Evening star., 1936-05-18
LONG WANING CITY
TOURNEY MAY END
General Dissatisfaction Felt
Over COnditions-'HDeath"
of w. |. T. A. a Factor.
BY BILL DISMER, JR.


the growth of tennis in WASH
ington, and an under current
- of dissatisfaction is running
rampant through the ranks of the
city's best, but confused, players.
The first outward sign of a smold-
ering flame appeared over the week
end when it was learned that the
city of Washington tournament,
originally scheduled to open the sea-
son here next Saturday, has been
postponed until May 80, with the
possibility that it may not be held
at all.
Such a state of affairs has been
brought about by the unwillingneSs
of any interested party-club, organ
ization or individual-to sponsor the
seasons first tournament. and the
statement of Joseph S. Rutley, secre-
tary of the Middle Atlantic Tennis
Association, which must pass upon its
right to be held, that no sanction
would be Forthcoming unless compe-
tent support is assured.
Tourney Passing Unmourned.
Tor the past few years the city Of
Washington tourney has been con-
Quoted on an unsatisfactory basis, the
leading players affirm, until it now has
such a reputation that few care
whether it is staged. No prizes have
been given its champion, man or
woman, since the early 30s, and 1t
has been a source of general dissatis-
faction through poor courts, laXlty
of regulations and inability itself.
Major bone of contention amopg
the city's veteran players is the
apparently natural death" of the
Washington Lawn Tennis Association,
which is said to have held but one
meeting in the past two years. Al
though the w. L. T. A. is not obll-
gated to do so, local players hold 1t
somewhat to blame for not stepping
In and supporting the city of Wash
ington tournament when that event
was seen to be faltering.
No one. it seems. has any authority
over the tournament, but at the same
time, there are no restrictions against
any one managing it, provided he can
satisfy Rutley as to his fitness for
the job.
At present, there is under way a
plan to start the tournament on three
different courts-thoSe of Georgetown
University, Columbia Country Club
and the Edgemoor Club, with the
final rounds being played at the last
named site. Who will conduct 1t,
is yet to be decided.
Dissatisfaction Is General.
GENERAL dissatisfaction with the
~ tennis situation has been felt in
two distinct quarters since the 1885
season, although in only one of them
vas any action taken. That was the
mass manifestation of nearly two
dozen ranking players in quitting the
public parks courts, the condition OF
which they have bemoaned for years,
to join Edgenoor.
The other is their unsatisfled pro-
test that no rankings have been issued,
except in the case of public parks
players, for the past few years. Here
tofore, nearly all the ranking players
have been affiliated with parks play,
but now that most of them are club
players they are beginning to wonder
what will be their standing at the
end of the current season, If the
non-ranking situation is not remedied.
While the city of Washington
tournament is the only one scheduled
for this season lacking a sponsor
there seems little excuse for a major
tourney to be forced to seek support.
The District of Columbia. for men
and women, will be backed by Colum-
bia Country Club, on whose courts
it will be held; the Middle Atlantic
singles by Edgemoor, and the Middle
Atlantic doubles by Army Navy. Edge
moor also is planning to play host
to the Washington boys and junior
championships which will be played
IN July.
The Middle Atlantic singles, orig
finally scheduled for the last of May,
probably will be postponed until July
either preceding or following the
doubles which start on July %.