The Washington times., 1930-08-18
D. c. PUBLIC
/. NET COURTS
PLEASE
BY GINO SINH

town enCr1eS IN Cne NaCloLlal FuO-
lie Parks tennis championships.
which opened today at 2 p. m.
on the Rock Greek courts, in
dulged in acclimating workouts
on the Potomac Park courts,
paced by local players, most OF
whom were recruited from a
rapidly rising band of youngsters.
"The best public park courts
have ever played or" was
the general comment directed
to Winfree Johnson, Uncle
Sans local Tex Rickard of
public sports. "YOu can put
everything you got on the
ball and you are sure that
it will show. Great! AbsO-
Iutely great"
| You haven't seen anything
yet" johnson would smile
quietly. '"Wait until you see
the Rock Greek Park courts,
where the tournament is to
be held"
Johnson's army of experts have
been working on the Reservoir
courts for the last 10 days put
ting them in the best condition
possible through human agency
and modern inventions. They
are as smooth as ballroom floor,
and checked off to the nth degree
of correction. The nets have just
the right give" and are stretched
at the required height to the frac-
ton of an inch.
The recent drought has played
no small part in helping to perfect
the courts, baking the clay to a
consistency which will give the
ball just the right bounce.
No player can alibi defeat
through court conditions, unless
there is sudden change in
weather.
Texas unexpectedly popped into
the list with three Stalwart cham.
pions in w. D. Crockett, John A.
Barr and Jimmy Quick, who ar
rived this morning firmly deter
mined to carry on the traditions
of Allison, Bell and Thalheimer.
Jimmie Quick is Texas third rank.
ing player, and he and Barr are
third in the doubles ranking.
With the three new addi-
tiOnS the mems entry list
hOvers around the 60 mark,
while Is women swell the
number of contestants to IS.
Most of the contestants were
registered at the Roosevelt,
tournament headquarters, yester
Gay and the rest were on hand
at ii o'clock this morning when
the draw was made.
They visited the White House
at 1890, where they were photo
graphed grouped around the
President and Mrs. Hoover. who
displayed interest in the tourna-
ment.
Seating arrangements have
been made for 1000 spectators
and from the crowd which
gathered to watch the various
players work out yesterday, it is
expected that the stands will be
crowded each day of play.
George j. Jennings, Of Chicago,
is quietly confident of retaining
his twice-won singles crown, and
expects to successfully defend his
doubles title with a team-mate
still unnamed. Bob ConSidine,
with whom Jennings won the
doubles title last year, Will pair
with Dooly Mitchell in an all"
washington combination. The
latter team is expected to go lar
in the doubles round.
Ted Drewes, of st. Louis,
fourtime champion, is anx-
iOus to recapture the title
and has been undergoing dill
gent training to accomplish
this end. Last year Drewes
fell before the devastating
racquet of Jennings in ma
tional semifinaIs on the pub
lie courts Of Cleveland.
washington will be amply rep
resented and should, by hook or
crook, have q finger in one OF
the four championships in dis
pute. Bob Considine, Eddie Yoe-
mans and Dooly Mitchell are en-
tered as undiluted Washington
ians in the mems division, with
Pat Deck, of Leesburg; Bernard
Welsh, of Rockville: Alan Staubly,
of MartinSburg; Lieut. Stanley K.
Robinson, of San Diego, and last,
but far from least, Bud Markey,
of Indianapolis, all players who
have performed well in local net
circles throughout the year, and
their native cities must, therefore.
share championship honors with
the Flower of the Potomac.
Three Washington women, Ruth
Martinez, Dorothy Kingsbury and
Louise Omwake, are expected to
put up strong arguments, though
Ethel Haas, Of Buffalo. is the lit
tie lady with the big record. and
is looked upon as the likely sin
giles winner. The Buffalo girl is
only IS. She displayed excep-
tional form In winning over so
Opponents. a