Evening star., 1939-08-06
johnson Gains Third
Round After Hard
Tilt With Sweeny
Murphy, Former National
Stor Trying Comeback,
Proves His Class
BY ROBERT HENRY.


Only one upset marked the OPEN
ing matches of the Middle Atlantic
tennis tournament at the Edgemoor
Club yesterday as the favorites
sharpened their shots for difficult
tests The surprise of the day was
the victory of Dewitt Smith over
unranked Austin Rice after three
hard sets.
Led by top-seeded Barney Welsh
defending champion, the ranking
stars all the way down to Allie Ritz
enberg, ranked eighth, had no seri-
GUS trouble reaching the second
round which starts this morning at
9 o'clock. David johnson, ranked
third, stole march on his rivals
as he won two matches, although
the second proved tougher than eX-
pected.
While Welsh was having an easy
time beating Donald Classic. who
entered the play in need of practice,
6-l, 6-3, a possible threat to the
champions throne loomed in the
person of Dick Murphy, former Har-
ward star and winner of the Long
wood Bowl in 1888.
Murphy Trying Comeback.
Attempting a comeback after sew
eral years absence from active COM
petition, the stocky hard-hitting
New Englander showed the fans a
bit of flrst-class tennis in trouncing
Harry Brickerhoff, 6-1, 6-1. Once
among the first II players in the
land Murphy appears to be nearing
the form that carried him to ma
tional honors six years ago. The
word is out he has both eyes on the
title.
Welsh seemed to have his best
shots working to perfection as he
defeated Classic. Letting loose ever
SO often with his famous fast serve
Barney also annoyed the loser with
those long, accurate baseline place
ments that have carried him to nu-
merous victories.
Regarded as just another match
by those unfamiliar with the par
ticipantS, the De Witt Smith-Aus
Rice affair proved the best of the
day. 1t was a defensive battle with
both players unwilling to put on
steam. Not until the third and final
set did Smith, l8 years old and play
ing in his first M. A. match. take the
situation in hand and shoot the
works He neglected to take advan-
tage of a 5-to-3 lead in the opening
set and was forced to take 10 games
before gaining the decision.
Surprises Even Himself.
A let-doWn in the second brought
Smith 6-to-3 loss. However, he
pulled out of a difficult spot midway
of the last set to have Austin on the
run. The latter STAYED off three
match points before the youngster
surprised every one, including him
self, by winning, to 3.
johnson brushed off Burt Smith
in the opening round. 6j1, 60, but
ran into trouble in the second set of
the next round against Henry
Sweeney, Georgetown U. professor,
who was winning matches before his
19-year-old opponent was born.
johnson won the first set easily
enough, but before he realized what
was happening the former Ohio star
had set point twice with games
standing at 5-4, Quickly pulling
himself together johnson managed
to squeeze out of the tight spot and
60 on to win IS.
Hugh Lynch. ranked next to
Welsh, beat Harold Joffe in quick
time, 60. 6-3, and Frank Shore,
seeded sixth. trounced Leoard Sokol
with variety of angle shots mixed
with clever drops The score was
GO. 63.
Draw for the double will be held
at noon today, shortly before play
in that division starts.
s5 TFs' DO s6de sfed defssed sHo 1HTt
%. 6-3; Welsh defeated Classic, 6-l,
6-3; Claiming defeated Sherburne, Sc.
g; Lynch defeated Joffe, e., 6-3;
sturtevant defeated Train. 6-ii' .;
Curran defeated Martinez, Cd, CT;
Ritzenberg defeated Hoftecker. 6-o.6-o:
Wickham defeated Jsftee 81 -
Huls defeated Lowe, 1T, 6-1. 60;
Sweeny defeated Felix Smith, 60. G--3:
Daily defeated BaShore Ct 6-i
Contreras defeated Williamson. e., 6--4 !;
Mangan defeated Lyon. Go, I'll;
Murphy defeated Brickerhoff. S--l 6-1;
c. A. Smith defeated Warriner Go 6--l;
Miller defeated Brand, 60, e.; Stauoly
defeated Alexander, default: ROYAL de-
feated Morell, e, e.; Hayes defeated
Burke. Go, 60
Second round-Johnsen defeated sweeny,
6-1, -, Staubly defeated Silva, 6-3,
T-5.
Today's Schedule
9 .m.-BenSinger VS.. Richardson. Adair
vs.. Andary. Charming VS.. Chichester.
1C-Welsh VS.. Miller, Shore IS Huls,
Farrin VS.. Marvin. Staubly VS.. Contreras.
11-Mangan VS.. Erana, Lynch VS..
wickham, Murphy VS.. John Curran, A. C.
Smith VS. Royal
12-Bensinger VS. Richardson, winner