Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-07
TENNIS TALK

washington GOlI N country
Club is winding up its series of
three tennis tournaments by
staging its annual invitational
mixed doubles championships
Saturday and Sunday.
In June the Arlington club
was the scene of the Middle
Atlantic mems senior tourna-
ment, while the WG6SCC invi-
rational mems doubles tourney
ended nine days ago with Fred
McNair and Steve Potts as the
champions.
Much of the credit for the
success of the clubs tournament
program must go to Charles M.
Wood, the veteran tennis pro
who is in his fourth season at
Washington.
Although Wood is a relative
newcomer to the ranks of area
pros, he has been prominent in
the tennis world for a long time.
He won the national indoor boys
championship in 1919 and be-
came the first nationally ranked
amateur to turn pro when he
decided to earn a living from
the game 80 years ago.
Born in -Gadsden. Ala. Wood
moved to New York City with
his family at an early age and
has spent most of his life in
the Manhattan area. AS a
youngster he had no trouble at
all finding top-flight opposition
and teachers in that area.
A friend and constant rival
of Wood in those early years
was Vincent Richards, and the
two young men were fortunate
to get in practice sessions with
Bill Tilden and Bill Johnston.
They picked up plenty of point
ers in those workouts with the
famous Big Bill and Little Bill.
Richards followed Wood into
the pro circle several years later,
after Winnie had shared in the
Wimbledon and United States
doubles championships. The two
friends were among IL pros who
formed the National Profession
al Tennis Association in 1927.
Wood served as president for a
number Of years.
Later in 1927, Wood and Rich
ards participated in the first
pro tennis tour staged in the
United States. The tour was
run by Cash and Garry" Pyle.
who also was manager for Red
Grange. Other players on the
tour were Suzanne Lenglen,
Mary K. Brown, Howard Kinsey.
Paul Ferret and Harvey Snod-
grass, father of Mrs. Bob Cage
Of Washington.
One Of the top teachers of
young talent in the country.
Wood developed five national in
door boys champions. three in
door girls titlists and several
championship boys doubles COM
binations during the 1930s and
early '40s while serving as pro
at clubs in the New York area.
Two of his better known pupils
are Sidney Schwartz and Try
Dorfman.
Some Of the young players
under Woods wing since he
came to WG&CC have included
Rodney Nichols. Robert Marzke,
Bill Whipple and Jack Connolly
in the junior division, Mike Nc
earthly. John Tribble. Frank
Murphy. Grayson Sanders and
Bill Yelverton in the boys Sec
ton and Susie Sells. Mary Garcia
and Carol Marzke in the girls
classes, to name only few.
For the last seven years,
Charlie has spent at least seven
months Of each season directing
operations at the layout he owns
In Florida-the Coral Beach
Tennis Club in Palm Beach.
During the summer season at
WG&CC. his wife Phyllis. an
Australian whom he first met in
New York, runs things in Flor
ida. Woods daughter, Jacqueline.
won the Coral Beach Club title
IN 1851. but doesn't get TO play
much anymore. She's the wife
Of Al Sappia. former Stetson
tackle. and the mother OF two
children.
Incidentally. Wood reminds
mixed doubles combinations in
the WASHINGTON area 70 submit
entries for the WG&cC tourna-