a steady game.

Ware and Whitman are so nearly even in their play that it is difficult
to determine which is the better man. Ware no doubt has the greater
powers of endurance, and I should count on him to win more tournaments
in the long-run, but Whitman is certainly strong in emergencies and
steady at critical moments. Ware's best strokes are his cross-court
plays, which I have no doubt he will eventually develop to a standard of
proficiency superior to that of any player in the country. He volleys
well, too, and when in back court often puts in some good smashes.
Whitman is clever at a drive, and puts speed into his strokes, but he
has not the physical development to stand a long match. His game would
no doubt be greatly improved if he should devote himself during the
winter to general athletic exercise. He smashes well, and is excellent
on volleying. The performance of Beals Wright at the Wentworth
tournament was a surprise to many. For a fifteen-year-old lad he
certainly can play tennis. Scudder was also on hand, and repeated some
of his clever work at Longwood. He put up even a better game at
Newcastle, defeating Budlong in the second round, but he succumbed to
Ware in the semi-finals.

Whitman was apparently not in the best of condition when he stepped into
court for the final match, but he warmed up to his work as the games
piled up, and showed good form in the last three sets. The first offered
no exhibition of particularly fine play. The score seesawed, until
Whitman took the fifth and sixth games, and then Ware got the next four
and the set. But in the second set there was pretty tennis. Whitman did
some clever placing, and Ware's drives called forth considerable
applause. In the eighth game there was an amusing lobbing contest, which
finally turned to Ware's favor, and he followed up the advantage with
some clean passes across that added the ninth to his score.

Poor play characterized the opening of the third set, not a point being
earned in the first game. Whitman took it, and Ware got the second on
his opponent's successive outs. Then Ware came up to the net and put in
some good strokes; but Whitman was steadying down by this time, and with
some clever passes and good volleying he got his first set. He took the
next one, too, made lively by sharp work on both sides with many deuce
games and plenty of fierce volleying. Then came the rubber. Ware was
warmed up, and kept driving the ball at his opponent.