New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
Miss Bjurstedt's Default
GiUes Boston Tennis Title
First Big Tourney of Year
Adds New Names to
the Championship List
Bv Fred Hawthorne

,ionshp tournament of the year 1919
has gone down into history and to-day
we find three new names as the hold
ors of the women's national indoor
.itles in singles and doubles, Mrs
George W. Wightman, singles cham
MON. and Mrs. Wightman and Miss
Marion Zinderstcin, doubles cham
MONS. Just to give the thing q COM
ulete Boston atmosphere, Miss Finder
stein also figured as runner-up to
Mrs. Wightman in the singles. Not a
New York player within striking dis
tance of the honors.
AS soon as it became known, the day
before the starting of the tournament,
that Miss Molla Bjurstedt would not
defend her crown in the singles, it
was more than an even wager that
the title would leave New York, for
Miss Eleanor Goss and Miss Marie
Wagner were also lacking in the en-
try list, and only Mrs. Stuart Green, of
the Ardsley Club, stood between this
brilliant pair of Boston players and
the championship in the singles. I'm
familiar with indoor courts, Mrs Green
was never able to do herself justice,
losing in two sets to Miss Zinderstein
in the semi-tinal round. Miss Clare
Cassel of this city, although playing
splendidly until she reached the semi
final round, was no match for Mrs.
Wightman. yielding in straight sets at
Go, GO.
The failure of Miss Bjurstedt to de-
fend her singles title came as a great
disappointment to followers of the
game, particularly after Mrs Wight
mans truly brilliant play in the cham
ponshp round. There were critics
present at that match who believed the
new champion might have defeated the
great Morse girl, but I am not among
their number, although l do believe
that Mrs. Wightman wouId have
pressed Miss Bjurstedt closer on Sat
urday than in any of their previous
meetings.
The national champion hits the ball
too hard she covers her court with
too much speed, and is gifted with too
much amazing endurance, for Mrs.
Wightman to hope to win consistently
over her. The history of their matches
will show Miss Bjurstedt far in the
lead under the winning column, and it
seems to me that it will always be so.
Plays Brilliant Tennis
The outstanding feature of the
tournament last week was the show
ing of Miss Zinderstein. Hers was by
no means an easy path to the final
round. In the second round she ~-Sshed
Miss Florence Sheldon at 6-1, 60,
and in the next took the measure of
Mrs. NJ. B. Huff at 6-2, 60. Then
came her victory over Mrs. Green at
"a, 60.
In ali these matches Miss Finder
stein played consistently brilliant lawn
tennis, and in the final, against Mrs.
Wightman, she rose to her greatest
heights, but she also failed, unfortu-
nately, at the critical moment, as she
has failed on other occasions.
Two years ago, upon the occasion OF
her first appearance in the women's
national championships at Philadelphia,
and really her first trial in tournament
play, | predicted a great future for
Miss Zinderstein: So much speed, such
splendid freedom Of stroke, such a
natural genius for the game, must win
their reward it seemed. But Miss Zin-
derstein did not gain .he high place she
should have gained in the two years
since then. There was always some
thing lacking, perhaps it was careless
ness or overanxiety that led her into
nuooing easy shots and, worst of all,
making double faults on service, at the
most critical stages Of matches.
:, She had return of this latter trou-
pie on Saturday, when playing against
Mrs. Wightman, and with it went all
chances She might have had of winning
the championship. This tendency to
ddouble-fault is largely psychological,
fancy, and is akin to faulty putting
on the part of golfer, yet it almost
invariably IN tends to letting down in
al the other departments Of the game,
que to the resulting lack Of confidence.
THIS was noticeable in Miss Finder
stems game on Saturday, for after
making two double-faults in the third
game Of the second set, she failed to
,streke" the ball with the pace that
naa distinguished her play earlier in
,ne match, and it was NOT until the last
hhah Of the third set that she regained
ner confidence.
inls IS such an unimportant detail,
IN itself, this weakness on what is
.vsnerwiSe really excellent service.
lnat u seems almost certain Miss Zin-
.uerstein will be able to overcome it in
.'me. When she does, you may look for
great things from her.
A Worthy Successor
Mrs. "ightman is worthy successor
70 MISS Bjurstedt as national indoor
champion. There is little or nothing
iscklng in her game from a technical
viewpoint. Overhead she knows no
superior in the ranks of the women
players, and her knowledge Of court
,,xctics is second to none. 1t is a de-
hght and an education in the niceties
fA
1t is encouraging news that comes
ron France, where most Of our "frst
Yen ranking players are still in service
ywith the A. +. F. Captains Richard
,ssworris Williams, I'd, and Watson NJ
MMaSnburn cabled over last week. with
.ne approval Of General Pershing, ask
ing the United States National Lawn
ashnls Association officials to send rae
euets, balls, nets, and other playing
equipment for the use Of the American
players in service.
ms country will be represented by
= a,,a' avn tennis team in the great inter-
in'nso i,,s.s games this gpring sn@ it is abso-
,ses. sy essential that yadep~te equip
.asht be sent from here since guch
shihgs are almost impossible to obtain
~ present on the other side. Preai-
usht ~ Adee and Vice President Myrick
~ .ae association conferred upon re-
ssapt o1 the cable and then enlisted the
80 81 Frederick B. Alexander and
ss.s, .s.Ils =. Wright, representing the
1xsSleuc q goods firms Of A. G.. spaidinV
brothers and Wright b Ditson
alexander and Wright, both famous
- mtefnationalists and boldera ~
NAM national titles in their dav. made
safe1hi selection Of racauets and