Evening star., 1924-06-19

American champion, o., 81, 6-3.
A crowd OF less than 5000 watched
the start of today's play. The bright
sun was tempered by a cool breeze.
stroking brought about Miss Wills
downfall today. Miss Mckane led the
attack at most stages and kept the
commanding position nearly all the
time. She won all but two or three
although brilliant at times, seemingly
could not abstain from errors more
than a moment or two.
Miss Wills playing was consider
ably better than yesterday, when her
tightly-strung racket was forever
hitting the ball out of the court. To-
day her fault, aside from slowness OF
foot and an apparent inclination to
accept the defensive role, was under
hitting, the net capturing many of
her drives. even some attempted vol
leys and soft drop strokes.
Miss McKane's aim was sure most
of the time, while she was fast on
her feet and got all the returns with
the exception of the impossible ones.
Match LIS Thrilling.
The match between Mrs. Covell and
Mrs. Mallory brought out the finest
and fastest tennis since the matches
began After a tame start, the Amer
lean star in the second set regained ed
the fine speed and econine grace
that marks her game at it's highest
She anticipated almost every return
and covered the entire court with a
quickness that more than equaled her
opponents. who played with the same
sureneSs of stroke as yesterday in
her match with Miss Wills.
Five OF the nine games in the final
set went into deuces. Mrs. Mallory
had the third game in hand when
she stumbled in going after the ball
and fell on her hands, Mrs. Covell
eventually winning the game. The
pace was hard and fast throughout
with the Briton a little surer than
the American in her returns.
In the last game, when within a
point of losing the match. Mrs. NAL
lory made a glorious pickup in the
corner from an almost impossible
drive from the net, but was able only
momentarily to stave off defeat.
The defeat was even worse thar
that suffered yesterday when Miss
Wills was beaten by Mrs. Phyllis Co
veil. 6-2. 6-4.
Believe Suzanne Safe.
The majority of the sport critics In
this mornings London newspapers
agree that Miss Wills was mainly de-
feated yesterday by the unfamiliar
conditions of the English climate and
courts, and especially the difference
between the American and English
balls. Some are of the opinion also
that, apart from these handicaps. she
was below her usual form, and the
suggestion is made that stage fright
was responsible for her poor showing
Considerable doubt is expressed
whether she will be able to win
through to the finals of the coming
championship tournament to meet SUI
zanne Lenglen. the world champion
although great improvement in her
play is expected as she becomes more
accustomed to the conditions here
Even so, the critics of yesterdays
play do not consider that Mile. Leng-
len has any reason to fear her. Miss
Wills footwork is remarked by the
critics as slow, while Mile. Lengler
is notably fast on her feet.
One writer says: ITO speak of her
as a rival of Lenglen savors Of Grass
stupidity" Another, evidently capti-
waited by her personality, regrets
that she has been made "a most un-
willing victim of the campaign OF
publicity of the past weeks" which
made her defeat all the more sensa
tional.
The American women lost all three
of yesterdays matches.
Yesterday Miss McKane won from
Mrs. Mallory, 6-3, 6-3. In the dou-
bles Mrs Covell and Mrs. Shepher-
Barron defeated Mrs. Marion Z. Jes-
sup and Miss Goss, 60, 6-2.