The New York herald., 1921-11-28
Capt. de JOannis Says French
Tennis Star Was Beaten
by Better Woman.
DEFENDS US. FEDERATION
Official Resigns as Protest
Against Action Blaming
American Board.

PARIS. Nov. % ASSOCIATED Press) -
Capt. Albert r. de Joannis. who ac-
companied Mlle Suzanne Lenglen. the
French tennis player to the United
States last summer, has rendered his
resignation as vice. president of the
French Tennis Federation and also as
q member Of the organization.
NJ. de Joannis resigned in protest
against the federation's order OF the
day. published in the morning news
papers to-day, blaming the directors
Of the United States Lawn Tennis
Federation for unjustifed commen-
taries upon the sporting spirit of Mile.
Lenglen." He asserts Mile. Lenglen
was perfectly At when she began play
in the game with Mrs. Mallory
The resignation of NJ. dc Joannis Is the
climax Of a controversy that has been
going on inside the Tennis Federation
since the return to France from the
United States of Mile. LengIen and her
party. NJ. de Joannis was accused of
having urged the French player "to en-
gage In tennis matches while physically
unfit to do so.
NJ. de Joannis told the Associated Press
to-day that thus far he had refrained
from commenting on the criticism levelled
against him owing to his delicate posi-
ton and in view of the fact that a
woman's name was at stake, but that
the attacks became so bitter when the
United States Lawn Tennis Association
was brought into the argument that he
had to abandon his reserve.
Mile. Lenglen," said NJ de Joannis to-
day, was perfectly At when she met
Mrs. Molla Bjurstedt Mallory at Forest
Hills Mile. Lenglen was defeated by a
player who on that date showed a better
brand OF tennis.
IL shook hands with Mile. Lenglen
before she entered the court. Her hand
was cool and her pulse normal. She was
confident She only commenced cough
ing after having lost games. blame her
for absolutely refusing to continue when
] could have obtained a recess of half
an hour. perhaps an hour. through the
sporting spirit Of the tennis officials and
the large crowd.
iSuzanne's attacks against the United
States Lawn Tennis officials and the pub
lie are absolutely unwarranted. Sine was
received like little queen and treated
with the utmost courtesy. Her every
whim and mood was satisfied
She knows how to win, but she does
not know how to lose gracefully She
placed the personality of Suzanne be-
fore the good name OF the sporting world
OF her country, and could not face de-
feat.
The attitude OF the United States
Lawn Tennis officials and OF the Ameri-
can public in the face OF the repeated
defaults of Mile. Lenglen was very
lenient and above all blame Carpenter
Is q hero In America, despite his defeat,
because he showed grit and went down
fighting, while Mile. Lenglen placed
France before the American public as
preferring to quit rather than to face
defeat. France never quits
At Forest Hills. on August II, tennis
followers we're astonished when Mile.
Lenglen defauted TO Mrs. Franklin NAL
lory In the second set of their match.
Mrs. Mallory had taken the first set
easily, &C.. and on the second stroke
OF the next match the French girl delib-
erately stopped playing and walked 10
the umpire's chair. Speaking few words
10 the umpire, she suddenly crumped up
and fell to the ground. sobbng and
coughing. Mrs. Mallory rushed to her.
The French player gasped moment got
to her feet and walked into the club
house.
During the match. anle. Lenglen had
coughed several times. but the spectators
who Witnessed tho match said thev did
not think her condition as serious as
she announced later. AZ times during
the playing OF the first set the French
player daszled the gallery with some of
her we'll placed shots and returns.
After rest. Mile. Lenglen started
match on the courts OF the Crescent
Athletic Club on September IL. Playing
with Walter Merrill Hall against Harold
Throckmorton and Miss Leslie Bancroft,
Continued on Pare Thirteen.