第 37 节
作者:
雨霖铃 更新:2021-05-03 16:33 字数:9303
of her tremendous exertions。 She defaulted the match! Mrs。 Mallory
walked from the court conqueror; clearly the superior of the much vaunted
world's champion。
It is regrettable Mlle。 Lenglen defaulted; for if she had played out the
match; everyone would have made full allowance for her defeat; due; it
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would be said; to natural reaction from her recent sea journey。 No one
would have been quicker to make allowance for Mlle。 Lenglen than Mrs。
Mallory herself。 The whole tennis public deeply regretted an incident that
might well have been avoided。
Mrs。 Mallory was the woman of the hour。 She marched on to victory
and successfully defended her title by virtue of victories over Mrs。 May
Sutton Bundy in the semi…final and Miss Mary Browne in the final。
Marvellous Molla! World's Champion in 1921 beyond shadow of
dispute!
It is deplorable that the quite natural reaction and nervous upset;
coupled with a return of her bronchial illness; forced Mlle。 Lenglen to
return to France before she was able to play her exhibition tour for the
Committee for Devastated France。 Possibly 1922 will find conditions
more favorable and the Gods of Fate will smile on the return of Mlle。
Lenglen to America。
MRS。 FRANKLIN I。 MALLORY (Molla Bjurstedt)
One of the most remarkable personalities in the tennis world is Mrs。
Molla Bjurstedt Mallory; the American Champion and actually Champion
of the World; 1921。
Mrs。 Mallory is a Norsewoman by birth。 She came to America in 1915。
In 1919 she married Franklin I。 Mallory; and thus became an American
citizen。
It is a remarkable game which Mrs。 Mallory has developed。 She has no
service of real value。 Her overhead is nil; her volleying is mediocre; but
her marvellous forehand and backhand drives; coupled with the wonderful
court…covering ability and fighting spirit that have made her world…famous;
allow her to rise above the inherent weaknesses of those portions of her
game and defeat in one season all the greatest players in the world;
including Mlle。 Suzanne Lenglen。
Mrs。 Mallory; with delightful smile; never failing sportsmanship and
generosity in victory or defeat; is one of the most popular figures in tennis。
MRS。 THOMAS C。 BUNDY (May Sutton)
It is said 〃they never come back;〃 but Mrs。 May Sutton Bundy has
proved that at least one great athlete is an exception to the saying。 Fifteen
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years ago; May Sutton ruled supreme among the women tennis stars of the
world。
In 1921 Mrs。 May Sutton Bundy; mother of four children; after a
retirement of over a I decade; returned to the game when Mlle。 Lenglen
announced her intention of invading America。 If Mlle。 Lenglen's visit to
our shores did nothing more than bring Mrs。 Bundy and Miss Browne
back to us; it was well worth while。
Mrs。 Bundy in 1921 was still a great player。 She has a peculiar reverse
twist service; a wonderful forehand drive; but with excessive top spin; a
queer backhand poke; a fine volley and a reliable overhead。 Much of her
old aggressiveness and speed of foot are still hers。 She retains all of her
famous fighting spirit and determination; while she is even more charming
and delightful than of old。 She is a remarkable woman; who stands for all
that is best in the game。
MARY KENDALL BROWNE
The return of another former National Champion in 1921 in the person
of Mary K。 Browne; who held the title in 1912; '13 and '14; brought us
again a popular idol。 The tennis public has missed Miss Browne since
1914 and her return was in the nature of a personal triumph。
Mary Browne has the best produced tennis game of any American
woman。 It is almost if not quite the equal in stroke technique of Suzanne
Lenglen。 She has a fast flat service。 Her ground strokes are clean; flat
drives forehand and backhand。 She volleys exactly like Billy Johnston。 No
praise can be higher。 Her overhead is decisive but erratic。 She couples this
beautiful game with a remarkable tennis head and a wonderful fighting
spirit。
Miss Browne is a trig and trim little figure on the court as she glides
over its surface。 It is no wonder that her public love her。
MRS。 GEORGE WIGHTMAN (Hazel Hotchkiss)
The woman to whom American tennis owes its greatest debt in
development is Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman; National Champion 1909; '10;
'11 and 1919。 Mrs。 Wightman has practically retired from singles play。 Her
decision cost the game a wonderful player。 She has a well placed slice
service; a ground game that is essentially a chop fore… and backhand;
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although at times she drives off her forehand。 She volleys remarkably。 She
is the equal of Mary Browne in this department; while her overhead is the
best of any woman in the game。
Hazel Wightman is as clever a court general and tactician; man or
woman; as I have ever known。 She has forgotten more tennis than most of
us ever learn。 She is the Norman Brookes of woman's tennis。
It is not only in her game that Mrs。 Wightman has stood for the best in
tennis; but she has given freely of her time and ability to aid young players
in the game。 She made Marion Zinderstein Jessop the fine player she is。
Mrs。 Wrightman is always willing to offer sound advice to any player who
desires it。
Mrs。 Wightman and Miss Florence Ballin are the prime factors in the
new organization of woman's tennis that has resulted in the great growth
of the game in the past two years。
MRS。 JESSOP (Marion Zinderstein)
There is no player in tennis of greater promise than Marion Zinderstein
Jessop。 She has youth; a wonderful game; the result of a sound foundation
given her by Hazel Wightman; and a remarkable amount of experience for
so young a girl。 She has a beautiful fast service; but erratic。 Her ground…
game is perfectly balanced; as she chops or drives from either side with
equal facility。 She volleys with great severity and certainty。 Her overhead
is possibly her weakest point。 She lacks the confidence that her game
really deserves。
HELEN WILLS
The most remarkable figure that has appeared on the horizon of
woman's tennis since Suzanne Lenglen first flashed into the public eye; is
little Helen Wills of California; Junior Champion of 1921。 She is only
fifteen。 Stocky; almost ungainly; owing to poor footwork; her hair in
pigtails down her back; she is a quaint little person who instantly walks
into hearts of the gallery。
The tennis this child plays is phenomenal。 She serves with the power
and accuracy of a boy。 She drives and chops forehand and backhand with
reckless abandon。 She rushes to the net and kills in a way that is
reminiscent of Maurice McLoughlin。 Suddenly she dubs the easiest sort of
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a shot and grins a happy grin。 There is no doubt she is already a great
player。 She should become much greater。 She is a miniature Hazel
Wightman in her game。 Above all; she is that remarkable combination; an
unspoiled child and a personality。
There are many other players of real promise coming to the front。
Boston boasts of a group that contains Mrs。 Benjamin E。 Cole (Anne
Sheafe) who has made a great record in the season of 1921; Miss Edith
Sigourney; who accompanied Mrs。 Mallory abroad; Miss Leslie Bancroft
and Mrs。 Godfree。 There are Miss Martha Bayard; Miss Helen
Gilleandean; Mrs。 Helene Pollak Folk; Miss Molly Thayer; Miss Phyllis
Walsh and Miss Anne Townsend in New York and Philadelphia。
France