New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-02
Women Tennis
Stars Battle
In the Night
Miss Bjurstedt and Miss
Browne Each Win Set on
Flatbush Court
By FRED HAWTHORNE

lawn tennis match this season watched
Miss Molla Bjurstedt, national woman
champion, and Miss Mary Browne, OF
California, a three times former holder
of that title, battle fercely in two
set struggle last night on the clay
courts of the Knickerbocker Field Club,
on East Eighteenth Street, Flatbush.
Miss Biurstedt took the first set at
6-3, and Miss Browne won the sec
ond at "a.
The girls were anxious to play the
third and deciding set, but, owing to
the lateness of the hour and the length
Of the programme, it was agreed before
the players took the court TO make II
a two-set match.
The crowd was thrilled by the speed
with which the girls played and the
pace that they put into every stroke,
and they were so evenly matched last
night that the supremacy upon this oc..
casion must still remain a matter OF
doubt.
Behr Beats Yoshell
Karl Behr defeated s. Howard Vo-
shell, national indoor champion, in a
one-set match, scoring at 6-3, and in
a mixed doubles event, with Miss Blur
stedt and Behr pitted against Miss
Browne and Voshell, the former pair
won in brilliantly played contest by
a score of G--3, IS.
The new overhead lighting installed
recently by the club proved to be re,
markedly efficient, and the players all
expressed themselves favorably in re-
gard to it. Just before the first match
was called, a huge American flag IN
electric lights was flashed on the wall
near the backstop net, and the l,oUo
persons present rose TO their feet while
"The Star-Spangled Banner was
played.
Only occasionally did either Of the
girls attempt the net position IN thelr
match. both evidently having whole
some regard for the others skill at
passing. Miss Biurstedt began the SER
vice and ran into a lead OF 81 on
games, scoring with beautiful cross
court drives to deep court.
These shots caught Miss Browne out
of position frequently as she attempted
70 Get her racquet on the ball by racing
across from her base line. The Gail
fornian never let shot go by, now
ever. without making a desperate Try
for il, and her gets" were spectacular
Miss Bjurstedt was plainly determ-
ined TO avenge her two recent delea's
by the former CHAMPION. and rlppeu
her fore and backhand drives through
the opposing court with plenty oI
"pace," She was cutting the lines so
cieverIy in this set that Miss browne
had 10 do a tremendous lot OF court
covering to keep in the fight
Great Burst of Speed
Miss Browne won the second hfth
and seventh games, but then the greaS
Norwegian let out an extra burst %
speed and won the last two games anu
the first set at 6-3.,
In the second set the national cham
MON led at 81, 30 and 4-3 on
games. playir~ her deep drives with
such fine judgments that Miss Browne
was continually on the jump. Neither
girl would give way an inch and the
rallies were desperately contested.
The girl from the Coast started TO
work her way inside the service court
and from there brought off some
dazzling full volley shots at sharp
angles across the court. She was par
ticularly effective in this respect with
a low backhand volley. scoring several
times on clean placement aces.
In the eighth game Miss BJurstedt
was the victim of very bad decision
by the lincsman holding the base line,
Miss Brownies shot landing outside the
court bv six inches. Miss BJurstedt
made no attempt to make return, ana
when George T. Adee, president OF the
U. S. N. L. T. A.. who was in the UNI
nire's chair. asked for decision, the
ijnesman cclled "good," and the point
went against the national champion.
This seemed to discourage her and she
literally threw several points away al
ter this.
Miss Browne Fights
But Miss Browne was hghting her
hardest at this stage, and her play
overhead was exceptionally fine. Half
a dozen times she rushed the net and
smothered Miss Bjurstedt's shots with
sharply played overhead volleys into
the corners. Her generalship in draw
ing the champion out of position and
then whipping over the finishing shot
was splendid, and the gallery aplaupded
with an enthusiasm that has rarely
been seen this season.
The point score of the women's
singles match follows:
FIRST SET
Pts G..
Mis- NJ; r HgsssSt q ! 3 - 3
SECOND SET
Ms Ms. P s95a.a ! :sfi ! rs !
Recapltulstio Bjurstedt, ! set. 10 games.
II points. Miss Browne. set. games 62 points.