New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-15
Will Battle To-day for the
Right to Appear in the
Semi-FinalS.
MISS BJURSTEDT WINS
DESPITE UNLUCKY 10
Miss Wagner. Again in Form,
Defeats Chicago Girl in
Spectacular Match.
By JAMES :. O'NEALE.

Thirteen matches in the women's
national indoor singles snd doubles
tennis championships were played yes
terdsy az the Eth Regiment Armory.
The daddy" Of all the "unlucsy
thirteen" legends i the one describing
how the twelve major gods were seated
one night az table IN the Nslhslla.
Then a stranger. Loki. the evil spirit
came in unceremoniously and made the
unweicome thirteen. Ever since then
the number thirteen mas been taboo n
NORWAY Miss Molls Bjorstedt, for in
stance. has never permitted herself 20
play s 13-ll SCI.
Despite the thirteen matches yester-
day Miss Bjursted: had extremely good
fortune attend her. Saa Won IN
straight sets from Miss Ina A. kissel
a ranking player, Notwithstanding
hne resistance by the latter player that
does not show IN the score. The Nor
wegisn. in fact defed the thirteen
hoodoo. Paired with Miss Marie Wag,
her. she defeated Miss 7. Blum and
Mrs. W. Noss, 60, 81.
In the seven singles that brought the
tournament 90 the semi-fnsls and the
ak doubles Miss Bjurstedt was not the
only one 20 display superlative tennil.
Miss Wagner. four-time champion, ls
determined 70 regain her laurels tins
YEAR. and showed her skill 10 fine ad-
vintage when she bested the Chicago
EXPERT. Miss Csroms VIM, 6-3, 6-9,
in pretty match.
Miss Florence sheldon, another rank
ing player, exhibited good tennis when
she defeated Miss Adele Bull IN q
match marked by long rallies. The
score was 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Two other
three-set matches featured the day. In
one Miss Helen Alexander, favored by
many 20 reach the finals from the lower
half. put out Mrs. n. b. HUFF, IS, 6-3,
81. In the other, Miss Alexander's
strongest rival in the lower half, Mrs.
Frederick c. Schmitz, exchsmpIon, won
from Miss II. Gardner at 6-o, %,
"a. Mrs. Percy Wilbourn. Of The
Bronx, had q terrific tussle with MISS
Z. s. Knapp, winning at Sc, "a.
The doubles started yesterday. Two
Of the favorite teams had easy matches.
Mrs. David c. Mills and Mrs. Albert
HUMPHREYS experienced little opposl-
ton from Mrs. J. Bailey and Miss h.
Beechsr, and won 90, 60. Miss
Wagner and Miss Bjurstedt were the
other favored pair.
EXCEPT for occasional stresks OF wild
ness. Miss Wsgners work against MISS
VIM was of the highest order. both
Miss Wagner and Miss VIM played
far in the bsckcoUrt and did not risk
passes a. the net. Only onece IN the
entire match was forecourt WORK at
tempted In the second set Miss Winn
rushed 20 the net and volleyed neatly
FOR an ace. Miss Wsgner's backhand
superiority over the Chicago left-hand-
or gave her an advantage.
Miss Kissel played far better against
Miss Bjurstedt than the score indi-
Gates. Oddly enough. her performance
in the second set, in which she did not
ge. a game, was superior to her work
in the first set. In :he second set. now
ever. Miss Bjurstedt as usual played
letter than in the first, and Miss kis-
sci also improved. Long rallies were
usually ended By the Norwegian girls
ace swat. She always had that little
margin OF superiority that decided the
point or the game, despite the fine pls'
Of Miss Kissel.
Miss Bjurstedt was suffering from
the toothache. and in consequence vas
anxious 10 get the match over quickly.
Her anticipation Of Miss Kissel's shots,
coupled with her fast footvork. made
her extremely difficult 10 pass Her
drives carried plenty of sting, but were
we'll returned b. Miss Kissel when she
could get her racquet on them. The
foreigner has not yet learned 20 angle
the ball OF sharply. or just drop II
over the net, in the fashion that makes
r. Lindley Murray SO inyincible in fore
court. Her net play, however, is i'm
proving daily.
Mrs. Schmits, hobbiing courageously
around the court. could not cover