The New York herald., 1921-08-16
GALLERY DAZZLED
BY Mile. LENCLEN
---------
French Girls Dash in Practice
Holds Interest at Title
Tennis Tourney.
HER FIRST MATCH TO-DAY
Mrs. Mallory Defeats Mrs.
Jessup in Straight Sets
at Forest Hills.
HER FIRST MATCH TO-DAY
BY SAMUEL y. BaooKMAN.

the uFSt rOunQ OF the WOmenS y ndtioHdl
tennis championship at Forest Hills
yesterday Mile. Suzanne Lenglen OF
France indulged In Just little prac-
tice. Just q little practice, yet the
most spectacular strokes of Mrs.
Franklin I. Mallory, national cham
pion, or Mrs. Marion Zinderstein
Jessup, second in national rank, or
others who held the grandstand court
during the day were watched with no
ixeener interest by the gallery than
the slightest move by the French girl
who Is here to add the American title
10 the many that already have fallen
TO her prowess on the court. Practice
or serious play, Suzanne was the at
traction. Tho tennis committee knew
it, the gallery knew 1t and so did
Suzanne.
From the time she appeared on the
court enveloped In a stunning ermine
coat that hung from her shoulders at
q jazzy angle until she disappearen In
the clubhouse twenty minutes later
every eye was glued on the movements
of the dashing French girl, on her per-
fection of stroke, her swift recover!es,
her exceptional speed in covering court.
and the rhythm and grace that accom-
panied every swing of the racquet. The
zest she put in her play pleased the
gathering immensely and she was the
recipient of generous applause during
her stay on the centre court.
On the other side of the net was
Samuel Hardy. captain of the American
Davis cup team. They merely alter
mated In serving, moving up to the net
and then back to the base line. at time
keeping the rallies going Intentionally.
and at other times seeking openings for
placement. The usual practice warm-up.
in other words. But In this particular
case not a stroke was missed and in
terest never Jagged for a moment The
rallies gave Susanne plenty of oppor-
tunity to exhibit everything that is
spectacular In her play and everything
she did IS she raced over the court
volley. half-volley. smash or drive--was
accomplished with a nerve and dash
that thrilled
Lives Up TO Reputation.
Apparently Mile. Lenglen Is prepared
10 play her best despite the fact that
she is only three days off a transatlantic
steamer. At her request her first round
match with Miss Eleanor Goss was
postponed day TO give her an oppor-
tunity to tune UP her strokes. but IL
the form she flashed in the exhibition
with Harding Is any criterion she might
just as well have dispensed with any
preliminary practice. Great things have
been said of Mile. Lenglens tennis, but
the most fattering criticisms have not
been exaggcrations.
OF course. 1t Is one thing flashing the
spectacular In practice and quite an
other matching speed, skill and control
when under the stress OF competition.
That Is the only thing that remains
TO be answered-whether she has the
tennis temperament. If there Is any
thing else that she lacks as a stroke
specialist, court general or tactician
IL was not discernible to the critical eve
yesterday. She is tennis champion.
On the same court an hour or so be-
fore Mile. Lenglen made her bow to an
american tennis gallery Mrs. Franklin
mallory. national title holder and the
French girls most dangerous opponent
according to consensus. won ar Impress
siye victory from Mrs. Marion zinder-
stein Jessup. who was runnerup i'm the
championship year ago. Showing the
same remarkable accuracy control and
swiftness OF foot that won her both the
metropolitan and the Seabright tourna-
ments recently, Mrs. Mallory triunphed
IN straight sets, 7-5. Go, outsteady-
ing and outmanpuvring her opponent in
the second division of play after a rather
close first set There was no such
versatility in Mrs. Maliory's stroking as
marked that of Mile. Lenglen in the
practice session later In the day. nor
was there any such show of tennis
pyrotechncs, but she played sound ten
mis- In which there was hard hitting
aplenty and court generalship of the
best.
Powerful Forehnnd Drive.
In the main. Mrs. Mallory fought her
tussie with Mrs. Jessup from deep court
as she usually docs. Her powerful fore
hand drives. placed with excellent judg-
ment In the corners or along the side
lines, had Mrs. Jessup racing from one
side OF the court to the other to meet
the ball. They were forcing shots that
prompted errors by compelling her op-
ponent TO hurry her strokes or by NOV
ing her out OF position. In the early set
Mrs. Jessup's effective service and her
success IN blocking at the net ennbled
her 70 make . close fight Of Il. She
showed some pretty volleying and an
aggressive attack, and although Mrs.
Mallory held O game lead throughout
the greater part OF the set her margin
never looked decisive.
When. however. it came 20 question
OF steadiness in n pinch. after the score
had gone tc sail. Mrs. Mallory. as has
been her habit, again showed to adj
vantage. Timing her returns beauti-
fully and gauging the lines well In the
swiftest OF the rallies. Mrs. Mallory
nsesco her opponent three times In the
twelfth gama, and with the aid OF a
Double fault broke through service for
me set at 7---5. In the second set Mrs
Mallory. gaining speed and strength. had
Mrs. Jcssup plunging vainly for shots
Just out OF her reach. Mrs. Mallory
seemed able 10 set an ever increasing
pace, and under the attack Mr. Jessup's
effectiveness broke down. She fought
persistently and forced four games to
deuce, but the champions control was
TOO much for her, and she dropped six
games In a row.
II was the third time in ten days
that Mrs Jessup had been forced to bow
20 the superior control and speed of the
champion. They met In the metropoli-
tan championship final at Glen Cove and
In the Seabright seni-hnnl last week
and In every case Mrs. Maliory's VIC
tory was earned In straight sets.
Two other matches were played on
the grandstand area and In each a
Boston entrent trlumphed over a local
player. In the first Miss Leslie Ban
croft, who stands thirteenth on the ma
fional ranking li~t. defeated Miss Marie
Wagner, rated tenth. after a stirring
uphill fight. In each set Miss Wagner
held the lead at 5--2. only to lose her
advantage when the Boston girl, rally
fnv sfronpIv pfroIxad bar uay IN tho