New-York tribune., 1921-03-22
Ti1den to Lead
Tennis Stars
10 Wi1nbledon
World Singles Champion
to Defend His Title;
Boston Meet a Success
By Fred Hawthorne

Practically the entire credit for the
unprecedented success of the women's
national indoor lawn tennis champion
snip tournament, completed on the
Longwood covered courts at Chestnut
Hill last Saturday, belongs to Mrs.
George w. Wightman. the former ma
tional champion.
1t is true that the former Hazel Hotch-
kiss had the aid of trained and willing
coworkers in running the event, but it
was solely her directing genius. her
capacity for hard work, and her unfail
ing cheerfulness under all circum-
stances that made possible all that was
done the five days of play.
An idea of just what Mrs. Wightman
accomplished on the Longwood courts
may may be gained when Orgy attention to
the fact that three events were run off,
with forty-nine players entered in the
singles; twenty-four pairs in the wom-
ems doubles and thirty pairs in the
mixed doubles. Many tournaments are
scheduled on the national list every
year that contain less entries than any
one of the three events at Longwood,
with anywhere from six to dozen
courts on which to play the matches.
Tourney Complete Success
At Longwood Mrs. Wightman was
confronted with the problem Of finish
ing all the matches scheduled on two
courts. The fact that she did this will
only be fully appreciated by a person
who has undertaken the burden and
responsibility of running a tennis
tournament. Throughout the week the
courts were in action every day be-
ginning at o'clock in the morning
and continuing. with a lunch hour in
termission, until almost 8 o'clock at
night.
1t requires more than mere good
luck and good will on the part Of the
players to accomplish such a task. l
cannot recall any tournament that has
equalled the one managed by Mrs:
Wightman last week in efficiency and
100 per cent success. She has estab-
lished record that it will be almost
impossible to equal.
The little band Of tennis pilgrims
that will go to Wimbledon this spring
in the effort to gain added laurels for
the United States will be composed OF
Tilden, who goes TO defend his worlds
singles title; Mrs. Molla Bjurstedt
Mallory, national turf court and indoor
champion; Miss Edith Sgourney, of
Boston, who will piay with Mrs. Nal
lory in doubles; Vincent Richards, ma
tional indoor Junior champion. and
possibly young Arnold Jones. Of Provi-
dence. a court pupil of Tilden's.
Chief interest will be felt in this
country as to the success or failure of
Tilden to defend the laurels he so bril-
liantly won at Wimbledon last June,
and in the attempt Of Mrs. Mallory to
gain the women's championship, won
last wear by Mile. Suzanne Lenglen, OF
Paris, the tennis marvel of the age.
The annual North and South cham
pionship tournament for men and
women, beginning on the clay, courts
of the Pinehurst Country Club, at
Pinehurst, N. c., on Monday, April IL,
will find many new stars competing for
the titles now held by Tilden and Miss
Marion Zinderstein.
Meet Gains Headway
This event has been gaining, in i'm
portance each year, and in another two
or three wears we shall probably see
most of the high ranking stars of the
country striving for the titles. Tilden
himself told me at Longwood last week
that he does not think he will be able
to defend this year, owing to his de-
parture for England early in May. He
may decide, however, that he can 80
arrange his affairs as to make this pos
sible, and it is to be hoped so.
Williams was also undecided. last
week as to whether business duties
would permit him to go, but he is an
other possibility, as is Ichiya kumagae.
of japan. Vincent Richards and Harold
A. Throckm morton have already sent in
their entries, as have many of the lead
ing players in the metropolitan dis
trict. -,
In the women's events the entry will
take on the proportions Of national
championship, with Mrs. Mallory, Miss
zinderstein, Miss Martha Bayard, Mrs
Spencer Fullerton Weaver. Miss Sigour-
ney, Miss Leslie Bancroft, Miss Flor.
ence Ballin, Mrs. Benjamin E. Cole and
Mrs. Frank H. Godfrey taking the
courts. AS the entry lists do not close
until April 10 the number Of those to
compete will be materially added to be-
bo %o1 re- hpuln