New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
Women Tennis
Players Make
ReadyforFray
Blue Ribbon Tourney Due
at Philadelphia Next
Week
BY FRED HAWTHORNE


Martins. near Philadelphia, when the
annual national tournament VIII geI
under way. 1t will be patriotic
tourney. Of course, but the present ma
tional champion, Miss Molla Bjurstedt,
will be on hand 10 play through, and
il is probable that the cream OF the
Eastern talent will be on hand TO dis
pute the supremacy with her;
For several weeks now the women
have been working up TO this blue RID
bon event Of their season. Inc Ards
ley tourney, the tournament Just COM
Melted on the turf courts OF the Staten
island Ladies' Club, at Livingston,
Staten Island; the women's invitation
affair on the grass at the Crescent Atm
letic Club, of Bay Ridge, starting To-
morrow. and the Delaware State tour
new at Wilmington, beginning also To-
morrow. all have been assigned Tor the
purpose OF allowing the fair players
10 become fascinated" to the turf
in preparation for the Philadelphia
tournament a week from tomorrow.
These tourneys have served TO un-
cover several players of great poten-
tialities. players who are certain 70
nlav a leading part, If not TINS year
tban certainly when the championship
Of 1918 is up for decision. AS mat
ter of fact, so fast is the new talent
developing among the feminine con-
tingent that il would not be at all
surprising if some of the better known
nlsvers were deposed by those who are
inst beginning TO show their budding
II seems settled now that neither
~ Nj Sutton Bundy nor Miss Mary
Rrowne. both former holders OF the
national championship, will make the
long trim from the Coast this season,
rnore's the pity, but Miss Bjurstedt VIII
probably find plenty of opposition pc
fore she reaches the final round, tax
ING IL for granted that she comes
through successfully.
Ever since the great Norwegian was
bumbled on the California court last
March bv Mrs. Bundy and Miss Browne
The impression has been gaming
strength here in the East that MISS
Biurstedt is not invincible. Certain u
is that she has not shown that same
irresistible speed and dash since her re
turn from the Coast that distinguished
her play during 1915 and last year
There NAV be several reasons for
this. No player, man or woman, ever
made such a remarkable record on tne
courts as this girl from the North
We doubt if the sturdiest OF the men
could 90 through such strenuous cam
raigns for three years running a9
Miss Bjurstedt has done since he'
first triumphant appearance IN 'h''
country
During 1915 and 1916 she played IN
practically every sanctioned Eastern
tournament on the U. S. n. l.. 1. A.
list-and there was scarcely one IN
which she did not win the chief prize
To tell the truth, her endless triumphs
we're taken so much as matter OF
course that a defeat suffered by her
was regarded as sensational. and upon
the very few occasions when this did
happen the newspapers feateured the
Tact I'm their headlines:
There must be a breaking point
somewhere, and it would not be sur
prising if even the national cham
pion's wonderful constitution should
begin TO feel the enormous tax, both
mental and physical, that such a
strain entails.
Again. the very fact that she has no.
where in the East met serious oppo-
sition has been a severe handicap 10
tho Norwegian girl II you play regu-
Iarlv with an opponent whom you know
YOU can defeat. day in and day out, If
YOU go on the court day after DAY
realizing that the result will be al
WAYS the same, victory, IT rs found to
take the keen edge off your game
whatever that might be, and rob you
of that fierce spirit OF rivalry that
maintains q man or woman at his or
her best.
Such has been the experience Of
Miss Bjurstedt When she went TO
California with the Eastern team last
March she was confronted with condl-
tions entirely different. Mrs. Bundy
and Miss Browne were entirely famil-
lar with the unyielding asphalt courts
that have proved so hard on Eastern
feet; they were playing before gal
lcries that were openly roofing for
the women OF the Coast and were
little short of hostile toward visitors
as long as they were on the courts.
Added to this. it is probable that
the two wonderful California women,
even on the turf courts. are fully
capable Of holding their own with Miss
Bjurstedt, and they get greater COM
petition throughout the year than has
ever been granted to tho present
champion.
Several times already this season
Miss Biurstedt has been pressed close
~ by local players. Mrs Charles Yer
non Hitchins extended her at Essex
County, and Miss Marie Wagner, ma
,ional indoor champion, came very
close 20 sending the Norwegian maid
down 20 defeat at Ardsley two weeks
ago. Il may be that Philadelphia will
witness the downfall Of the champion,
either at the hands Of Miss Wagner
or some less well-known player.
The season Of 1917 should witness
the rapid advance Of several among the
younger women players. Miss Eleanor
Goss, runner-up for the national indoor
title last winter; Miss Helen Gilleau-
deau, finalist in the Middle States
championship last week; Miss Helene
Pollsk. fnaiist in the Metropolitan
doubles; Miss Helen Bernhard her
partner in that tourney; Miss Gladys
Bowling. and Miss Edith Howe and
Mrs. Jack Anderson, fnalists in the ma
tional indoor doubles championship, are
sll knocking at the door Of fame and
are liable TO reach the heights at any
moment.
Mrs. Ilitchins, who won the Middle
States fixture on Friday, is one Of the
crsftiest players on Eastern courts to-
day and fully capable Of making
trouble for the best in the land when
IN command Of stroke and speed. as
she was last week
Then there are Mrs. Rswson /. Wood,
who bsttled through two hard sets
with Miss Bjurstedt at Pelham re-
Gently. and is one Of the most bril-
liant net players on local courts !;
Mrs de Forest Csndee. a steadily i'm
proving player Of the smashing type;