Evening star., 1942-06-13
Sizzling Tennis
Looms in City
Meet Sen1is
FIoshy Trio Menoees
WeIsh's Crown; Stors
Fill Doubles Field
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

Whether The Stars city of Wash
ington mems singles tennis tourna-
ment will end in a rehash of last
years final between Defending
Champion Barney Welsh and Don
Leavens or see a couple of new
faces glaring across the net was to
be decided this afternoon when
Welsh tangles with Hugh Lynch and
Leavens with Davey johnson.
Lynch caught up with the parade
by sending Doyle Royal sprawling
in yesterdays lone singles engage
ment, 6-1, 81, while a restricted
field Of eight top-ranking teams
were launching doubles competition.
Lynch won as impressively as the
scores indicate, assuming command
after losing the first game Of the
match and so completely dominat-
ing the picture that Royal never
was a serious factor.
Welsh, of course, was the favorite
this afternoon. but Lynch definitely
had chance over the three-set
route. He usually has divided the
first two sets on jousts with Lord
Barney and has feeling that this
may be his year for coping the
third and the match. Welsh, too
thinks he Is slowing up. At least
he was saying he thought he de-
tected signs of his ripe old 80 years
catching up with him, but con-
temporaries scoff at the idea.
Welsh Deemed ut Peak.
HE started getting too old for
tournament tennis seven years ago,
one of them laughed. land he's
gotten better each succeeding year
Right now Welsh is playing the
best tennis of his career. hitting
both backhand and forehand better
than ever And if you think he's
slowing up just try to knock one
past him"
Lynch. too, is at the top of his
game and calmly confident of giving
Barney at least a good run for the
marbles even II he loses But as OF
yesterday he wasn't planning to
lose.
Leavens acquired a nice reputa-
tion last year, his first in local
competition, by breezing through
Hershel Harris, Walden, Austin
Rice, Don Martin and Lynch to get
his first crack at Welsh. He had
trouble with Lynch, who carried him
to IS in the first set, and was
pretty much of an easy mark for
Welsh, who took him in straight
sets. But Leavens has been impress
sive in this years preliminary
skirmishing and should be a tough
nut for johnson to crack.
johnson played good, smart ten
mis- against Bud Chandler in the
quarter finals, but Chandler couldn't
get around as well as Leavens and
Davey may have to do more running
himself. johnson, too, had trouble
at times with his overhead smashes
in doubles yesterday and a contin-
uation of that fault could be disas-
trous.
Doubles Favorites Score.
Favorites got away winging In
doubles, but Buddy Adair and Eddie
Miller were extended by Igor Cas-
sini and Ricky Willis. while Leavens
and johnson dropped a set to youth
full Bobby Bensinger and Royal
Adair and Miller won. lis. SIS
while Leavens and johnson copped
Ga. +6, 81.
The favored combination of Lynch
and Welsh put out De Witt Smith
and Johnny Cowan. 60, 6I4, pull
ing from behind at IA in the sec
ond set to prevent the possible loss
Of a set. Smith and Cowan broke
Lynch's serve to gain the upper
hand. but couldn't hold advantage.
Bill Breese and Bill Patterson
ousted Don CARRIER and Charley
Hackney. 6-3. j3, moving into the
semifinals today against Lynch and
WEIGH. The other two surviving
teams we're to whip up the second
Semifinal.
Tomorrow's program will begin at
2:30 with the singles championship
to be followed at 4::30 by the doubles
final.
Semifinal pairings today:
Singles-Lynch VS.. Welsh 600,
Leavens VS.. johnson 4:0O.
Doubles-Lynch and Welsh vs.
Breeee and Patterson (4:30), John
sen and Leavens VS.. Adair and
Miller $500.