The sun., 1919-06-20


PHILADELPHIA. June 1s.-Miss Molls
Bjurstedt the national champion. came
closer to losing her title this morning
In the fourth round of the women's Ma
ticnal Lawn Tennis championship tour
nament than at any time since she FIRST
won the high laurels of American courts
back in 1915.
The Morse girl defeated Miss Marie
Wagner. New York State champion, by
score OF Ga, SIS, e. and there
by gained her place in the semixfinal
round in the lower half of the dAaw,
where she will meet Miss Marion Elm
derstein of Boston tomorrow morning.
Miss Zinderstein, playing a wonder
FULLY aggressive net game. crushed Miss
Clare cassel Of New York by a score
OF 6-1. 81. and in the two other
fourth round matches Mrs George w.
Wtghtman Of Boston defeated Miss
Anne Townsend Of Merton C. c. at 60
81, and Mrs. Gilbert Harvey of Phila-
dclphia came through against Miss
Louise Bancroft OF Boston by a score Of
80, IS, e-f+. These two winners will
meet In the other semi-hnal round to-
morrow. with tho final and champion
ship match scheduled for Saturday after
noon.
Forecasting results in lawn tennis IN
always hazardous thing to attempt,
put II would not be In the least sur
prising to those who watched her play
ing to-day to see the champion de-
fe@ted Tomorrow by Miss Zinderstein.
Mis-. Bjur.tedt Plays Weak Game.
Had Miss Wagner been able to take
advantage Of all the golden opportuni-
ties that were presented to her she would
nave won to-day from the Morse Rtri.
As matter Of fact. the New York State
champion should have defeated the
champion in straight sets. How she
ever lost the nrst set II still q mystery
to the big gallery which looked on from
the clubhouse porch. Miss Bjur.tedt's
game was 30 utterly weak and ragged
and her entire play so completely life
less that everybody was expecting Miss
wagner suddenly to find herself and
take command. But this she failed to
do, either because she feared the issue
or because she could not see how nalna-
piy weak her opponents game was.
The hrst set served to demonst, ate
now completely Miss Bjurstedt was on
ner usual game. Her strokes at no time
had the wonderful speed and mace that
have heretofore been her chief asset ana
even her accuracy at playing had de-
serted her.
They divided games I'D to 2 all and
then the champion took the next four
ana the set at So. Miss Wagner
started service in the second set and
won the nrst game. but Miss Bjurstedt.
showing flashes of her real powers. won
tne next four In a row and seemed on
the high road to victory. At this star
tne champion was so exhausted by her
enorts that she could barely run a fter
placed shot and II was then that Miss
wagner seemed to realize the true ytua-
ton and take her courage In her hand,
Outplays Miss Biursteat,
The New York champion gradually
began to work up speed, and with ths
speed the rest OF her game improved
notably. so that she clearly outplayed
Miss B5urstedt In the last nine Rames
winning seven of them, for the set AT
st, and squaring the match.
In the last set Miss Bjurstedt ran into a
lead Of "a on games and was shovine
more signs OF life than at any time
since the start. She scored placement
aces on beautiful line cutting shots She
even began to race after Miss waRners
placed shots and several stirring rallies
enlivened the struggle. Miss Wagner
took the seventh and eighth games by
brilliant placing across forecourt, making
the game ALL
This was the crucial stage for both
players. The champion was almost ex-
hausted physically. but she called upon
her last ounce OF reserve strength and
speeded up her game wonderfully. She
took the last two games and the set at