New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-22
Miss Bjufstedt
Turns Tables on
Miss Browne
Norwegian Champion Beats
Californian in Straight
Sets at Utica
By FRED HAWTHORNE

Utica. n. Y, July 21.-Playing with
the same wonderful speed Of foot and
skill of racquet that have made her
name famous wherever lawn tennis is
played, Miss Molla Bjurstedt, national
woman champion, defeated Miss Mary
Browne. of California, former three
times holder Of the same honors, by
score of Ga, 81. on the clay courts
of the Yahnundasis Golf Club this
afternoon.
The match was one Of the special
Red Cross exhibitions arranged by the
United States National Lawn Tennis
Association. and Utica turned out
notable array Of tennis enthusiasts 10
witness the clash between these two
great women players. Miss Browne
defeated Miss Bjurstedt last March, IN
the West matches in California
and many believed she would repeat TO-
day, therefore victory was douoly
sweet for Miss Bjurstedt.
In the last set. the great Norwegian
outplayed her rival two to one, not
only IN the speed and pace" with
which she executed her shots. but also
in whipping the ball through the
openings for beautiful placement aces.
Miss Browne wilted under the merci-
less pace set by the champion and
could win only the third game in the
last set.
A survey Of the stroke analysis shows
that Miss Bjurstedt had total of n
placement aces TO her credit, as against
Miss Brownies II, and SO errors TO 40
for the daughter of the Golden West.
Murray Defeats Johnston
Robert Lindley Murray, a son of Cal
ifornia, but now a resident OF the
East. scored brilliant victory over
William NJ. Johnston, of California, and
champion of 1915, taking the match in
three sets by a score of 60. As, 81.
IL was the first time that Murray had
been able to vanquish the former cham
pion in their various meetings on the
courts, but to-day he earned the honors
by spectacular playing and bulldog de-
termination that would not be denied.
When play ceased for the day Muir
ray had won three of his matches in
the round robin singles and had not
suffered a defeat Next 70 HIM was
Frederick B. Alexander, former star
Of Davis Cup teams, with two victories
and one defeat.
Murray and Alexander were sched-
uled TO paw each other in this tourna
ment, but a drenching rain that
swanped the courts short after noon
caused postponement Of the matches.
and so il was agreed to have these two
men meet at Yahnundasis some time
next month TO settle the question of
first place. Should Alexander defeat
Murray, he would be tied for the lead
with the stalwart Californian. but
defeat would put him in tie for sec
ond place with Harold Throckmorton.
Play OF Doubles Monday
Under the circumstances, the honors
Of the tournament were carried of by
Miss Bjurstedt and Murray. The round
robin doubles went 20 George Myers
Church and Charles s. Garland through
the default Of Murray and Johnston.
Some of the remaining doubles matches
will be played of on Monday, 1t is be-
Neved. but tonight most of the players
will leave for the Plainfield Country
Club, in New Jersey, where they are
to take part in a Red Cross tourna-
r1ent on Sunday, starting at o'clock.
Decisive as was Miss Bjurstedt's VIC
tory to-day, the fact should not be lost
sight of that Miss Browne was under a
certain handicap. Scarcely two hours
before being called upon to face the
champion the former holder of the title
had ended a hve-day train trip across
the continent.
After rallying gamely in the first set
and bringing the games 70 ALL, the
Girl from the Golden West tired badly
in the second, and was literally swept
of the court by the fury Of Miss
Riustedt's attack. Not since last sea
son has the Norwegian girl shown the
irresistible brand of lawn tennis that
she brought into play this afternoon.
Every shot in the second set carried
world of pace" and countless times
she tricked Miss Browne out Of posi-
ton by brilliant covering up of heI
own strokes, so that the former title
holder was never able 10 guess where
the ball was going.
Victory Was Decisive
Not only did Miss Bjurstedt score
far more placement aces in the match
but her errors were less and her margin
of victory left no doubt as 10 the
superiority between the two to-day. II
is altogether probable. however. that
as soon as she has recovered from the
fatigue Of her long journey and has
become accustomed to the Eastern
courts, Miss Browne will do far better
She indicated that az tunes TINS AFTER
noon in the opening set, when hei
brilliant play from the mid-cour;
hailed her opponent.
Before this match began, the courts
were deluged with torrents Of rain
. accompanied By thunder claps and
stresks Of tightening. as furious
storm swept the Mohawk Valley
II was al first believed that further
playing was out Of the question. but
the tournament committee finally
adopted desperate measures and after
the rain had ceased the courts were
sprinkled with thirty gallons Of gsso.
lsne and lighted matches applied, dry.
ing out the surface quickly
Edward c. Conlin, champion OF al
lawn tennis umpires. held the Official
chair when Miss Bjurstedt and Miss
Browne took the court.
The summaries follow:
BOUND ROBIN MEMS INVITATION SINGLES
wiusn 81 Johnston es,ss,ed Frederick B. A.1.
Rooer Lndlsy Murray ds,sU4d Gsorss Ny.r
Harold A Trroekmoron ds,slied Charles Car
Ros.r L.a1i.y Murray ds,s.,>a william NJ
Johnston. 81 "a. al.
DOUBLES
CeosTs Myen cturch ana Chsri.s s GulAnc
xeo iron Reo.st L4naiey Murray and William N
MoLLA BJJRsrEDT Us MARY x BROWNE
FIRST SET
s s's9s: "A. Il. .:ttittii; 81
ss-.,.a. ..................fi !, Q. 7, "a D-r