The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-28
"Little BilP Johnston j,
Cops Worlds Tennis
Title In Great Match
Mile. Suzanne LengIen COL
Iapses After Hard Day On
st. Cloud Courts

SAINT CLOUD, France. May 81
(By Associated Press).-William NJ.
johnson of California today defeated
]. Washer, of Belgium in the final
round for the mems singles hard
courts championship of the world.
Suzanne Lenglen defeated Miss
Kathleen McKane of England for the
women's title.
In the women's doubles, Miss Nc
Kane and Mrs. Beamish, England,
won from Mile. Lenglen and Nine
Golding, ca, 6-3, while in the mixed
doubles NJ. Cochet and Mile. Lenglen
defeated J. B. Gilbert and Miss Nc
Kane, 60, 1913.
Wasser gave Johnston merry bat
tie, winning the first and fourth sets
from the American. The final score
was As, 60, As, SO.
Mademoiselle Lenelen in the sin
giles defeated Miss McKane, 6-3. Ga.
The strain of the hard tournament
may mean the retirement for long
period for Mile Lenglen. who col
lapsed after the last set in the Wom-
ems doubles, in which she and her
partner went down to defeat before
Miss McKane and Mrs. Beamish.
Il simply can't do it," said Mile.
Lenglen as Mrs. Beamish's last place
ment shot for the final point. sailed
just outside her reach without the
champion having made any attempt
to return it.
With the close of the last hard
courts championship tournament to
be held under the present interna-
tional rules, one championship, the
mems singles, goes to the United
States, the women's doubles Will be
taken across the Channel by Miss Nc
Kane and Mrs Beamsh. while France
will hold three of the titles-the
womens singles, won by Mile. Len
glen; the mixed doubles. won by NJ.
Cochet and Mile. Lenglen and the
mems doubles; won by j. Brugnon
and NJ Dupont.
A Repetition.
The Lenglen- McKane match was a
repetition of the numerous previous
meetings between the two foremost
women players, of Europe. Both
played carefully, remaining on the
| base lines and never Venturing near
through superior steadiness on Miss
McKane's errors after long rallies,
both players were extremely nervous
each losing her first service in the
first set. But then LenSlen broke
through the English girls service
McKane brought the score 3-2, and
then Suzanne won two straight games
at So. Miss McKane took the eighth
game after it had gone deuce several
times. Then Lenglen won the ninth
game ad set to love. The second set
was very much like the first, being
careful and unimpressive club tennis
as between two handicap players,
with neither sparkling placement
shorts or either player taking the
slightest chance.
Washer, after being down two sets
to one, made a wonderful recovery
an dnever allowed Johnston to take
the lead in the fourth set. Johnson
appeared badly tired as the set end
ed. while the sturdy athletic Belgian
was growing stronger.
Johnstons sizzling FOREHEAD drives
made little impression upon Washer
who had as much pace and length as
the American. They were having a
give ad take battle in the final set
when Johnston finally won out.
Base Line Driving.
The chief characteristic of the
match was the base line driving of
Johnston who apparently has too
wholesome respect for the Belgian
placing ability to try too much net
playing The Belgian easily found
his stride at the very beginning,
playing rings around the Call1ornlan
and taking the first set from him pc
fore Johnston could settle down to
ANYTHING like championship form In
the second set. however, johnston
made a remarkable rally and breezed
through the play, giving Washer only
10 points for the entire set.
Cochet played very poorly in the
mixed doubles match with Nine. Len
glen. Suzanne, time and again re-
trieved shots that had gone over MS
head. as he inisted on keeping close
TO the net The French girl was very
tired after her singles match and
had recurrence during the mixed
doubles of the heart trouble which
bothered her last year. but resumed
play after a short fainting spell. She
still was a very tired worlds cham
MON when she entered the match
against Miss McKane and Mrs. Bea-
mish. She was complaining of pains
in the region of her heart and had
decided to default. She played only
after strong persuasion by the OIL
Gals. WI,
I,englen may not enter the VIM
bledon tournament. 1t is likely that
she NAV have to take long rest.
The English pair was aware or Len
glen's disability and kept PLAYING In
her mart of the court and passing her
repeatedly. Nine. Golding played
wonderful game, but she could not
stem the tide.
suzanne after the match said
This was silly stunt of attempt
ING 70 play three finals in one day.
Never again."
n I'LL. A oGs.,s&.,