The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-19
WOMAN AMAzES
Tennis WORLD
Miss Bjurstedt Invincible in
Her Chief Battles on
the Courts. y
MISS WAGNER WAS EASY
Winning of National Title the Climax
to Sensational Career of
Norwegian Player.
MISS WAGNER WAS EASY

roi tne women players AT leaSt, III
lawn tennis season Of 1915 has reached
It's zenith. and with the national cham
pionship at Philadelphia last month, ant
the clay court title play at Pittsburgh
last week, the feminine stars Of TIT
courts have only minor tournament
ahead in which to add to their laurels.
When Robert Lindley Murray, Of Cali
fornia, blaZed q sensational trail in tn,
East last year. capturing the New Eng
land and metropolitan championship
| and winning the chief honors at thu
Sleepy Hollow and Southampton tourna
ments, he was hailed as a marvel Of the
courts, and SO he was.
What, then, shall we say when a WON
an, unknown In this country before LAS
March. starts of by winning the nationa
indoor championship only a few days
after leaving the steamship that bore
her to these shores? Who follows thi.
signal triumph by capturing the metro
politan title from a representative field
at the West Side Tennis Club, and who
caps the climax by going down to the
turf courts of the Philadelphia Cricke,
Club and there comes through a field
numbering the strongest women players
in this country. and carries Off the ma
tional title by defeating Mrs. George
Wightman, the former Hazel Hotchkiss,
Of California, in the final round. in q
three-set match. taking the last set by q
score of 60?
Crnmp Causes Default.
In addition to these notable triumphs,
this latest sensation Of the courts en-.
tered half dozen other tournaments OF
lesser magnitude and walked away with
the chief cup in every instance, except at
Morristown, where she was compelled
to default to Mrs. Frederick Schmitz liz
the semi-final round, after developing a
muscular cramp.
Yet that is just what Miss Molla
Bjurstedt. Olympic, Norwegian, national,
metropolitan national indoor, and ma.
tional clay court champion has accomp-
lished-all within the space of three
months.
After she had Conquered Miss Maris
Wagner. playing-throuJh champion, for
the indoor title. Miss Bturstedt did not
get the credit she deserved. There were
many who expressed the belief that the
Norwegian girl was simply a flash in
the pan," and that she would meet de-
feat the next time she competed against
a classy field.
Ten days before the national tourney
Miss Bjurstedt sustained the injury that
threatened for a time to keep her out of
the quest for the highest honors In the
country. Her marvellous physique pulled
her through, however, and she was on
hand on June 7 when play began.
The Norwegian was favored in the
and did not encounter serious opposition
until the fourth round, when Miss
Sheafe was again her opponent. The
little Boston girl played a game fully q
per cent stronger than she had in the
metropolitan the month before. but Miss
Bjurstedt won in straight sets at 1e-s,
60, in one of the fastest matches of the
tournament.
Miss Martha Guthrie. brilliant young
player from Pittsburgh. managed to take
set from the Norwegian in the semi
final round, and was duly praised be-
cause Of the feat. and then came Mrs.
Wightman.
Her Playing Causes Surprise.
Miss Bjurstedt had shown a steady i'm
provement on the turf courts and rapid
ly adapted her game to the changed con-
ditions, but nobody expected her to be
capable Of the remarkable exhibition she
put up against the former champion in
the final round.
Mrs. Wightman took the first set at
"a. and the great gallery was satisfied
that at last the Norwegian had met her
superior But Miss Bjurstedt began
playing with greater speed and conf
dence in the second set, her tremendous
drives forcing Mrs. Wightman into back
court.
The former Hazel Hotchkiss struggled
desperately, smashing when she could
gain the net and seeking to wear down
her opponent by consistent driving to the
latters backhand Miss Bjurstedt rose
to the occasion in sensational manner,
however. and actually outplayed the for
mer champion at her own game follow
ing her vicious drives into the net and
there finishing the point by brilliant vol
leying across the court.
The last set was a rout. The Norwe-
gian girl played witt ever-increasing
Speed and simply overwhelmed Mrs.
Wightman with a series Of scintillating
shots for placement that amazed the gall
lery and discouraged her opponent, who
seemed dazed and utterly unable to meet
the attack.
When Miss Bjurstedt had taken the
last set at 60. the match and the cham
ending with beautiful passing
shot down the side line, there was a mo-
ment of silence and then the gallery
broke into a spontaneous tribute Of
praises for the wonderful work Of the
foreigner.
THE greatest lawn tennis ever played
by woman in the Twenty-Five years Of
this tournament was the way old fol-
lowers Of the game characterized the
Norwegian girls feat.
Who is to put an end to the ail-con-
quering career of this phenomenal play
er, who has met and defeated our best
and has yet to taste defeat herself?