New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-26
Defeats Miss Balm in
Final on Courts of
Orange Club.
CAPTURES HONORS
IN STRAIGHT SETS
Loser Struggles GameIy at All
Stages, but Bows Before
Superior Strategy.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.


Miss Clare Cassel wor brillian.
victory in the final round of the won.
ems invitation lawn tennis tournamen.
on the turf courts OF the Orange Lawn
Tennis Club, at Mountain Station, "
j. yesterday, defeating Miss Florenee
BALM in straight sets at rs. 6-l.
The winner was superior in court
strategy, as well as in her assortment,
OF strokes, and, although Miss Balm
fought couragcously TO the last. Miss
Cassel was not IN danger Of defeat at
any stage.
The final round in n. consolation
singles, scheduled for yesterday fore
noon, was postponed until this after
noon, because Miss Hazel Gardner and
Miss Bessie Holden. who were to have
met. were unable TO reach the courts
in time.
The conditions were perfect for fast
play yesterday, cHly the lightest Of
breezes stirring the tons OF the lofty
trees surrounding the grounds, while
the sun beat down on the courts with
welcome heat. Mrs. David C. Mills
had supervised the rolling and marking
of the playing surface and the turf
was hard and true. Henry S. Hnskins
presided in the umpire's chair and
every line was watched over by a
llnesman.
The crowd was the largest OF TIE
week, and sat ten deep on chairs abou.
the court. Every brilliant play was
applauded with enthusiasm. and THIS
seemed to stir the players to their
best efforts. particularly in the last
set. when the ball went back and forth
dozen times before the point was
decided.
Miss BALM won the toss and selected
the court with the sun 10 her back. Civ
ing her opponent the service. Miss Cas-.
sci found the glare bothersome and
lost the opening game. Miss Ballin rip
ping low forehand drives down the
sides Of the court, just beyond the
sweep Of her opponents racquet.
The second game went to the West
Side player at love, Miss Cassel not
being able to gain single point. Miss
Ballin's service was so severe that the
Bronxville girl found 1t necessary TO
stand well back of her base line in re-
ceiving, the ball breaking sharply as IL
struck the court.
The manner in which Miss Cassel
checked her opponents rush at the
start of the third game indicated that
she had been studying Miss Ballin's
weak points and taking note Of her
strength, for she began to speed the
ball through the openings with unerr-
ing aim, and no matter how desperately
i the other player attempted to cover up
the gaps in her territory. Miss Cassel
scored on shots for placement.
Winning the third game easily
enough, the Bronxville star had a
sterner battle for the next, and il was
not until the points had gone twice to
deuce that she was able to send home
the winning shot. Miss BALM won the
fifth and sixth games and held the lead
at a.
It was at this stage OF the match
that Miss Cassel showed her clever
ness as a court general. She had no.
ticed that Miss BALM rarely ventured
TO the net, except when a certain kill"
was in prospect, and so she mixed up
her pace in q manner that bewildered
her opponent. Following furious ex-
change of deep drives Miss Cassel
would vary ner attack Dy Paying the
ball short into Miss Ballin's fore
court. catching the latter far out OF
position.
The West Side girl was able 10 win
the tenth game, but that was all. for
Miss Cassel swept through the other
games with an invincible forcing at
tack, taking the opening set at IS.
In the last set the Bronxville player
let herself out, raining placement shots
into all parts of the opposite court and
generally finishing the points with low,
short vOlleying strokes that dropped OF
close to the net. Although Miss BALM
could not do more than win the fourth
game in this set, the struggle was far
closer than this would indicate. Four
of the seven games were fought out
fiercely.
Miss Balm threw away many points
in her anxiety toward the last, and was
oyerstroking the ball throughout the
last few games. Once or twice she re-
sorted to lobbing tactics and met with
success. but for some reason she did
rot stick TO this line Of campaign, thus
permitting her opponent to close in at
the net and dominate the court.
The point score of the match fol-
lows:
FIRST SET
Mss Mss c c,,sil /? o,siittsftsl y