The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-18
HELEN WILLS, " YEAR OLD INVADER FROM COAST, TO TRY FOR MOLLA'S CROWN
For Second Successive Year Youthful Star Reaches The Finals In National Meet

FOREST HILLS, N. T., August 1T. (By Associated Press.)-For the second successive year, Miss Helen Wills, 17-year-old tennis marvel of Berkley, Cal, will attempt to wrest the national singles championship from Mrs. Molla Bjurstedt Mallory of New York. But where a year ago the . coast wonder girr' proved no match for her veteran Morse rival, the bril- Sancy her game has reached this season prompted critics tonight to the belkf that she will give the title holder one of the hardest struggles of heE career, with at least an even chanceN of triumph.
 Today Miss Wills and Mrs. Mallory won deeisively in their semi-final matches on the turf courts of the Westside tennis club, proving con clusively hheir superiority over an in- ternationaE field of 61 players, the pick of AnAerica1 and British stars who started play in the tournament last Monday. Miss Wills flashed the most spectacular game she has shown all week to crush Miss Eleanor Goss of New York, 6-4, 60, while Mrs Mallory brushed aside Hrltain's last hope in the singles when she defeated Mrs. R, c. Clayton, 6-4, 6-2.
 International Contest.
 The national doubles championship will witness an international contest for the survivors of today's semi-final play were Miss Kathleen McKane and Mrs Nancy CoYell of England and the veteran American combination Miss Goss and Mrs. Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman of Boston, a former holder of both the national singles and double titles.
 Both teams, gained their final round brackets easily and promise a pretty struggle for honors tomorrow. The British pair disposed of Mrs. Helen c. Lockhorn of Mamaroneck, New York, and Mrs. Natalie Morris of New York, 60, 6-2, while Miss Goss and Mrs. Wightman gave remark able exhibition of court strategy in eliminating the youthful combination of Miss Ceres Baker of Orange, N. J., and Miss Lillian Scharman of New York, 6-1, 6-1.
 There was little to ,chose today between the effectiveness of the rival games of Miss Wills and Mrs. Nal lory.
 Reaches Greatest Heights.
 The sturdy western girl, whose play has been a dazzling feature of the tournament all week, reached even greater nights against Miss Goss than she dld yesterday in defeating Mrs. NcKahe, the ranking British star.
 Miss Wills was faultless in her maneuyering and unerring in her powerful driving game, chasing Miss Goss from side to side as she bomb arded the New Workers court relent- lessly. They battled on close to even terms in the first set, Miss Wills gaining an early lead, only to have Miss Goss rally and square the set at four all on games. But four ours in the ninth game enabled Miss Wills to break through service and she clinched the set on her own service with two placement shots In the next game.
 The final set was a walk away for Miss Wills. Outside of the third game. in which Miss Goss forced the points to deuce three times before yielding on her own service, Miss Wills al- lowed her rival but five points and always held the upper hand.
 The victory for Mss Wills evened her score with Miss Goss, who ad- ministered one of the two defeats the western Miss has sustained this season when she was victorious in a recent invitation tournament at Seabright, N. J. Mrs. Mallory also demonstrated that she is at the sop of her game in defeating Mrs Clay ton. The champion drove with all her customary power and accuracy and won by the sheer aggressive force of her attack