New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-26
Miss
New York Girl
Drops Two Sets
To Coast Star
californian Defeats Miss
BALM, Is, o., i'm De-
c;siye Match of Tourney
By Fred Hawthorne


Mss Eleanor Tenant, of California,
i, ,..stsd Miss Florence BALM, of the
VEST Side Tennis Club yesterday after
.oon in the final round of the women's
,,vitation lawn tennis tournament on
-. turf courts of the Field Club, of
ccrsswich. Miss Tenant took the
ssteh in straight sets at IS, 81.
The match was one of those postponed
cow, week ago. when rain prevented
he completion of the tourney.
Victorious though she was, the Cali
s,rn;a Girl showed unmistakeable signs
:, being overplayed yesterday. Her
.tots lacked snap and pace. and it was
.nIv by very fine court generalship
hat Miss Tenant pulled out of the
srst set after Miss Ballin, coming from
behind, held the lead at Sd on games.
Vnovinr that she must conserve her
..rsngth. the girl from the Coast used
Sar ehop stroke almost continuously.
Snt she played them deeper than usual
ND with greater angles than when she
fscea Miss Eleanor Goss in the metro
nolitan championship tourney last
wsek At the net Miss Tenant was
very accurate and throughout the bit
.ariy fought match there was only one
Instance where she failed to bring off
bsr smashes successfully. Her service
WAS severe and well placed from start
n finish, and in this respect she had
decided advantage over her opponent.
Miss Balln's game was at least is
stronger than | have ever seen it be-
iore. and it was this fact that forced
zen Of the nineteen games to deuce.
The New Jersey State champion fought
most courageously for every point, and
fine ball was never safe from her until
/. was out of play.
Fine Depth on Drives
The West Side girl had splendid
depth on her drives, both fore and
baekhand, and almost unerring control.
Many times she scored place ment aces
By whipping the ball down the side
lines as Miss Tenant started from
her base line 10 cut the returns at the
ret. But the most surprising feature
Of Miss Ballin's game, as | viewed it
Yesterday. was her vastly improved
play overhead. She is not by any
means in full control of these shots as
yet, but every match witnesses a dis
tine. advance.
There were numerous occasions yes
terday when Miss BALM rushed the
net position after making her openings
and ended the points by severe smash
Ing or cleverly- placed overland volleys,
generally to Miss Tenants deep back
hand. There were other times, of
course, when she worked into the
wrong position for these shots and
then came to grief, but she is learning
and will grow more dangerous as re-
suit.
In spite of her inability to ego out"
Tor her shots, Miss Tenant gave a
mastery demonstration of generalship,
and she was cool, very COOL when
danger threatened her most. always
the mark of a great player. After the
game had reached four-all in the open
ing set. Miss BALM took the ninth
after the point had gone to deuce" no
less than seven times and every point
was stirring struggle in itself.
Then, with Miss Balm holding the
A couple Of slips by Miss Tenant
might mean the loss of the game and
the set, and possibly the match, for
| doubt whether the California star
could have lasted through three hard
sets under the torrid conditions that
prevailed at Greenwich yesterday.
Names rev N1IStdhOo
But Miss Tenant did not make any
slips. Instead, she won the game with
three beautifully placed shots, twice
sending overland volleys at sharp
angles across forecourt, so that the
ball cut the chalk marks, and once chop
ping to Miss Ballin's deep backhand
and close to the side line. Having
squared the match, the girl from the
coast took the next two games after
each had reached deuce" giving her
the set at 7-5, and thereafter she was
invincible, always holding the upper
rand
In the second set the Californian,
alter dropping the second game on her
own service at love-" due to three glar-
ing errors of easy ground strokes. came
pack with a long series of dazzling
Placement shots, sometimes with baf-
hng chop strokes just over the net,
ana again with superb overhead
Smashes, with the ball taken as she
was running backward after deep lob
rive games in Il row went to the coast
sIar, but Miss BALM made each one a
struggle unto itself.
me 1nal point came when Miss Ten
.ant drove her return of service direct
ner opponents feet and Miss Ballin
Melted the return.
me final rounds in the mems singles
Gnu doubles were not played yesterday
ewing to the illness of S. Howa I'd
n rosheil, who is in both events. These
a aaIcheS VIII be played at a date to be
announced later.