The New York herald., 1922-05-25
FORMER CHAMPIONS
IN VETERANS FINAL
Hackett and Larned Defeat
Pell and Prentice in In
teresting Match.
BY SAMUEL }. BRooKMAN.

ny SAM 10 bbtVOh vi m.
Unquest,o ,onably the best tennis ex-
hibited thus far in the tournament
brought the veteran internationalists
Harold II. Hackett and William A.
Earned into the final round of the
Veterans Metropolitan Doubles Cham
pionship at Forest Hills yesterday.
There was a pleasing blend of skilful
maneuvering and decisive stroking
In their play, and there was sur
prisingly alert court covering that
saved them many an important point
On the other side of the net Theodore
r. Pell and Bernon S. Prentice we're
almost equally proficient and the match
went to three interesting sets. 6-1.
4-6. 6-3.
While Hackett covered bit more
ground and was trifie steadier. Larned
accounted for the majority of the earned
points for his side. lie Is still a wizard
at finding openings for placement, al
anticipating a shot and at outguessing
the other man in the rallies. Only his
former speed in getting around the court
is lacking, but in doubles it Is not so
essential. When 1t came to a choice of
stroke m the swiftest Of the rallies,
Larned seldom erred
The feature that stood out most
noticably in the early half of the match
was the surprisingly accurate overhead
play of both Larped and Hackett. For
all of the set Pell and Prentice per-
sisted in lobbing to their opponents at
every opportunity in the hope of keep
inc -, 4,
ing UP their attack, but they changed
their idea as to the proper sort of tactics
after seeing one lob after another
smashed for placement. Larned in par
ticular seldom missed one overhead.
Shift in Strategy.
After dropping the first set at 6-1,
but not by as wide a margin as the
score indicates. Pell and Prentice came
to the conclusion that it was no day
for lobbing, so they shifted strategically
to different style of play and began
driving the ball on a line a. top speed.
The pace grew swifter. Pel leading
in the attack, and Hackett and Larned
found themselves on the defensive for
q while. Having extended themselves
to gain the advantage In the early set
the internationalists were not quite so
nimble in the second and the increased
pace was not to their liking. The sheer
power Of their attack gave Pell and
Prentice a lead of two games soon
after the set began and they held it
to the end of that division of play
1t was different in the final set.
Larned and Hackett took the aggressive
and turned the tables in hurry. They
came up to the forward court daringly,
stood their ground in the face Of
renewed lobbying attack. and found
their success aided by lapse in con-
troll on the part Of their opponents. The
rallies were longer and harder fought
than ever in the concluding set. but
Pell and Prentice were outguessed, fire.
ouently being caught flat footed as
Larned and Hackett drove the ball
down the center line between them.
Prior to tho feature match. Pell and
Prentice disposed of Howard Hildt and
Charles S. Landers in straight sets. 6-a.
60. In another third round match
William J. Galan and Thomas Sturgis
had to hold the courts for nearly two
hours to score a hard earned victory
over Walter l.. Pate and Carroll J.
Post. Jr. Superior stamina was the
factor In the final of three sets.
There will be no play in the tourna-
ment to-day. Tomorrow William A.
Campbell and Samuel Hardy meet
Gallan and Sturgis in the second semi
final and the winners will face Hackett
and Larned in the title match on Sat-
urday.
It was announced yesterday that Theo-
dore Hetzer president of the West
Side Tennis Club had donated a chal-
lenge cup for the tournament that is
to become the permanent possession OF
the team winning the event three times.
not necessarily in succession. The sum
mary:
THIRD ROUND-Bema s. Prentice md
Theodore II. Pell defeated Howard Hildt
nnd Charles s. Landers. 6-3. CO: William
v. i;allan aud Thomas Sturgis defeated
Walter l.. Pate and Carroll J. Post. Jr..
G-f 40, Ga
sEMI-FINAL RoUND-Harold II. Hackett
and William A. Larned defeated Theodore
r. Pell and Bernon s. Prentice, 6-f. 4-S.
6-3.