Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-02
BIZ w. H. HOTEL.

Leaders among the woman tennis
players Of the country are seeking to
have the annual date of the cham
pionship tourney at the Philadelphia
Cricket Club changed from June until
September. They claim that the
game, as the women of today play it.
has reached that stage in its develop
ment where it is entitled to the same
consideration as that given the men,
It is a pity that more women do not
play through the entire season IN
stead Of combining their tournament
So many more capable players would
be developed in a five-month season
than in the shorter period. Probably
they mainly conf1ne their play to the
spring because sufficient incentive Is
not offered. Here in Washington the
District title tourney is an illustra-
ton Of their apathy. This season
both the women's singles and mixed
doubles were abandoned for lack OF
sufficient entries.
Eventually there probably will be
just as many sectional. national. in
tersection, state and international
tournaments for women as for men,
but that is looking a bit far ahead
although the shifting of the woman's
/ national championship gate "Ouiu NC
a great stride forward.
. George Townsend Adee and Julian
, S. Myrick, president and vice presi-
dent, respectively, of the governing
| body, have given their most enthus-
iastic support to the movement. and
! executive committee Of the U. S. N. L.
T. A. that the women will submit
their plan for the September holding
! Of their blue ribbon event of the
| courts.
| Taking it for granted that the new
date is ratified at the next meeting
of the executive committee, We should
| witness tremendous improvement in
/ the quality of play among the women
| and in the number of those who play
really first-class tennis. In place of
1 possibly ten or fifteen women who
parative equals of as many man play
ers in the top ranking classes, We
| shall have probably half a hundred,
and at the same time the margin of
difference between the playing skill
and strength of the two sexes will
shrink.
| The time between the opening of
| the outdoor season and the national
| event has been all too short-scarcely
more than a month-and with only
! one or two turf court tournaments
ScncQuieQ III WHICH Tie prayers COQAu
prepare themselves for the crucial
| test of the year.
! With the premier tourney starting,
| say, in the first week of September.
| the women will be able gradually to
: work their play up to the zenith of
| its possibilities, with a regular series
of first clay court and then turf court
tournaments to put them on edge.
when they begin their championship
struggles on the splendid stretch OF
| grass at Philadelphia.
This is not the only advantage to be
| gained by q shift in the dates Hith-
erto the June holding of the national
has practically barred the great Cali
fornia players from making the long
trip east to compete against our best
But in September, following the first
full week after the playing of the
mems national singles tourney in the
| east. it would be far easier for Mrs.
Bundy, Miss Browne and the rest OF
the Pacific coast woman players to
undertake the journey. Mile. Suzanne
Lenglen. the little French marvel OF
Europe. would also be able to compete
In September Of 1929. something she
| would be unable to do should the na-