New Britain herald., 1927-08-30
DOUBLES TITLE TO
GO ACROSS Ocean
Two English Tennis Teams Will
Clash in Finals
By MARY X. BROWNE
United Press STAFF CORRESPONDENT


New York, Aug. 80 (UP)-Helen
Wills Is the lone American survivor
in the national women's tennis
championship of the United States.
Had Helen played in the doubles. we
might have had an American team
in the finals of that event. AS things
stand the ladies' doubles champion
ship of the United States is bound TO
cross the Atlantic, for two English
teams will clash in the finals.
Our chances of keeping the singles
title is easily 20 to /, for Helen
Wills SO far outclasses the strongest
field it is possible to master in the
amateur world of tennis. that none
of her opponents are conceded a
chance to beat her. Betty Nuthall,
the 16 year old English girl, the
deer" little Minerva of the courts
will extend Helen if anyone can.
l feel that the strength of Helen
Wills service and the weakness of
Betty's will be the biggest factor in
Helen's favor. for both ways Helen
has the edge. This difference in
their relative strength is very OBJ
vious, for Betty Nuthalls underhand
delivery of service comes up, ASK
ing to be hit
Helen Wills service comes over
with a great deal of pace of with a
decided cut. Helen can smash
Betty's service so hard as to place
the English girl so much on the de-
fensive that she will have difficulty
in launching an aggressive attack.
Miss Nuthall can do little more than
get the ball in play from Helen's
service.
After the service Betty can contest
the points and should Helen baby
the ball the English girl can take
over the offensive. The heavy court
will be In favor Of the English girl.
1t seems to me we have been I'M
usually hospitable in ordering cold,
wet English weather for our visit
ors. Still with everything in her
favor l cannot concede Betty Nut
hall more than five games in two
sets from Helen Wills.
Regardless of what the outcome
of today's match, Betty Nuthall has
gained considerable glory in reach
ing the finals of her first tournament
in a foreign land. She has adapted
her game to the new conditions like
a real champion. In fact. there mas
only been one other woman in the
tennis world who has done as we'll
and perhaps better. That was May
Sutton, who 20 years ago went TO
England for her first tournament on
foreign soil. She won the Champion
ship of Great Britain without the
loss of a set. She was sixteen, the
same age as Betty Nuthall. Helen
Wills, Molla Mallory and Mrs. Cod
froe have all had difficulty in adapt
ing their game to 'the new condl-
tions found in playing tennis abroad.
have called Betty Nuthall. the
Deer" Little Minerva of the Courts
because she is adorable looking on
the court, runs like deer and Is
thinking rapid fire in every rally.
She uses her head as we'll as any
one I have ever seen on the court
with the exception of Suzanne Leng-
len. T am thoroughly convinced she
has great promise for the future.
She has fine instincts for the right
shot at the right time, quickness OF
foot and good nerve and is well
built.
Yesterdays tennis, from begin
ming to end, was very dull and poor.
The heavy courts and intermittent
showers had much to do with 1t.
It was an expensive day for new
tennis balls and havoc on mems
WOODEN socks. New balls were used
every three games and all the mems
wooden socks were recruited from
the locker room and worn over the
shoes of the players to give them
better footing on the slippery courts.
Most of the English girls had their
spikes.
Mrs. Chaplin. conqueror or Molia
Mallory, was grealy handicapped IN
her match with Betty Nuthall With
out either spikes or wooden SOCKS
over her shoes, until the last set.
She could not get set to hit her
shots, they ended in mid-court and
lacked pace. She did not play the
game that defeated Mrs. Mallory.