Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-28
'IENCLEN AQU|TTER,
SAYS TENNIS CHIEF
can't. De Joannis Resigns From
r,ench Federation, Protest
ing censure Of Americans
Suzanne "PERFECTLY FIT"

,r,o Suzanne Lcnglen has received
,ro,ifed approval Of her conduct during
s.r visit to this country last summer,
..d tbc United States Lawn Tennis
r.d,-otIon has been blamed for 'un-
,.,i6ed commcntnries" upon the sport
-, snirit of the European champion by
,hs French Tennis Federation.
Tho repudiation Of Captain Albert Il.
Ioonn;s. who accompanied Mile.
g.osen TO this country. and the criti-
hns M aimed Mt the American tennis OFF,
c,sh, Js has caused NJ. deJoannis to tender
Gu sia'1 1po"siSnntion as vice president of the
TsSncb y. nc organization and to accuse
,,Sa IonpIen of quitting in her match
..ainst Molla Bjurstcdt Mallory in the
a.iional women's s championship tourney.
n' !. was the attack launched against
Aa American officials rather than the
~ ". nlorcd on himself that caused NJ.
w Ioonnis TO bring about the expose OF
SSss,nnne's ~ conduct on this side of the
Atlantic.
Wanted Endorsement
Had Mile. Lcnglen been content to
nsrmIt the affair to rest instead OF
lpoatinp Endorsement by the French or
sanizaiIon, the match would have been
sorgottpn. but her persistence attracted
an Investigation of the tour and the
nncoyering mn of NJ. dcJoannis' opinion of
tbs one time French idol. -,
w william r. Tiden, I'd. world $
champion, and Joseph IL. Jennings,
trsasrrer of the United States Lawn
Tennis Association. join Nj. deJoannis
IN the belief that Suzanne was MT Tor
her match against Mrs. Mallory. They
also agree that the French star was
shown every courtesy, given every nos
sble opportunity to be in good nhySical
condition. and after her default was
treated with n lcniency that In no way
east reflections upon her sporting spirit;
Suzanne attacks upon. the IhltGu
States tennis officials. said NJ. de
Joanns. were absolutely, unWar-
rantpd. She was received like little
oueen and treated with the utmost cour
tesy. Her every whim and MOOD was
satisfied. =.
when she met Mrs. Mallory. she was
defeated by player, who on that dalc
showed n better brand of tennis.
Suzanne Was Fit-Tildcn
"In my opinion" said TiIdcn. Mile:
Ienglcn was physically fit to play ana
iudging from appearances. / can say
definitely that she played as well against
Mrs. Mallory as when she defeated the
American champion at st. Cloud near
Paris last June.
"Mllc. Lenglen suffered no physical
ccllansc white here" Treasurer Jcn-
ell, bnr trL Wit II
Mrs. Mallory I talked with her myself
lust before she went on the courts
We were particular TO inquire regarding
her health. She had been pranclhe
around in high spirits. There was not
q trace of cough. Sc assured me Sic
never felt better in her life.
NJ de Joannis was emphatic in pro-
tecting the American officials and the
press. :,
Suzanne knows how to win. he
said, but she does not know how ia
lose gracefully. She placed the person =
atty Of Suzanne before the good name
Of the sporting world of her country
and could not face defeat.
De Jcannis Praises L. S. Officials
"ThC attitude of the United States
Lawn Tennis officials are of the Amcri =
can public in the face of repeated de-
faults of Mile. LcnGlcn was very lcnlcn'
and above all blame.
"Carppntlcr is Il hero in America
despite his defeat, because he showed
grit and went down fighting, while MIG
Lengcn placed France before the Amer
lean public rs prefcrring to quit rather
than face defeat. France never quits
Both Tildcn and Jennings praise TIC
sportSmanship Of NJ. dc I0anniH. TIL =
den laudcd the French official Mt length
He said:
~ have the highest personal r"Pnrd
for VI. DE Joannis, to whom the delight
ful trip of the American team to pNrls
last summer was largely due. The
American tennis players found the
sporting tendencies of both the French
players and the public on the same higi
standard to which we are accustomed
here at home. The French players dc
not quit, we learned.
Misunderstanding
II am certain that the who.c affair
Is a misunderstanding of the conditions
of Nile. Lengcn's default in America
that has caused this trouble in the
French federation.
Il am looking forward with conf
dencc To n meeting Between Mrs. Nal
lory and Mile. Lcnglcn and expect tc
see the American champion prove her
sell, ms always. n great sportswoman
In victory or defeat"
Jennings tells not only of his rcGnrC
Tor NJ. De Joannis. but also of Mile
Lenglcn actions in this country. llC
said:
Everything that Captain DE .Ionnni'
says in regard to the actions of Mile
Suzanne Lcnglcn during her visit tC
America Is correct, and he does not say
nalt that could be said.
doannis Lauded
i have known all the facts statcC
oy captain DE J0anniS, who is one 0i
the finest of French gentlemen, and
reailz" that in taking the stand he does
ana telling the truth regarding Mile
Lehglens pretended illness while il
IlS country, he is acting solely because
ne IL unwilling to have unjust criticism
directed against the American tenni.
players and officials.
Nile. lenglcn's cough in her mattel
ssalnSt Mrs. Mallory appeared when
a. i'o' q I'blllL anu III luEt VI Wv
.edt she just plain quit. In the evening
one danced for several hours.
me next day she came to me an,
spologizcd She was not i'll and prom
Ised to go ahead with the program ar,
ranged for her. She quit cold on every
engagement. After promising upon hcl
nohor she would play at Newport scv.
eral ladies' Interested themselves an,
sola $4,000 in tickets to insure her &
tsucGGcSSful visit, but she calmly wen
oack on them.
=. Probably the worst of her evasion,
NGIule NI at the opening Of the Davis CuI
kay, on Saturday. the second day q
S Sp tournament when great GROVE
N maS expected, there was but one i'm.
0rtaht match. The officials thought
Mould be a good plan to arrange som,
''Hllant exhibition loublCS mntCh