New-York tribune., 1919-06-18


sails of form as had distinguished the
Journeys at Pelham, Forest Hills and
Ardsley within the last few weeks.
The tournament has now reached
that stage where we may expect to see
the struggles between the contenders
growing closer with each succeeding
round. 1t is the test Of nervous and
physical stamina through which every
aspirant for a tennis championship
must pass before she reaches the
heights And the test this week prom
ises to be even moro severe than in
several years, owing to the unusually
large number Of really brilliant play
ers who are seeking to strip the crown
from Miss Bjurstedt's sovereign head.
The present champion, who is play
ing through this year, did not take the
court to-day in the singles, for she
was already a round ahead of the field,
but she paired with Mrs. Spencer Full
lerton Weaver in the womens cham
pionship doubles, the ~wto taking the
measure of Mrs Rawson L. Wood and
Mrs. Robert LIE Roy in the first round
at 6-3, 6-3-
This match served to show that the
wonderful Morse queen is gaining a
little in playing strength each day. The
famous and dreaded forehand drive that
has always formed one of the cham
pion's greatest weapons of attack is
gaining in power in every match, and
marvellous Molla is covering her court
vryr%t l. ~
speed with which she used to thrill the
galleries.
Yet it would not be fair to say that
the champion is in the playing condi-
ton that the seriousness of her task
demands. She is still shy of reserve
strength, still lacking in that keenness
of eye and that perfect timing of stroke
that we have come to invariably ex-
pect of her; and these are bulwarks of
defence that she will need if she is to
retain her championship and win this
tournament for the fifth year in sue
cession.
Miss Bjurstedt's first real test will
probably come Thursday, when Miss
Marie Wagner, former national indoor
champion and an old rival, will face
the champion in the round before the
semi-fnal. These two have met many
times, with the Morse girl invariably
the victor.
Mrs. George W. Wightman, of Bos-
ton, former champion, who is play
ing more brilliant tennis to-day than
at any time since she held the title,
advanced a step nearer the final round
by winning an easy match from Miss
Phyllis Walsh, the tall Philadelphia
star.
All of the victor's battery of daz-
cling strokes were called into play.
Alternately she chopped a return off
short into fore court when she had
forced her opponent into back court,
sent deep and perfectly placed lob
to within inches Of the base line after
tricking Miss Walsh close to the net
or volleyed with wonderful precision
and severely for the corners as the
Philadelphia tried vainly to cut the
returns off.
Miss Eleanor Goss, the tall and
brilliant West Side Tennis Club girl,
who has been within striking distance
of national title more than once
within the last year, will be Mrs.
Wightman's opponent tomorrow morn
ing in the third round.
In the second round to-day Miss
Goss defeated Mrs. NJ. B. Huff, at 6-3,
81. The winners work was not al
together impressive, and she will have
to improve overnight if she hopes to
come through against the fawless
brand Of lawn tennis that Mrs. Wight
man has been playing.
In the recent metropolitan cham
pionship tourney at Forest Hills the
brilliant struggle made by Miss Goss
against the former national champion
indicated what she could do when
everything is working right, and if