New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-28
Miss Bjurstedt Keeps Up
Amazing Work on Court
by Again Defeating
Mrs. Mclean.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

The winning Of three lawn tennis
championships within twenty,1our
hours was the record completed by
Miss Molla Bjurstedt, the Norwegian
phenomenon of the courts, yesterday
afternoon, when she defeated MRS;
Marshall Mclean in the postponed
final round match of the Pelham Coun-
try Clubs annual invitation tourna-
ment. -,
Miss Bjurstedt won from Mrs. Nc
Lean in straight sets at Ga, 6-3, on
the CLAW courts at Pelham Manor, and
on Saturday she captured the singles
title of the Middle States at Mountain
Station, n. j., and the doubles title,
paired with Miss Clare Cassel. Last
night she started for Pittsburgh, TO
compete in the national clay court
championships.
The match yesterday was played un-
der unusual conditions, as severe
thunderstorm broke just after the be-
ginning of the first set, flooding the
courts and stopping play for almost
two hours. Mr.. and Mrs. B. +. Briggs,
of the tournament committee, did not
let this daunt them, however, and got
busy with towels, mops, brooms and
gallons Of gasolene.
In defeating Mrs Mclean yesterday
Miss Bjurstedt added further proof
to the fact that there is no woman
PLAYER on the courts in this country
at present who can hope TO cope with
her. Mrs. Mclean, in the three times
she has encountered the Norwegian
girl, has always given the national
champion her hardest matches, but
Yesterday she was beaten more easily
than on the other two previous occa-
sions, and this in spite of the fact
that Miss Bjurstedt has been playing
on turf for the last month.
The Norwegian began the service.
but Mrs. Mclean drew first blood by
breaking through her opponents SER
vice, and then followed a long deuce
game before Miss Bjurstedt evened the
score. Mrs. Mclean was quicker to
start and had the range of the court
down to an inch, whereas her opponent
could not at first control her wicked
forehand strokes, the change from turf
to clay apparently throwing her of
temporarily.
After Mrs. Mclean had gained lead
in games, however, the marvellous Nor
wegian girl began to reel off remark
ably well placed shots down the side
lines, which cut sharply across deep
court and forced Mrs. Mclean TO cover
a great amount of ground.
Several of the rallies between the
two were so fast that the gallery voiced
its appreciation generously. Mrs. Nc
Lean was fighting hard for the points
and carried four of the games 10 deuce
several times before Hiss BJurstedts
superior speed and harder hitting pre-
vailed.
II was the ability Of the Morse star
TO force the issue at all stages that
won her the first set at 6-3. She was
always looking for the openings IN
Mrs. McLean's court, and once she dis
covered them she showed no hesitancy
in shooting the ball straight into the
unprotected territory.
Mrs. McLean's tactics were almost
purely defensive and so long as the
other made errors, the American girl
was safe. But Miss Bjurstedt was
too deadly in her placement shots and
at the net for such tactics to meet with
success.
Miss Biurstedt had won the first
game of the second set when the rain
came and everybody made rush for
the clubhouse veranda. Mrs. Nc
Lean started service when the match
was again taken up, and as before was
the quicker TO get going, winning her
own service and then breaking through
on her opponents.
Miss Biurstedt then began victori-
Gus sweep, however, her forehand
drives forcing Mrs. Mclean TO the back
of her court and leaving the way open
for brilliant session of net play -pon
the part of the foreigner.
More than once Mrs. McLean's drives
for deep court were taken on the full
volley from close TO the net by the
national champion, who placed them
with perfect judgment into the cor
ners, throwing Mrs. Mclean hopelessly
out of position. The Norwegian. ran
three games In row. bringing the
score TO 40, before Mrs. Mclean, by
beautiful play from back court, won
her last game of the match.
Miss Bjurstedt raised the speei OF
her game in the latter stages OF the
match and took three Of the last five
game at love, scoring her last point
with a spectacular forehand drive close
TO the side line for clean ace.
The point score follows:
PtsG's
Ms Mss I E,g.,,d'. /, ;t:5 "a
~: s s.qr,.d'. : 80: ! -
To,eis-Mi. Btirstedt 2 sets. ~ games, "