Evening star., 1924-07-20
By the Associated Press.

| By the Associated Press
LYMPIC STADIUM, Colom-
bes, France, July 19-The
United States won the first
of the finals of the Olympic tennis
championships this afternoon. when
Miss Helen Wills and Mrs. George
Wightman defeated Miss Kathleen
Mckane and Mrs. Covell, Great
| Britain, IS, 80.
Members of the American Olympic
squad will be on one side of the nets
| IN the finals for the three other prin-
cipal championships-the mems sin
giles, women's singles and mems
doubles-and there is a further pos
may fiutter from the side of the
scoreboard when the fifth and last
event-mixed doubIes-is concluded
Nor day.
Vincent Richards. who will meet
Henri Cochet, France. tomorrow for
the foremost of all five titles to be
won on the Olympic courts-that OF
singles champion-also has reached
the finals in the mems doubles He
and his partner, Francis r Hunter.
footed French team. Borotra and La
Coste, in five sets Of fast and thrill
ing play: The score was CO, 6-3,
Go, 81, 6-3.
Gallic, pair, Brugnon and Cochet, who
greatly pleased their countrymen to-
day by defeating the South Africans,
Condon and Richardson, 81, 6-3,
ID, 10-S.
Chance Mt Three Titles.
Richards has an opportunity 10
carry the triple title away from
the finals in both singles and dou-
bles, but, paired with Mrs. Jessup.
he is still in the running for the
mixed doubles championship. Rich
ards and Mrs. Jessup this afternoon
reached the semi-fnals in that event
by an easy victory over the Spanish
couple, Eduardo F,laquer and Senorita
Alvarez, 6-3, 81
Richards was weary, having only
short time before come away from
the mems doubles, but Mrs. Jessup
more than held up her end of the
fight.
The finals for the women's title be-
tween Miss Helen Wills and Mile.
waste, vlasto, france, is scheduled for
o'clock tomorrow afternoon. with the
mems title to be decided after the
match.
me remaining championship con-
tests-menS doubles and mixed dou-
pies-Wlll be contested Monday.
Women'S Battle Keen.
The battle for the women's doubles
Championship this afternoon was in
tensely interesting throughout every
minute.
From the start of the match to the
END Miss Wills was the star player OF
the quartet Her errors were few, her
fine finishing shots were many. Through
out her judgment was good.
Under the fury of Miss Wills driving
and Mrs. Wightman's neat backhand
shots, made in a manner all her own
then failed. This happened in both first
and second sets, and all that Miss Nc
Kane could do would not ward off de-
feat.
There were several close line de-
cisionS during the match. One of them
was called at a time when Mrs Covell
was serving, and the British pair had
put l point to win to capture the sec
ond set. 1t was on high lob which
Mrs. Covell lifted deep over the Amer
leans court, and the lineSman called il
out.
There were cries of 'No," in both
French and English from the stands,
and perhaps Mrs. CoveIl was not only
disappointed, but bit flustered at the
event She proceeded to serve a double
fault. and the score became deuce. From
this point of equality the Americans
went ahead and took the game on two
more errors by Mrs. Covell Then they
took several more games.
Helen Wills Cool.
In the next to the last game of the
match, with the score all and Miss
Wills serving, a similar long lob from
her racquet, which was pronounced in
side the back-court line, evoked chorus
Of 'booes'' from some of the crowd.
The shouts of disapproval, however,
were not made in English
Calm and solemn as she always is on
the court, no matter what happens,
Miss Wills waited for the noises to
subside. then went ahead with a good
service and ultimately won the game, to
lead at Is. 1t was the first time the
Americans had been in front in the sec
ond set.
In the last game the Americans
smashed through Miss Mckane's serv-
ice to win the match.