the elder of the two, John F., fought
uphill to five set triumph in THE
junior indoor championship final, the
younger, Brainerd H., on an adjacent
court of the Seventh Regiment Ar
mory, stroked to victory in the title
round of the boys championship, and
thus was a family tennis record estab-
lished that may not be duplicated for
many years to come.
They were not easily earned those
two titles. Both victors met rivals
worthy of their mettle and in the
junior final particularly the result was
really in doubt until the final stroke
of the final game Of a fifth set had
been made. John Whitbeck barely did
last long enough to clinch a title that
several times appeared to be slipping
away from him. Ernest Kuhn had
fought him tooth and nail in one Of
the closest finals in the history OF
the tournament and John was very
tired youth in the latter stages OF a
two iand a half hour match. But he
stuck to his task courageously. out
steadied rival who seemed to have
more stamina in reserve and won AT
6--1, 4---6, 4--6, 6-3, 7--5.
Like John, Brainerd had TO so extra
sets. but conditions called for only two
out of three sets in the boys division
and the younger member of the family
scored at 6--1, 2-6, Cd. turning back
just in time a rally on the part of Mall
colin T. Hill. Jr.. of Boston. which for
a brief spell threatened seriously.
Tide Shifts Frequently.
Interest, as usual, eentered in the
Junior final and a great tuss>e IL proved
to be. They were very evenly matched,
Kuhn and Whitbeck. and the tide
shifted frequently. with firs3 one and
then the other IN the ascendency. They
appeared to play in streaks. Kuhn had
the severcr service and slight but suf-
ficiently perceptible advantage In the
matter of strategy. lie was the more
versatile, could mix chop with drive.
vary length and pick his openings with
good judgment. Whitbeck possessed the
more effective drive. 1t was forcing
shot that frequently sent Kuhn wide OF
the court and compelled a defensive re-
turn that was DETECTED for an earned
point.
whitbeck's most effective stroke was
ul.zf Qo
safety would permit. which he would
follow to the net for a volleying kill.
While his blocking was not particularly
crisp, II was accurate and, with the aid
of sharp angling. was very effective.
Kuhn's chop bothered Whitbeck con.
siderably in the second and third sets
and might have brought about the de-
feat of the Bronxvlle youth had Kuhn
been able to control Il consistently. But
In the fourth and fifth sets Kuhn failed
to get accuracy. speed and distance in
his cut stroke and the ball. bounding
leisurely. gave whitbeck an opportunity
to run In for decisive drive. Kuhn
persisted in chopping, however. and the
longer he kept at that style of stroke
the more often he sent his shots into the
net. Kuhn lost MANY an important rally
through his failure to get the cut stroke
over the obstruction. He took too many
chances with 1t.
Whitbeck's service was comparatively
weak He had an elaborate windup
that called for no small expenditure OF
energy. but he might just as well not
have used any preliminary motion at
all for he failed to get much sting into
the shot Kuhn found II easy to handle
as a rule and frequently scored on the
first return Overhead, too, Whitbeck
was uncertain and Kuhn might have ac-
complished a good deal more had he
paid closer attention to lofting the ball
over his opponent as the latter came In
to volley.
Keep Rallies Going.
But It was decidedly interesting
match in which both youngsters COW
cred court brilliantly. kept the rallies
going, maneuvered skillfully and scored
off difficult shots that brought round
after round OF applause. As late as
the hfth game OF the final set the
chances seemed to favor Kuhn. The
effort OF maintaining a fast pace in the
fourth set In order to tie the score at
2 sets all. seemed TO have depleted
whitbcck's strength when tho last d.
vision OF play began. Kuhn. taking the
aggressive, went into a lead OF to
and then was twice within stroke OF
bringing his advantage 10 -, out
Whitbeck. steadying remarkably and
playing on his nerve. turned him back
and after the sharpest kind OF tussle
brought the score TO 3--all
Kuhn In his over anxiety began net
ting the ball frequently or driving out
of court and thereby paved the way for
Whitbeck's advance. The score went TO
ALL and then 5--ail Encouraged by
his success in drawing up 20 even terms
whitbeck gave all he had In the last
two games and viii the assistance OF
some timely errors On Kuhn's part. hn-
ally broke through service IN the twelfth
game for tho set and match.
Double faulting had a good deal TO
do with Whitbecks loss OF the second
and third sets. In the game that
clinchod the second set for Kuhn, Whit
Continued on Psxe Two.