New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-17
Has Lost Only Two Sets
While Winning Four
Lawn Tennis Titles.
DASHING ATTACK THE
FACTOR IN HER GAME
Excellence Of Ground Strokes
Makes Up for Weakness in
Her Overhead Work.
Bv FRED HAWTHORNE.

Now that the frst important lawn
tennis fixture of the present season
the Womens Metropolitan champion
ship tournament--hss gone down into
history, with foreigner taking the
title from d representative field, 1t
might be as we'll to cast our eyes over
the field and speculate on what the
future holds forth.
Miss Molla Bjurstsdt, Olympic Nor
wegian, national indoor, Metropolitan
and West Side Tennis Club champion
in the singles, has so far shown herself
superior TO all the American women
players who have opposed her, and Just
at present there does not appear any
body in the East, st least, who can
successfully dispute her supremacy
The visitor from Norway has made
remarkable record since coming 20
this country last March. In the -FOUR
tournaments she entered she carried
away the chief trophy and tn title IN
each Of them, and In the thirty-odd sets
she has played IN these tournaments
onlv two women, Mrs. Marshall Nc,
Lean. former national champion. ana
Miss Marie Wagner. New York state
titleholder, have succeeded in taking
set from her. <,
Miss Wagner. after being shorn Of her
national indoor title by Miss BJurstedt
last March, won one set out OF three
from the Norwegian girl in a tourna-
ment 81 the Hamilton Grange Lawn
Tennis Clubs courts last month. MIS-
Mclean. in the seminal round OF lne
METROPOLITAN tournament last wees
won a hard deuce-set from the eventual
champion. -, a..
Mrs. Barger-W sllach, who held the
national honors in 1908, was beaten IN
straights sets for the Metrop93!llah 'ItIe
Inv Miss Biurstedt, and Miss Anne
SIesfe the sensational young player
from the Longwood Cricket Club OF
Boston, also succumbed in two sets:
In spite Of this impressive showing
the feeling is prevalent that the new
etar 10 not ipvincible, and that she VIII
eyDericnce many reversals In TINS couh-
try before the season draws TO close
In almost every instance those VINO
went down before the ire OF the NoI-
wegian girls attack have connded 10
uy that they will easily defeat the lor-
eigner the next time they meet one
ranking player even went so far as 70
saw that there are zone hunoIea anu
one women players in the United states
Who can defeat her." yet the lact re
mains that some OF our pest nave
failed 20 accomplish the feat.
II js rue that Miss Bjurstedt's game
&c not a finished product and thar she
80 decidedly weak overhead. compared
20 The excellence OF her ground strokes.
Tbo writer does not believe the new
Wotronolitan champion would be sue
,e,sf,1 to-day against the former May
c,,tor when that remarkable player
ras sweeping all before her In lSQs'
F I'M there are no May Suttons on the
courts of this country to-day
ike other players whose game lacks
..r.,otb in one department, Miss BUR
oto5, atones for her shortcomings
oy.rbead by the remarkable severity
- ber forehand drives and her I'M
usually fast foot work in getting about
when she pleases, she runs around
the bali and takes it on her forehano;
sending IL back with s"iitness ana
,cycrity which few. II any, OF her OPP
,orcn.s are able 20 equal. Realizing
Ssh,litv 10 smash hard and sc-
. nvr she waits until the ball falls
low ms her shoulder and then she
Whips it over the net with tremendous
"nadron and a decided top-spin.
Although she loses valuable time in
having 10 wait that fraction Of sec
ond While a high lob Is coming down,
the strength OF her forearm enApies
W. 90 jmpart so much speed into her
strote that her opponents are hard put
TO Il TO make an accurate return
, 81 deem lobs and soft drives, seems
W ynoLe more Roadway against Miss
P;uTstedt than the slsm-bsng style OF