New-York tribune., 1920-03-16
Miss Sigo'lrney
Is Victor Over
Mrs. Schnitz
1910 Champion Beaten on
Indoor Court; Miss Ba-
ker Reaches Third Round
By Fred Hawthorne

BY Fred Hawthorne
The opening day of play in the
twelfth annual womens national in
door championship singles lawn ten
ms tournament began yesterday morn
ing at the 7th Regiment Armory with
record total of forty-six entries, and
when the first and second rounds had
been completed it was found that a
| former national indoor champion had
! been defeated in straight sets, and that
a fair-haired schoolgirl, Miss Ceres
Baker, had advanced into the third
round, losing only one game in four
=, Only sixteen survivors were still in
tne struggle for Tie championship
when play ceased for the day. These
sixteen will play one round of the
singles this morning, the winners
reaching into the round before the
semi-final, and the first round of the
doubles will be played. with MANY
strong combinations entered.
ne first annual girls championship
tourney. in the singles also got under
way way with twelve schoolgirls in the
oraw' .L Two matches were played in
| this event. Miss Louise Kreuter and
Miss Margaret Fink coming through
into the round before the semi-inaI.
The feature Of the day, largely be-
cause it was unlocked for. was the de-
cisive defeat of Mrs. Frederick G..
Schmitz. national title holder of 1910
ana twice after that runner-up, by
Miss Miss Edith sigourney of Boston, in
1he second round. The winner, who
straight sets at e-2, 8-6, PLAYING a
beautifully steady and aggressive game
from back court.
Absence Weakens Game
Mrs. Schmitz's game Yesterday ;nai-
Gated that her long absence from The
courts had materially weakened her
play In the first set she could Not
gain control Of her strokes for anv
continued effort. the ball striking the
net or overdriving the lines. Miss
Sigourney drove with splendid ac
curacy and kept her opponent almost
continually on the run
In the second set Mrs. Schmitz did
far better, managing to bring the
games to deuce" twice by forcing Miss
Slgourney to stay we'll back with deep
drives. But the Boston girl was not
to be denied, and won the match by
taking the thirteenth and fourteenth
games, after spirited opposition.
Miss Baker, who was runner-up in
the girls metropolitan championship
last year, showed distinct Improvement
over her play CT a summer ago. Her
game is more rounded, and, although
at times she went to the net to finish
OF her points. her most effective work
was done from the back court.
IN the first round the schoolgirl de-
feated Miss Helen Klein. at Go, 6-1,
and in the second she overwhelmed
Mrs. N. Dain, at Go. Go. the latter
having previously defeated Mrs. J.
Lawlor, at 4-6, 6-3, ca. This morn
ing at 1880 o'clock, Miss Baker will
face severe test when she plays Miss
Caroma VIM, player of great tour
nament experience and a very free
hitter.
Miss Bayard Moves Up
Another schoolgirl, Miss Martha
Bayard, of Short Hills. n. J., advanced
INTO the semi-hnal round through
bye in the first bracket and a hard
three~set match in the second round,
where she took the measure of Miss
Muriel Binzen, of the University
Heights Tennis Club, by a score of
Cd. 6-S, Go.
Miss Bayard s playing last summer
gave indications of great future de-
velopment. and yesterday this promise
was confirmed. the slender girl show
ing fine command of stroke and
clever court generalship for one of
ageously for every point, but she was
up against a slightly superior game.
This showed in the third set, when
Mss Rayard added bit more speed
and rained placements through the op-
posing court, allowing her opponent
only two games. At 10:30 O'Clock this
morning Miss Bayard will measure
strokes with Miss Sigourney.
Miss Clare Cassel. getting a bye in
the first round, eliminated Miss Alice
OGorman. at 60, 6-1, in the second
bracket. The Pennsylvania State cham
plon was entirely too finished a player
for Miss O'Gorman. She made full use
OF clever change Of pace throughout,
and her play overhead was q treat to
watch. Miss Cassel smust be regarded
as a very serious contender for the
title now held by Mrs. George w.
Wightran. of Boston, who is not de-
Tending this year.
Mrs: Samuel II. Waring, of the New
York Tennis Club, who is in the same
half Of the draw with Miss Cassel went
colors yesterday, and she seems to have
an excellent chance of reaching the
semi-final round at least. Mrs. Waring
first defeated Mrs. F. Damrau at Go.
6--l and then put out Mrs. c. Clark at
Go, 6-2, playing her deep drives with
plenty. OF pace and playing the ball
very close to the lines.
Mrs. Wolff Wins Twice
Mrs. Wolff who will be remembered
by followers of the game in this dis
trict as Miss Helen Bernhard, and
who played with great success in East
ern tournaments up to two years ago,
made her reappearance q successful
one by winning both her matches. Miss
Augusta Wurm proved the first victim
of Mrs. Wolff's sterling driving game,
and in the second it was Mrs X. S.
Billings who succumbed the sets going
at e., Cd. The former Helen Bern
hard does not appear to have lost much
ground by her lay-off, and should do
we'll on outdoor courts the coming sea-
son.
Miss Leslie Bancroft. strong player
from Boston, figured in two three-set |
matches before she was able to gain