The Washington times., 1926-01-07
MA I ION IS
BACKING
HELEN
By TOM THORP

Helen Wills win international
: honors in her invasion of Europe :?
This is a burning question not
only among tennis fans, but of
all amateur sport followers
throughout the nation. Califor-
MAS lassie has won a firm place
in the hearts and affections Of the
sport fans by her true sportsman
ship on the court In her in
vasion of Europe she is carrying
with her the good wishes of all.
The history Of this demure Cali
fornia girl is one from which sport
followers. young and old. male and
female. might derive convincing
lesson. It is one that leads to the
very root OF everything that con-
tributes to success in sports or
life itself
Sterling courage, steadiness un-I
der fire, unlimited perseverance and
q quick brain that reacts without
the slightest hesitancy are the at
tributes that make Miss Wills the
American tennis champion. In
experience has been the handicap
that has kept her from taking
world honors. Tennis fans are of
the opinion the experience she re-
ceived during the last couple Of
years will enable her to win inter
national honors in her present
European invasion.
Miss Wills has been abroad a
couple of times before. On each
invasion she suffered from lack
Of time to become accIfmated be-
fore engaging i'm championship
play. Her present trip has been
arranged so that she win be able
to play in various tournaments
In Europe before engaging In the
one that she has her heart set
upon winning, the big Wimble-
n don Cup series.
The American champion is &C,
companied by her mother, the
wife of one Of the most famous
surgeons on the Pacific Coast. Their
plans call for the American title
holder playing in the French
month. After that they will travel
about the continent, Helen en-
gaging in a number of tournaments
In the spring they will move over
to England, where the champion
will train under the same climatic
conditions that she will likely meet
with in the big Wimbledon series.
This being the first time that an
American girl has ever made such
preparations for an international
series, it has aroused unusual in
terest among all sport followers
IN this country.
Helen Wills began to play tennis
Ut the age of 10. Her father
recommended the game as health
ful exercise in the open. Being
tennis star of note himself, he
undertook the task Of instructing
bis daughter in the secrets Of the
game. That his lessons did not
fall upon deaf ears is proved by
the sensational rise his pupil has
had. No other sport boasts OF a
quicker ascent to fame than the
one enjoyed by the girl from the
Golden West.
Many feel that Miss Wills has
at last reached the very peak of
her career. They figure that pre-
ViOusIy she has been Handicapped
by lack Of strength and en-
durance due to her extreme
youth. Last season her game
showed a marked improvement.
She met with only one reverse
curing the preliminary season,
EAiAnOSAH IhyoH uOAHS InS u1eApctL-
ed. However, in the national tour
ney Miss Ryan was busted off in
the semifinal round by Kathleen
hckane, who fell very decisively
before the superior play of Miss
Wills.
The United States National Lawn
Fennis Association will send rep
tesentatives,, both male and female,
to the big tournaments of Europe
this summer. The fact that tennis
has grown to be one of the most
popular sports in the United States
has caused the officials of the court
game to decide that 1t is time that
Uncle Sam made a genuine effort to
bring all title honors to this coun'
try. Thus the invasion. OF Europe
bY our athletes this year