Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-08

Nice, France, Feb. 7-(AP)-Su-
zanne Lenglen and Helen Wills met
across the tennis net today for the first
time in their careers and the mighty
Suzanne was victorious. The score was
81, 6-2, and the match was in the
mixed doubles, Suzanne pairing with
Baron Henri de Morpurgo, and Helen
with Charles F. Aeschlimann.
The match provided the most thrill
ing, electrifying tennis ever seen in the
Riviera, especially the first three
games of the first set, which experts
of 20 years standing say has never
been surpassed.
The fact that the queens of the Eu-
ropean and American courts were as
sisted by devoted knights of the rae
quet, who participated in the fray and
influenced the tide of battle, makes
the result inconclusive as to the set
Element Of the supremacy between the
two greatest women tennis players in
the world.
The meeting today was only the pre-
lude to the duel set for next week,
when Miss Wills and Mile. Lenglen
will face each other provided both
come through the preliminaries, and
Then the intense rivalry between the
new and the old world tennis will be
settled without appeal.
The French champion proved today
that she is the greatest woman mixed
dnnhlac nj fanniG ha G known
rising to heights that even she herself
never attained in the singles.
The American girl, on the other
hand, showed that her mixed doubles
game apparently had been neglected
through the development of her singles
efficiency Thus far she has demon
strated that she is a much greater sim
giles than a doubles player.
To the large assembly-including
British royalty. the Duke OF Con-
naught, Indian potentates and kings OF
finance--the contest WAS a strictly Su-
zanne- Helen affair and De Morpurgo
and Aeschlimann, great doubles play
ers as they are, were only secondary.
For once the experts figures agreed
with the laymen's enthusiasm and the
point score indicates that IL was the
superiority of Mile. Lenglen over Miss
Wills that decided the victory. the men
being about even on points earned ana
lost.
Helen's weakness consisted Of play
ing the ball too high into Suzannc's
racquet The French girl appeared,
in covering the net, like bird on the
wing, fitting here and there and never
missing return, which she generally
smashed back at Aeschlimann's feet
for nets.
Only once did Miss Wills and her
partner appear to have Suzanne and
her partner on the run. 1t was in the
second set, when the games were one
all. Miss Wills showed the trench
dous speed in her stroke that had made
her for three successive years cham.
pion. She won the third game to love
on service. aceing Suzanne twice, while
the spectators cheered.
The difference in the style and play
of the two girls was as wide as the
two worlds they represent. Suzanne
was laughing and debo.eir; Helen
grim-visaged and determined. as they
entered the courts. Mile. Lenglen was
the great artist appearing before her
home people in her home town. The
great show-woman of France bowed
and smiled to her public, but behind
the smiles and precociouS wrinkles
which the sun and wind in her openair
life have woven there lurked a shadow
of anxiety and self-consciousness.
Helen was cool and collected, her
usual paleness accentuated only
slightly. She seemed outwardly the
calmest person among the five thons-
and present. While Suzanne pranced
opposite the baseline, unable to re-
main quiet a moment, Helen stood
stock still.
"Are you ready Miss Lenglen?'
Umpire st. Omerroy asked.
Yes" Suzanne fairly shouted.
To the same query Miss Wills re-
piled with slightest inclination of the
head. She spoke no word.
Baron De MOrpurgo won the toss,
and elected to serve himself after
Mile LenGlen had declined the honor.
Continued on Page 5-Col. 81