New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-19
Pairs with Miss Wagner
for HonOrs in Women's
Lawn Tennis Tourney.
10Th WIN MATCHES
IN STRAIGHT SETS
,,ampion OF Norway, with Miss
Ballin, Also Reaches Finals
In the Doubles.
Bv FRED HAWTHORNE.

l,,r the playing through champion, at
l,o.sO o'clock th,s morE;%S n the Eth
lp.rimert Armory for the national in
lar lawn tennis championship.
In the final round Of the doubles,
l,,bedulcd TO begin at - o'clock noon,
lvs. Riurstcdt and Miss Florence Bal
Ia, viii struggle with Mrs. Marshall
Mclean and Mrs. Spencer Fullerton
lWssyer 70 decide who shall be crowned
l5ophlcs champions for 1915.
The maid of the North won her way
I;,,o the final round by decisively de-
isss,ing Miss Alberta Weber, the cham
l.ion OF the Heights Casino Club, in
ls,rsight sets at GO, 6-l. Miss Wag
~ had a harder time in disposing of
Hiss Polly sheldon, the dashing Mont
Liar titlc holder, by score OF 6-S,
Us.
Without even taking time for
lh,eathing space after her victory in
Ihs singles, Miss Bjurstedt took the
Iroprt with Miss BALM and defeated
Mrs. A. HUMPHREYS and Miss Bessie
MAIDEN. the strong pair from New Ro-
shelle. A. 60, Sc. In the mean time
mrs. Mclean and Mrs. Weaver were
nnouishiuG Miss Caroma VIM and
Mss Ruth Schwab by score of 60,
Ia.
The largest crowd Of the week turned
An, Yesterday to view the play of the
Survivors in SINGLES and doubles. Miss
Weber. because OF her surprisingly
rood work jn going through a formi-
able field 20 the semi-fina's, counted
many among the spectators who be-
IBeved she would triumph over Miss
gurstcdt These were doomed 10 dis
,nnoin tment. however. for the Nor
.egisn champion never gave her op-
ponent a chance, and played IN impress
i've form in going through 10 victory.
The fair visitor from the Land of the
Midnight sun showed herself mis-
,ress Of all the strokes in the game.
Not only that, but she gets the full
weigh, O. her body behind her sweep
ing forehand drives. She was still a
BIZ uncertain when the ball came 10 her
.overhead. but s!ashes at il so viciouslJ
when she did maet il squarely with her
racquet as 10 sender its return we'll
nigh impossible.
Abraham Bassford jr., the former all
around athlete from Cornell and one Of
he most prominent of the local play
inc the work OF the foreign star yes
terday. He picked out one Of her
strongest poin.s at once when he re-
marked: "She has mastered the art of
striking the ball at the top of the rise.
The English players and the CALI
fornians showed US the value OF that
and now Miss Bjurstedt demonstrates
its efficiency again
This ability 10 start her strokes
fraction Of a second sooner than her
opponents. who were compelled TO "ait
until the ball began 10 drop, was
large factor in Miss Bjurstedts sue
cess Il enabled her TO follow IN
quicker after each return, and II also
impaired greater speed 10 the shot, at
the same time disconcerting her OPP
moments by the rapidity with which the
ball came back TO them over the net.
Miss Weber played courageously
from the start, trying to outdrlve Miss
Biurstedt from back court. Failing IN
this. she elected to go 20 the net for
her uoiuts. where she was slightly more
successful. The result was never in
doubt. however. once the Norwegian
rose to the full height Of nec
game. and she ran out the points ZAP
idly.
Although she has been suffering
from a badly sprained tendon in her
left ankle. Miss Bjurstedt showed re-
markable agility in covering her court,
and always followed in quickly after
her service. Whether she VIII be able
20 dethrone Miss Wagner this morning
is an open question.
The present champion is familiar
with conditions in the armory and
VerSed in all the tricks Of the courts,
and she will be playing on her home
grounds, so &c speak. Whatever the
outcome. il looks as though the strug-
gle will be worth going miles TO see.
Miss Wagner always held command
against Miss Sheldon and played a
beautifully judged game. Like MISS
Biurstedt, she is strongest on the
ground and her deep, penetrating
drives kept Miss Sheldon from reach
inp the net. The champion glories IN
a hard fight, and the faster pace the
more brilliant is her game. She salts
fed her friends that she VIII not sur
render her honOrs without the keeAest
kind of a struggle
Mrs. HUMPHREYS and Miss Holden
after sampling some of Miss BUR
.tedt's returns in the doubles match,
decided discretion was the better par,
~ valor and switched their attack 10
Miss Ballin. In the second set they
submitted the West Side girl 10 a
ceaseless bombardment of drives and
smashes. but if they hoped to find a
weak spot there they were disap-
pointed. ,..,
Miss Balm stepped into the breach
and held her own brilliantly. She par,
Rod stroke 70 stroke and accepted
Inc challenge without falterlng. " ith
both going at top speed, Miss BaIllh
and her partner smashed out victory
al %. Sc, although IN the last set
Mrs. HUMPHREYS terrific driving made
the match sensational one
Mrs Weaver and Mrs. Mclean
started with rush in the first set OF
their match against Miss Winn ana
Miss Schwab and fairly swept the op,
nosing pair off their feet by the speed
and brilliancy Of their attack Mrs
Mclean moved about the court WIN
speed, alternating her AT,
tack from the base line 10 the net ana
she was equally successful from any
noeition. She timed her drives 10 the
fraction OF an inch and her overhead
play was severe and accurate - .
Mrs. Weaver entrencched herSell az
tho net. Keeling off chop strokes so
close 70 the barrier as to fairly dazzle
Miss VIM and her partner Nothing
seemed safe from the sweep o! ner
racquet and her work supplied many many
of the thrills in the match. Miss "lnn
and Miss Schwab, in the second SeI'
tried their utmost 20 stem me tloe'
but were finally forced TO yleid 20 a
better team,
The summaries follow;
,mei's national indoor lawn iennl, cHsmpg"n l
singles Csem final round Miss MSH1 hHli s.
, defeated Miss Alberta Weber. % o ais, Miss
Ne Ws.ner defeated Miss Florence sheldon
d. IS. 80, .,.,,. pt,..,od,
Doubles tsem -fnal roundl Miss Mnils pIuIs' ',o
sod 40 Fioyence BALM defeated Mrs A nun
s s..i W. : W n.',ia Hnlden. %. Sc: Mrs.