Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-14
JUNIOR NET PLAY
SHOULD Be Open
TiIden Shows Need Of Expand
ing National Championship
for Rising Generation
TOO MANY BOYS EXCLUDED
BY WILLIAM T. TIIDEN. I'd
World's Tennis Champion

| TT SEEMS to me the time has come
L for the junior tennis championship
of the United States TO be made an open
event. I do not mean that the present
system has outlived its usefulness
merely that 1t is time to expand 1t in
manner that has proved so valuable in
the national doubles championship.
At present the Junior and boys events
are open only to the winners OF the va.
rious tennis center events throughout
the country. This means that only
small percentage of the boys who are
desirous of playing In the championship
are eligible to do so, since there are
less than fifty such tennis centers. This
system certainly has proved beneficial
in building up tennis within the dis.
trict of each tennis center and has
reused healthy rivalry among the boys
in those districts. For this reason the
system should be retained. But it has
not met the conditions fully. There
are many more boys Of ability TINT war
rant their participating who are keen
to play. yet because they have not quail
flied by winning a tennis center event
cannot do So
The Incentive
My idea is to place the tennis center
events on the same level as the sectional
doubles championships for men--name-
ly that the winners, IL they are both
from the district, shall be sent on to
the championship itself at the expense
Of the national association. Thus only
the boys in the district will be eligible
to reap the reward Of effort in that
district. and at the same time you will
have retained the incentive to keen
| .l,.
ten. Also the national association. by
paying the expenses Of the local WIN
ners, will be returning the money to
that district in the form Of constructive
development.
Obviously this system will cost the
national association money. 1t Is no
small item to pay the expenses Of these
winners to and from their home town.
Some method of gaining this money
must be devised. One way that will
bring in revenue would be to remove
the Junior championship from conjunc-
tion with the national doubles. which
it now joins. and play it as separate
event at which gate receipts would be
charged. There are many cities In the
United States other than Boston, New
York and Philadelphia that could and
would make big financial success OF
this event if it were created.
Less Expense
Then there could we'll be reduction
of the annual expenses Of the national
association by retrenchment in the
field secrotary's Office. At present II
seems that the amount spent by the Of
fee hardly is warranted by the value OF
the work done. although the splendid
efforts of its present officer have done
much to build up the game, particu
larly in the East. Yct feel that some
Of the money spent there could we'll b.
expended in providing a real nationa
championship for the boys Of America.
1t seems to me that any boy who ha
any ability and the desire to play il
the national championship, who's
parents are willing TO defray his ex.
penses II he does not win his sectiona
championship, should have the right t.
do so.
If the tennis public Of America thinl
as do on this matter, let them express
their views to the delegates Of the mex
annual meeting SO that next year w
will see an open junior and boys
tournament an assured thing.
Copyright, 1922. by Public LEDGER Compan