New Britain herald., 1928-02-04
BY HENRY l.. FARRELL
 NEA Service Sports Writer

 NEA Service Sports Writer
 Distinguished champions in no small number took the count during the 1927 season and more In the natural course of events will step down this year, but there seems to be one pretty and popular young miss who has all the promise of a continued reign.
 We asked gentleman who makes very handsome living by picking 1 winners and playing them what the odds should be that Helen Wills will be the champion when the 1928 season closes.
 "I'll lay ten to one" he said. without a moments hesitation, land I'll let you have accident and illness against me-"
 It would seem then that the young Berkeley girl is sitting pretty as the new season approaches and ia in a position to watch the other girls fight for the lower places on the international ranking list. There is no doubt that Miss Wills ranks as the greatest amateur wom- an player in the world today and there are number of competent critics who believe she could beat Mile. Suzanne Lenglen. the profess sional champion, If a meeting could be arranged.
 Another match between the great French wizard and the young Ameri- can artist on first thought might seen, to be out of the question be- cause open competition between a professional and an amateur Is not countenanced by the tennis associa- tion and also because Mile. Lenglen has announced that she intends to play no mor~in public.
 But lot of strange and radical moves by such a conservative or ganization as the tennis associa- ton may be expected if the nsso- ciation doesn't find some way of getting the financial support of the public for the amateur champion nship tournaments.
 It would not bc a shock to those
 
 who have access to some facts to hear that the association might ap- prove of or even promotet a match between Rene Lacoste and Winnie Richards and between Mile. Lenglen and Miss Wills. Maybe this is q dream.
 As far as her national position fig b.. of the class and her international security is as we'll established.
 Betty Nuthall. tho pretty little English girl. may arrive when Miss Wills has passed her prime. But women tennis players last for a long time. Miss Nuthali is not a men, ace now as she has just learned how to serve overhead.
 Kea Bouman. the charming Dutch girl: Sanorita D Alveraz. the daz- zling Spanish girl: Kitty Mckane Godfrne. the English champion and Didi Nlasto are all first class players but they do not rank with Miss Wills
 AS Bill Tilden says-"You can group the women players in only one way. Miss Wills has no equal and the others have to be placed in secondary and lower group. She ought 10 be the champion for six or seven more years and she is still a very young girl and she lives tennis"
 Living tennis" is the big asset of the California girl. It is her hobby and almost her life. The other girls do not take their game so seriously. You will see Senori,a rAlvarcz in the picture above en- toying the winter resorts at St. . Moritz
 With the exception of Mrs. God free. the other European stars are wealthy and they do not care to take the trouble 10 train and keep on their game.
 Miss Wills. in the oniniion of Mary K. Browne. one of the best critics in the game. is now at the top of her form.
 T don't believe she can improve her game, but she doesn't need 10 better it. She can keep if on the same edge for years and that will make her the superior of her cla ss. ] believe she could have given Mile Lenglen a terrific fight when Mile. Ienglen was in her prime. Per haps she could have beaten her"