Evening star., 1923-11-11

with Mile. Lenglen ii is different.
1t is true that she has established
herself as a remarkab BILE player. Her
strokes are taken with mastery ease.
Her quickness and agility. her an
ticipation of an opponents difficult
shot. her keen eye. and perfect sense
or timing are all proved beyond
question. She has defeated with but
little effort the best players that
Europe could offer, or that we could
send over.
Some Have Their Doubts.
But in spite Of her remarkable sue
cess and her undoubted superiority
10 those with whom she has played,
the public, both here and abroad, has
never been convinced of her ability
to win against all odds. Every time
that a new woman player has come
into prominence, either in England
or on the continent, there has been
an immediate question, "Will she
beat SuZanne?'
In spite of the fact that France
glories in. her. and England admires
her, both countries have wondered
just how long she would last and
nave waited eagerly for some new
player to develop who could meet
her as an equal. But though stars
nave arisen and been hailed as the
certain successors Of the brilliant
french woman, not one of them has
been able to dispute her claim of
being the worlds greatest woman
player.
Is it possible that our seventeen
year-old champion, a school girl with
no international experience, can go
over and defeat SO formidable rival,
SO seasoned an opponent?
"a should Miss Wills go. to France
ana should she meet Mile. Lenglen,
as we all hope, there is no doubt
tnat It will be terrible test of
strength for the young America n
girl Everyone realizes by this time
Just how difficult it is for a player
to go to a foreign country and do
himself or herself justice. Mile.
Lenglen. Mrs. Mallory, Miss Goss. Miss
Mchane, to mention a few Of the women
VINO have tried it, have all failed. 1t
VIII be Miss Wills first trip abroad.
Faces Strange Conditions.
Everything will be strange. CIi-
mate, food, all living conditions will
be utterly different to what she has
been accustomed. There will be a
strange public, strange tongue, and
under these adverse conditions she
VIII have to meet, for the first time,
tne greatest woman player in the world.
what test for an eighteen-year- old
girl,
Not only because of her playing in her
own country, under familiar living
conditions, but because of her many
years OF international play. She will
too. ii l am not mistaken, be extreme
ly keen to win, for victory over our
American champion, the girl who had
SO easily defeated Miss McKane and
Mrs. Mallory. would indeed be a tri-
umph for the French champion.
j have purposely put Miss Wills
because 1 want the public to realize
just how difficult task she will have
and how greatly the odds are against
her.
For two years I have said that she
would eventually beat every other
but I have not expected that she
would be able to accomplish this on
her first trip abroad. At her age.
however. and with her unusual char
dict. Her improvement this year was
astonishing and her sensational vic
tory over Miss McKane, Miss Goss and
Mrs. Mallory we'll deserved triumph.
I can not quite see how it is possible
for her to win abroad with so much
against her, but am convinced that
she will put up game that will make
America proud of her.
LengIen Has Defects.
Lenglen has two defects in her
armor, her temperament and the lack
of great speed in her drives. In both
these things Helen Wills excels. 1t is
a problem what Lenglen will do when
she finds herself opposed to such
speed as she has never before encoun-
tered, and against poise and mem
tality that is far more mature than
her own. Will she be stimulated to an
even greater effort. or will the ag-
eressive game of Miss Wills force her
on the defensive and break down her
fighting quality?
n can only hope that Miss Wills will
certainly go for this match should be
a great event in tennis and one wor-
thy of the two countries.
Copyright 1927 s.