1917 U.S. National Championships (tennis)

National Patriotic Tournament

The tournament was renamed National Patriotic Tournament in support of the war effort. No trophies were handed out to the winners and the entrance fees were dedicated to the American Red Cross. Robert Lindley Murray defeated Bostonian Nathaniel W. Niles in four sets in the men's final.

In the commemorative book 'Fifty Years of Lawn Tennis in the United States', published by the USLTA in 1931, Lindley Murray commented on the final: "I succeeded in beating Nat Niles 5–7, 8–6, 6–3, 6–3, plenty of indication that the match was close and hard fought. I remember well that, try as I would, I could not get into the full swing of my game those first two sets. This was because my opponent was driving beautifully, particularly low, fast ones to my backhand. In addition he was lobbing so accurately and deeply that, try as I would, I could not bring off my kills. Nat led me one set to love and 6–5 in the second set. which was mighty close to being two sets down. But about that time my game began to get going. Up until that time I had just been missing and while desperately dashing all over the court my shots would end in just hitting the net or just going out. From the twelfth game of the second set, on for the rest of the match, things began to go right, and at the end I felt as if I was playing as well as I know how."

Finals

Men's singles

Main article: 1917 U.S. National Championships – Men's singles

USA Robert Lindley Murray defeated USA Nathaniel W. Niles 5–7, 8–6, 6–3, 6–3

Women's singles

Main article: 1917 U.S. National Championships – Women's singles

NOR Molla Bjurstedt defeated USA Marion Vanderhoef 4–6, 6–0, 6–2

Men's doubles

USA Fred Alexander / USA Harold Throckmorton defeated USA Harry Johnson / USA Irving Wright 11–9, 6–4, 6–4

Women's doubles

NOR Molla Bjurstedt / USA Eleonora Sears defeated USA Phyllis Walsh / USA Grace Moore LeRoy 6–2, 6–4

Mixed doubles

NOR Molla Bjurstedt / USA Irving Wright defeated USA Florence Ballin / USA Bill Tilden 10–12, 6–1, 6–3

References

References

1. Collins, Bud. (2010). "The Bud Collins History of Tennis". New Chapter Press.
2. Collins, p. 468
3. Collins, p. 477
4. Collins, p. 479
5. Collins, p. 481
6. (April 22, 1917). "Tennis Body Agrees to Award no Titles". The New York Times.
7. (August 26, 1917). "Murray New Leader of Tennis Cohorts". The New York Times.
8. (1931). "Fifty Years of Lawn Tennis in the United States". USLTA.