Evening star., 1940-06-15
Snappy Tilt Promised
Tomorrow Despite
Odds on Champ
Challenger Proves Grit
In Eliminating Lynch
From Star Tourney
By BILL DISMER. .Jr.


Their imaginations captured by a
modern combination of David and
Apollo, who has eliminated The
Stars 1888 and 1899 tennis cham
pions in the last four days, local net
fans were inclined to overlook even
such a doubleheader as will end the
doubles competition at Edgemoor
today in anticipation of an exciting
wlndup of the mems tournament
tomorrow.
Today the question on every tennis
fans lips was: Can Dick Murphy.
the current giant-killer, do what no
one else has achieved in a local
tournament in a decade-beat
Champion Barney Welsh tomorrow?
Conqueror of second-seeded and
SO champion Hugh Lynch yesterday
after being four games down in the
final set, Murphy clearly established
his right to meet Kingpin Barney in
the title match which will start at
2:30 o'clock. 1t will not be the first
meeting between the long-reigning
local champ and the smaller, curly
haired star who was runnerup to
the national intercollegiate cham
plon in 1884, for Welsh beat him in
the final round of a week end tour
nament at Oyster Harbor several
years ago.
Champ Pronounced Favorite.
But the way Murphy is playing
now may result in reversal of that
match, although the odds predomi-
nantly will favor the champ.
Murphy, incidentally, may be in
line for two titles as he was to pair
with Alphonse Smith this after
noon in semifinal doubles match
against Bill Breese and Ed Mather,
the winners to take on either Lynch
and David johnson or Jimmy Farrin
and Bill Howard shortly afterWard
for the team championship.
Lacking Welshs sustained power
and perhaps bit Of the younger
Rockville attorneys stamina. Muir
ply nevertheless can be counted on
to give the Districts No. | netman
as still a match as any local PLAYER.
That he has an exceptionally fine
al-around game, featured by bril-
lance at the net, has been demon
strated all week. and that he has =
nghtlng heart was proved yeSter-
day when he overcame Lynch's 40
lead in the deciding encounter to
win, 6-1, 3-6, IS. Certainly no
more could be asked of a challenger
than put forth by Murphy, whose
conquest of Lynch followed a VIC
tory over last years champion,
johnson.
Welsh, incidentally. qualified for
the final by whipping Alphonse
Smith, 6-3, "a, but despite the
losers somewhat confusing style of
play, his game cannot be consid-
cred the equal of Murphy's present
play.
Thought Murphy Through.
When Lynch squared yesterdays
match after being routed in the
first set, few there were who gave
Murphy a chance as the third set
began. And when Lynch cracked
his opponents service twice in the
first four games it appeared all
over but the condolences. But
Murphy got hot to win love game
for his first blood, broke Lynch's
service for his second and won
again on his own to narrow the
count to 4-3.
Lynch. however, drew within one
game OF the match by taking his
own service. but it was his final bid.
Drawing errors from his opponent.
Murphy again drew within one
game of a tie at As and a vollev
placement squared the match in
the next game at sail.
A twice-deuced game, halted mo-
mentarlly when Lynch suffered an
attack OF stomach cramps, ended
when the doomed man twice drove
into the net, and after twice deucing
the 18th game, Lynch sealed his
tate by failing to clear the net
from the baseline.
The point scores.