The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-07-20

ms, how she laced championship
matches and what hope there
may be that all young girls may
take up the game. Miss Halsey
is member of the New York
reportoral staff of the Associat-
ed Press.)
New York, July 20. Up) AN ar
dent hope for an increasing interest
among young women in the sport
she loves moved Miss Helen Wills,
once Of California but now acclaimed
as Helen Of America to tell the
Associated Press that the fun in It"
alone is sufficient warrant for young
girls to take up tennis. Because she
does love the game and does want it
to have Il greater place, particularly
among women, in recreation life of
the Land. she endured the longest
interview Of her young lifc,-and
came through smiling.
She was asked to begin where she
began tennis and to bring the story
through to the thricc-rcpeated cham
ponships. even to the eager present
where she is back on the courts aft
err an operation and is preparing for
the contest soon to come when she
hopes to seek her fourth champion
ship.
Always Plays For Fun
Il played for fun. ! practiccd by
playing games, not by drilling on
strokes" she said. II never bounced
the ball against Il barnyard door. |
played against those who could show
me the simple principles Of position
and strokes and then l worked out
my own technique. The result was
that | never noticed any sudden mas
| terry of special stroke but just
found my game improving gradually.
strengthening as continued to
play"
"Werc your opponents always
girls?'
"Not at all. 1 played a good deal
with men, as all girls should, be-
cause by doing so they will harden
and pull up their game. Then, too,
men play the game harder and better
and it is the best thing anyone can
do to play against players better
than herself and to play against
players playing ut their best. That
is why match play is such good
thing, besides being more exciting
than ordinary nlaying."
Her story of her developments in
tennis, she believes, can become the
story Of any American girl who will
combine >"fun" with carncstness in
playing the game. Her story con-
tinucs:
Tournament Playing Best
"All young tennis players should
quickly ret into tournament playing
/ no matter how modest the tourna-
ment. Ny first year in the Berkeley
Tennis Club brought me my first
tournament at the age Of Is. was
defeated but remember the big
thrill that first tOurn9ment gave me.
Mrs Marjorie Vale kress beat me
in the first round, but was pleased
with myself because took set.
Mrs. Krcss was then ranking fourth
or fifth player in the state
When Helen went to college she
continued to play almost daily after
she finished her classes. The fact
that she did not enter into college
athletics. or outside activities was
probably responsible, she admits, for
the fact that she continued to win
tennis tournaments and still was
; able. by her junior year, to win a
Phi Beta Kappa key, with heavy
major in art.
Before she discussed how she play
cd in her championship matches she
gave 10 points for the use of would
!, be champions of the court rs fol-
J lows:
"First, get plenty Of practice.
J "Second, choose variety Of OPP
} ponents.
J "Third. get fun out of your play
} ing.
} "Fourth. have good equipment :
this means good racquet. we'll
} strung, good balls. decent court
, and comfortable clothes.
Fifth. watch good players and
: tournament matches, not to copy. but
to unconsciously absorb the rhythm
of the game.
sixth. play with players better
!. than yourself.
Seventh. develop your footwork on
the court.
! Eighth. don't fool on the court;
! concentrate on doing your best.
: ninth. relax completely before and
after games.