Evening star., 1944-06-12
.GiI|y SpIashes Color
On Stars Tourney;
Neff Pulls Upset
BY ROD THOMAS.

Surprise appearance of Army 1t
Gilbert Hunt in The Stars City of
Washington tennis tournament has
given the sport a lift here unequaled
in years. For the mathematics
shark-he studied under Einstein-
it is the first competitive tennis in
three years, but from watching him
you judge he's the same Gil Hunt
who won a place among the top
ranking 10 of the country and the
reputation Of being one of the most
colorful racket wielders extant.
Once, quite unconscious Of the effect,
he appeared in ritzy grass court
tournament sans shoes, and, If men,
ory serves, in a hayseed hat. What
mattered to Gilly was his feet hurt
and the sun was too much in its
glory.
1t. Hunt showed up yesterday at
the tournament courts at Sixteenth
and Kennedy streets NV. wearing
scholarly eyeglasses and with a
racket that appeared none the
better for wear.
EFT makes a loud noise when hit
the ball." he told his principal rival,
Davey johnson, defending cham
pion. "Will you sell me one of
yours?'
We Like 1t, Too, Gilly.
Davey was more interested in a
book under Gilbert's wing. Ignor-
ing the question, he reached for the
book which the owner yielded with
considerable embarrassment. Davey
expected it to be a. hunk of pro-
found learning. 1t was a copy OF
Tarkington's famed boy book, PEN
rod"
"I got copy of 'Grimm's Fairy
Tales" somebody observed with a
hint. But Gilly didn't take it. In
stead he. went onto the court and
took the starch out of Bob Miller,
a better than fair to middling rack
eter, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the quarter
finals. Today at o'clock he was
to meet 1t. r. L., Hill, seeded sew
enth, and there was no reason to
believe Hill wouldn't follow Miller
out of the tournament.
In fact, 1t. Hunt virtually is sure
fire to reach the final, where prob
ably he will find redoubtable
Champion johnson. An ambitious
medical student at George WASH
ington, Davey has played less ten
mis- than in former years but you
learn from Hugh Lynch, jr., his
doubles partner, that the popular
young champions game is sharp
ening rapidly. BY the end Of the
week-finals will be played Sunday
If current luck in the weather holds
up-Johnsen should be ready even
for Hunt. Dayey is a modest ten
mis- player but he displayed no per-
turbation over the famed Gilly's en-
trance into the tournament.
If the pair clash the largest tennis
gallery here In many years is guar
anteed, no less.
Neh Pulls Only Upset. =
Following 1t. Hunt into the quar-
terminals were 1t. Hill, who defeat-
ed Kemetick, 64, 6-1. and Phil
Nef, who eliminated Capt. Merit
Cutler, 6-3, 6-3.
In defeating Capt. Cutler, eighth
seeded and a former sharer OF the
national indoor doubles title, Nen
scored the first distinct upset OF
the tournament. Both are members
of the Army Navy Country Club.
Neff this spring was the No. play
er on the Georgetown University
team and won all his matches.
"He is a conner" to quote Austin
Rice, chairman of the tournament,
whose game has improved fast. He
is capable of beating anybody in
the tournament except Hunt and
johnson"
A surprisingly large field of 36
pairs turned out for mems doubles,
in which play started yesterday with
all matches running to form, as did
the women's singles in which Ann
Gray, winner two years ago, Is q
strong favorite. She appeared on
top of her game yesterday, having
no difficulty in erasing Carrie Root,
|e1, Ga.