The sun., 1919-09-23
MRS. MALLORY WINS
IN DUEL ON COURTS
Former Miss Bjurstedt Is Vic
tor Over Mrs. Wightman,
So, IS, Ga.
BOTH PLAY BRILLIANTLY
Champion Is Compelled to
Bow Before Wizardry of
Past Title Holder.

tional champion. came back to the
heights yesterday in a compelling man.
ner when she vanquished Mrs. George
w. Wightman, the present national
lawn tennis champion. in the final round
of the women's invitation tournament at
the Rockaway Hunting Club Of Cedar
hurst, l.. I. Through the full three sets
the present and former title holder
struggled for the mastery. Mrs. NAL
lory finally won by a score Of So, Is,
Ga, after more than two hours of play.
This match was postponed from the
last week in August and Mrs. Wightman
came down from Boston yesterday just
TO keep her engagement on the Cedar
hurst courts. For a time it looked as
though the rain would force another
postponement but shortly before
o'clock the sun shone forth, just as the
players began their struggle.
The match served to demonstrate
that the former Miss Molla Bjurstedt is
almost as invincible as during the years
from 1915 to 1918, when she ruled SUI
preme on the courts. The Norwegian
unmasked the full strength of her tre-
mendous fore and backhand drives
against Mrs. Wightman and, more than
this, she overcame her opponents skill
full lobbng to deep court by taking the
ball on the full volley as she came in on
the run from her base line, and sending
1t crashing back for aces with impress
sive speed.
The old, Old story.
Mrs Wightman put up a wonderful
battle against greater speed and
strength. 1t was the old story of the
many meetings between these two
leaders in women's lawn tennis namely,
that the former Molla Bjurstedt over
came Mrs. Wightman's greater skill and
more fully rounded game by superlative
speed and amazing court covering and
anticipation.
Each set was bitterly contested. Mrs.
Wightman had a rare chance to take
the match in straight sets when she led
at "a on games and held the service in
the seventh. A costly error on a soft
volley and then a double fault by the
national champion marked the turning
of the tide. Mrs. Mallory was quick as
a fash to take full advantage of the
faltering and squared the set at all
by a wonderful demonstration Of speed
and hard hitting.
Mrs. wightman took the ninth game
after series of stubborn rallies from
deep court, and then Mrs. Mallory ran
off the next three games for the set at
rs, bringing the match all even.
Although Mrs. Wightman held the lead
at So on games in the third and final
set she was never again as close to
victory as she had been in the second
session, whereas the Morse girl growing
ever more aggressive and dangerous,
was going at such an unbeatable clip
that she literally overwhelmed her
famous opponent in the latter stages of
the match.
Miss BALM Umpire.
Miss Florence BALM of the West Side
Tennis Club was In the umpires chair
when the match began, under gray and
threatening clouds. Before the first
point was called, however, the sun came
forth and the fast turf court was in
splendid shape throughout the entire
three sets.
Mrs. Wightman began the service and
won her game without difficulty, cut
ting OF her opponents returns with
splendid volleying. Mrs. Mallory took
the next three games, breaking through
service in the third and earning her
points with powerful driving down the
side lines. At this stage the national
title holder began to mix up her shots.
She was successful with a chop down
the centre that sent the ball skidding on
the slippery turf and baffied Mrs. NAL
lory as she vainly tried to dig 1t up.
The fifth. sixth and seventh games
were won by Mrs Wightman, who was
bringing every variety OF stroke into
play as she forged ahead. Several times
she finished Off her points by splendid
work at the net There was a decisive
ness to her smashing and volleying that
was a delight to watch.
Mrs Mallory was gradually tuning up
her shots but the best she could do was
to win five games before Mrs. Wightman
had the set at rs. So far the two had
shown that they were almost even on
skill of stroke, but the national title
holder was a keener court general, and
this gave her the winning edge in the
opening session.
Mrs. Mallory Speeds Up.
The secondset found Mrs. Mallory rails
ing the speed of her game and she also
was hitting the ball harder, particularly
on her fore and backhand drives, which |
she made with a full follow through that
impaired tremendous pace" to the ball. |
Mrs. Wightman trailed at "a in this |
set with Mrs Wightman holding the SER |
vice In the seventh game. and for time !
IL seemed that the Norwegian was
doomed to a straight set defeat But |
she rallied magniflcently and, aided by |
two costly errors by her opponent. took |
this game at 'love."
The loss OF the game marked the grad |
ual weakening OF Mrs. Wightman, and |
although she would not admit defeat UNI |
I'll the final point had been lost her |
greatest opportunity for victory had ,
gone glimmering.
Mrs. Mallory not only did notable
work on her ground strokes from deep
court, but she also scored on beautiful !
full volley shots, taken on the run, when !
Mrs. Wightman attempted to lob her out !
or position After squaring the match |
by winning the second set at rs, the
Morse girl came out for the final session
determined to win.
Mrs. wiEhtman on Rum,
Mrs. Wightman held the lead at "a
on games In this set, but that was her
last time In the van, for Mrs. Mallory
knew no stopping and kept raking the
opposite court with terrific drives, both
on her fore and backhand. She sent the
pail squarely down the alternate sides Of
the court and Mrs. Wightman was forced
10 Keep continually on the run as she
endeaVored TO get her racquet on the
ball. '"'
me champion managed to win the
ninth game. but then Mrs. Mallorv an
lBhed OF the match with m t,,o,,.ai |