Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-28

Mercer Beasley. who comes to
Washington tomorrow to give a
tennis clinic with the former
women's champion, Doris Hart.
is a most unusual character.
Ten-year-old Dickie Dell could
give Beasley sound lacing on
the court. but the old pro is
probably the greatest tennis
coach this country has pro-
duced.
Beasley operates on the theory
that you don't have to be able to
lay an egg to recognize a bad
one No one can spot a bad
swing. faulty grip or improper
balance better than Beasley.
Mercer has had his greatest
success not with beginners but
with skillful players who came to
him and asked: what am I
doing wrong with my forehand
I or my backhand or my service?"
Wilmer Allison, Ellsworth Vines,
Gardnar Mulloy, Pancho Segura
and Doris Hart are among the
top flight stars who do not
hesitate to give him full credit
for improving their game.
But Beasley developed one
player all the way from National
Boys champion in 1891 to Ma
tional Junior champion in 1892
to National Clay Court cham
pion in 1888. l94l. 1916, l947
to National Singles champion in
1874 an 1945.
1t Is relatively unimportant
that Frank Parker was perhaps
the poorest national champion
in the recent history of the
game; or that his two wins of
the mems title were during war
years when the field was medi-
OGRE: or that his 60, 6-3, 61
defeat by the Australians Jack
Bromwich in the deciding match
of the 1888 Davis Cup contest
was surely one of the most miser.
able showings in the history of
challenge round competition.
The important thing is that
Parker got to the top Of the
American heap fairly and square,
ly and Beasley put him there.
Beasley can teach youngsters
how to play tennis. If you have
a youngster who has a modest
amount of coordination and
some interest in learning how to
play tennis. take him out to Ia
koma Recreation Center, Fourth
and Whittier streets NV. at $3.50
pm. tomorrow.
Miss Hart. winner at Wimble-
din and twice winner Of the
United States title in spite of a
childhood leg injury. and Beasley
make a remarkable pair.
The free clinic is the opening
gun in the Washington Area
Tennis Patrons Foundations 1857
campaign. The District Recrea-
ton Department is serving ss
co-sponsor Of this event.
=
We have received many re-
quests for the Alibi Chart for
tennis players printed in this
column recently. They have
come from as far away as New
Bedford. Mass. and Miami. If
anyone want a copy. send your
name and address to Tennis
Talk.
Entries close tomorrow for the
junior. boys and girls D. c. Ten
mis- Center championships. Play
starts Saturday on the East Po-
tomac courts. No entry fee is
being charged. for Government
Services is picking up the tab
for the rent Of the courts and
the Tennis Patrons are supply
ing balls and prizes. Entries can
be telephoned to the Tennis
Shop (NA 8-5l65). Winners
qualify for the Middle Atlantic
junior. boys and girls champion
ships to be played in Baltimore
in July.
There are eight events in the
tournament and no one can
enter more than one singles
event. There are three singles
tournaments for both boys and
girls-l6 through 10, Is years
and under and Is years and
under. There is a doubles tour
nament for boys and one for