The New York herald., 1921-08-14
mrs. MALLORY AT
: NOR or ,,,,, u,u
TOP OF HER GAME
Il
Plays Championship Tennis in
Defeating Miss Flea
nor Goss.
A HARD EARNED VICTORY
Loser Within Point of First
2e Set-The score Ends
8-6, 6-3.
A HARD EARNED VICTORY
By SAMUEL J. BRooK,rAN.


Special Despatch to THE NEW YoRx HERALD.
SSAzsIoHr, N. j., Aug. 1.-two days
hsfe%~ the opening OF the women's ma
f-onal tennis championship Mrs.
Franklin 1. Mallory. title holder, in
dacated on the Seabright courts this
afternoon that she Is prepared to play
the best tennis of her career in de-
fence OF her title. A large gallery that
taxed the capacity of the stands saw
her at the top of her game to-day in
the final of the women's invitation
singles, and under the circumstances
Miss Eleanor Goss. who opposed her
die remarkably we'll to force the score
to SIS, 6-3.
It was well for Mrs. Mallory that
she was able to rise to the heights of
her ability. for Miss Goss, realizing
the Importance Of the match. played
with an earnestness and show of
speed and skill that never permitted
the champion to slacken her efforts
for moment. She was. in fact, within
point Of taking the first set. and it
was only Mrs. Mallory's tenacity and
her remarkable steadiness in pinch
that turned her back
This ability to fight off the loss
OF a set has been characteristic OF Mrs
Mallory ever since she came into
prominence as tennis player. 1t
marked her efforts In several impor-
stant tournament matches a year ago
and has come to light three times in
the two weeks since her return from
Europe recently-twice against Mrs.
Marion Zinderstein Jessup and once
against Miss Goss.
Mrs. Mnllory's Splendid Control.
The failure to clinch the first set Of
ter she had advanced so close to 1t did
not shake Miss Goss's confidence as
many in the gallery thought II would.
She played aggressively and at timeg
brilliantly throughout the second halt
g of the match. but the remarkable control
of her opponent. her astonishing ac-
curacy In driving for placement and ner
speed in court covering proved too
strong combination for Miss Goss. She
found it dangerous to depend too much
on her usually effective net game, for
Mrs. Mallory, timing her shots beauti-
fully, passed her time and again as
she came up to the forward. SO Miss
lGoss had to fall back to a back court
attack with only an occasional advance
10 the net when forcing shot gave
her an opening.
When she did get her opportunities
. to volley. Miss Goss did well. AS a
matter Of fact. even without the as
'sistance of her net game she almost
held Mrs. Mallory even until late In the
second set. Both were getting great
length In their drives and were sharp
angling and trying for the lines as much
as safety would permit. In the long
run. however, Mrs. Mallory proved the
steadier. particularly in the rallies in
which an important point hung in the
balance.
How hard Mrs. Mallory had to fight
for the first set is indicated by the
point score. which gave her lead uf
Just one point. 81 to SO. 1t is further
emphasized by the fact that after pre-
venting the loss OF the set in the tenth
game. she was five times within stroke
OF the set herself before she was able
TO place It to her credit, twice in .he
twelfth game and three times in the
fourteenth. Miss Goss was offering
splendid resistance and the shifts in
the tide from deuce TO vantage in both
those games furnished the thrills OF
the match.
Very Even in First Set.
Further evidence of the close tussle
FOR the set came In the long succession
OF deuce games, beginning with the
eighth game and ending with the four
teenth, in which Mrs. Mallory finally
broke through service to win. 1t was
almost an even thing In the matter Of
earned points for the match, Miss Goss
earning 90 and Mrs. Mallory 20. In the
matter of nets too. there was very
little difference. 81 to 90 but Miss Goss
drove the ball out of court 3s times 20 80
for Mrs. Mallory and had three double
faults to none for the champion.
There were few errors indeed that
could be called inexcusable. Most OF
them were the result of forcing shots.
drives go swift and well placed as to
compel hasty returns. Miss Goss in
meeting a rising ball did not always
time her stroke properly. a weak re-
turn resulting that gave Mrs. Mallory
sn opportunity to set herself for a place
ment drive
Miss Goss was the first 10 take the
lead. breaking through service in the
third game. but Mrs. Mallory retal'ated
IN tne next game bringing the eco 10
2-all. Service continued to prove no
factor at all, for the next two gamee
and the score went to sail and then
4-all. In the ninth game. however, after
points had gone to deuce three times,
came the break that gave Miss Goss a
lead of 5-4. Her service was to fol-
low and the chances favored her taking
the set In that game. Sensing her op-
portunity Miss Goss put considerable
sting into her service. got the first ball
over and scored two clean aces
Mrs Mallory, however steadying well,
brought ths score to deuce. her et'nring
forehand return of service compelling
errors on Miss Goss's part. Miss Goss
took the next point and needed one mors
for the set She elected to come to the
net TO win g. but Mrs. Mallory timing
her returns well. drove the ball 70 Miss
Gosss backhand twice and once iobbed
puzzling oater. and or each Miss
Goss obliged with an error. The score
was brought TO Sail
The Deciding Gnme.
Mrs Mallory two games later led
40--f5 on Miss Goss's service. but failed
20 take the game, and the set went 70
the fourteenth game before the winning
point came ON Miss Goss's drive out OF