The Tars Take Over

Surprising was the word for it. The 62nd National Lawn Tennis Championships, which promised to be a bust, turned out to be a pretty good show--largely because several top-ranking players in uniform wangled unexpected furloughs* and played unexpectedly good tennis. One of them, Coast Guardsman Jack Kramer, played well enough to upset the pre-tournament favorite, Francisco Segura, two-fisted pride of Ecuador. Still another, Lieut, (j.g.) Joe Hunt, beat Kramer in the finals.

With a field of 32 instead of the usual 64, last week's play at Forest Hills was concentrated in a busy six days instead of the usually poky ten. Pfc. Bitsy Grant went out the second day; Frank Parker and Lieut. Elwood Cooke, the third. By the end of the third round, ten of the twelve furloughing players had been eliminated. The two remaining servicemen remained to serve them up in the finals.

Crouch & Slouch. Hunt moved rapidly into the finals, fighting his way past unassuming, even-paced 4-F Bill Talbert.

It was the other semi-final that brought back to the championships their oldtime excitement and flavor.

Ecuador Dynamo Segura had swept every tournament this summer; his opponent, 22-year-old Coast Guardsman Kramer, former Men's Doubles titleholder, not only had not seen a grass court all year but had suddenly developed a case of what Ellsworth Vines called "ptomaine nerves" (nervous stomach). Lank, lackadaisical Jack Kramer slouched around the court; pigeontoed, muttering, gesticulating Segura crouched like a predatory biped, gave everything Kramer hit a run for its money. Kramer, rejecting the tempo agitato, dropped the first set 2-6, suddenly found the touch and raced through the next three sets (6-4, 7-5, 6-3). He served 15 aces and was practically infallible overhead.

Charley-Horse Champ. Everyone agreed that Kramer would win the tournament. Joe Hunt disagreed. Kramer was not sure. In the finals he even served erratically. Down two sets to one, he folded like an accordion. He was too good to lose a love set, but he did. It was Hunt's title at 6-3, 6-8, 10-8, 6-0. The new National Champion celebrated by collapsing. He had been rubbing off a Charley horse for most of the final set. Sick-stomached Kramer rushed over, gave Hunt's leg an extra rub--then gave up beside him on the grass.

For Ladies Only. The women's final brought together two red-gold coiffured stylists, sturdy Louise Brough (rhymes with rock) and the trim 1942 champ with the trigger backhand, Pauline Betz. Miss Betz had a tough three-set tussle to renew her title (6-3, 5-7, 6-3).

*One who did not manage: Ensign Ted Schrpeder, 1942 champion.

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