The New York herald., 1922-07-11
Miss Ballin Loses to Miss
Gardner and L. B. Rice just
Beats C. K Shaw
By SAMUEL ). BRookMAN.

| PROVIDENCE, r. l., July 10.-That
Agawam has taken rank with Seabright
Newport and Southampton as one of the
leading grass court tournaments of the
season Is now more or less established.
A more or less obscure event two or
| three years ago. the Rhode Island cham
pionship fixture thanks to it's growing ap-
peal to players of top rank. must now be
looked upon as one of the important COM
petitions of the year. OF the men who
hold places in, the select circle on the
country's first ten, no less than six are
here. and what better assurance may
be had for top notch tennis?
They did not all get into action to-
day William T. Tilden, world cham
pion, was still on the rails somewhere
between Indianapolis and Providence
when play began. headed this way with
Zenzo Shimizu, whom he defeated on
Sunday in the final of the national clay
court championship. Vincent Richards.
whose triumph over Tilden In the final
or the Agawam Hunt Club courts year
ago furnished one of the sensations OF
an exceptional tennis year, was trying
in vain to coax ten mile an hour
tlivver to make the trip from Yonkers to
Providence in time to play his match
and Samuel Hardy. captain of the 1920
Davis Cup team, was also delayed.
But with Wallace F. Johnson of Phila-
delphia, Lawrence b. Rice and Nathaniel
w. Niles of Boston, S. Howard VosheIl
of New York. Philip Neer and James
Davies of California on hand. the gallery
did not want for spectacular. thrilling
play.
Prominent Women Players.
4. Assisting all these stars In the enter
tainment OF a surprisingly large opening
day gallery were some OF the most
prominent women players in America.
among them Miss Leslie Bancroft of
Boston, finalist last week in the clay
court championship, Miss Florence Ballin
Of New York, Miss Lillian Scharman Of
Brooklyn. Miss Martha Bayard OF Short
Hills. Mrs. Frank Godfrey Of Boston,
Mrs. Benjamin F. Briggs Of New York
and last but not least, Miss Helen Wills
of California, 16 year old tennis prodigy
and holder Of the Pacific coast senior
title. 1t was at this tournament year
ago that the California school girl first
made her appearance on an Eastern
court. It will be remembered that she
astonished then with surprisingly de-
cisive victories over women of expert
ence and high rating. and IL her form
to-day. Is any criterion she Is about ia
1t remained for the women's singles
to furnish the only upset of the day.
The victim was Miss Florence Ballin,
who has been inside or just outside the
first ten in national rank for half
dozen years or so. The victor was
Miss Katherine Gardner Of Boston,
who. while quite an experienced player,
never has rated as Miss Ballin's equal
or anywhere near her place in ranking.
But whether Miss Gardner was playing
well above her usual speed or whether
she has improved greatly in a single
season the fact remains that she out
steadied and outplayed Miss Ballin to-
day by more or less convincing margin.
Despite a cramped style of driving
Miss Gardner sent her shots through
with great speed. kept the ball travel
ing deep and did not hesitate to~play
the lines and the corners boldly. She
varied length and speed and when fol-
lowing forcing shots to the net was
not the least timid about stroking the
ball powerfully in volleying or smashing
for placement. With the exception of
the second set, when Miss Gardner
slackened her pace considerably. the
Boston girl gave Miss Ballin great
trouble with the length and speed Of
her drives. The score was 7-5, 3-6. 6-3
The upset came after both Miss Ballin
and Miss Gardner had taken their FIRST
round matches with ease.
Shaw Extends Rice.
In what proved to be the feature Of
the day In mems singles, Lawrence b.
Rice, ninth in the national rank. one
of the few who defeated Tilden year