Evening star., 1944-06-19
Ann Gray Captures
Women's Title in
Star Tourney
By ROD THOMAS.

What Washington tennis needed
was a colorful star to give worthy
battle to young Davey johnson and
members of the largest net gallery
here in many years today agreed the
game had acquired one in the per-
son of 1t. Gilbert rlunt who yester-
day dethroned johnson as champion
of The Stars City of Washington
tournament.
Following a blistering final on the
public courts at Sixteenth and Ken
nedy streets NV, many wondered
if the bow-legged, spidery Hunt, a
while back the No. ranking net
man of the country, had played his
best in conquering johnson, 60,
60. 4-6, 81. Surely he had the
match well in hand from start to
finish. There were times when 1t
seemed he could have shortened it,
what with johnson unable to cope
with a lightning serve and plainly
affected more than his opponent by
the killing heat. Davey on occasion
appeared downright lackadaisical.
In several instances he made no at
tempt to return Hunts serve, but
the ball was travelling SO fast and
hit so near the sideline it probably
would have been useless to try for it.
Conserve Their Energy.
The "old collage try" in fact, was
absent from the play of both. After
a while it began to appear a matter
of physical survival against a tenn
perature that probably hit 110 or
more. Hunt consumed large quanti-
ties of ice water and repeatedly
halted the scrap to wipe his spec
tacles.
He won simply because his game
in general was better than Davey's.
After long intermission, part OF
which Hunt spent in the nearby
woods, alone, johnson paired with
Hugh Lynch, jr., to defeat Hunt and
1t. John Curtiss for the doubles
title, 60, g., Ga, retaining a
crown they breezed to in last years
tournament.
Victory was matter OF superior
team play. it being the first tour
nament for Hunt and Curtiss as
duo. The usually steady Curtiss was
guilty of numerous errors.
Ann Gray swept to triumph over
Southpaw Marion Chester for the
women's title, 60, 81. Exper-
ience told lot in this contest, it
being Miss Chester's first appear
ance in the final of major event.
1t was quite an achievement for
the youngster to travel that far.
The women's doubles title was
won the day before by Mrs. Gray
and WAC 1t. Charlotte Decker,
who downed Mrs. T. j. Hohenthal
and Nancy Vissering, 80. 60.
Rice, Rodriguez Crack Managers.
Old stagers declared the tourna-
ment one of the best in every re-
spect ever held here, which was a
tribute to Austin Rice, who directed
it and his assistant, Chico Rodri-
guez, professional. The Public We'll
fare and Recreation Association at-
tendants kept the courts in perfect
condition and here again Rodriguez
was a help. Some of his pupils
made excellent showings in the
event.
Next comes the Juniors and boys
division OF the tournament, to be
played starting Thursday on the
Friends School courts under direc-a
ton of Tony Latona of the coach
ing staff at Friends. Entries will
close Wednesday with Bill Shreve at
the Tennis Shop, 1141 Fifteenth
street NV, phone National 5165.
To be eligible for the juniors
player must not have reached his
18th birthday by last January /.
The boys age limit is IA.
For the adults next competition
will be the Middle Atlantic mems
singles and doubles July to 8, on
courts yet to be determined.