Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25

"OREST HILLS, N. Y, August ~.
- In the hardest final round
battle she has had since the
i English star, Kitty McKane.
forced her to an extra set in
1925. Helen Wills won the national
women's tennis championship for the
sixth time before a gallery of 5000 at
the West Side Stadium this afternoon.
Once again the stubborn challenge came
from the hard-driving racket Of an
English player and it was only after 90
minutes of holly fought and thrilling
tennis that the queen of the courts
overcame the gallant Mrs. Phoebe Wat
son Of England's Wightman Cup team
by scores Of Ga. 60.
With this final victory went undis-
puted singles supremacy over the FEM
mime players Of the world for the third
time in as many years as the Berkeley,
Calf, tennis marvel previously this SEA
son has won the open championships Of
England and France.
British Win Doubles.
Mrs. Watson's sterling tennis and
craftsmanship gained their reward in
the all-English final for the national
women's doubles championship. as she
and Mrs. Peggy Saunders Michel, the
British titleholders, came from behind
to beat out their compatriots, Mrs.
Phyllis Covell and Mrs. Dorothy Shop
herd-Barron, by scores of 2-6, 6-3,
Ga. The match was well played and
held the fans in their seats until the
final shot.
Earlier in the day Mrs. Watson and
Mrs. Michel had won their way into
the final by defeating the Anglo
American combination of Betty Nuthall
and Helen Jacobs by scores of ell,
6-3. Ga. Although participating in
her third hard match of the day, Mrs.
Watson was a dominating figure in the
doubles final, her wel;-aimed drives
causing as much trouble for Mrs.
Covell and Mrs. Shepherd Barron as
they had done for Miss Wills. taking
six games from the champion, Mrs.
Watson captured three times as many
as Helen's five opponents in the earlier
rounds this week had been able to win
together. In last years final Helen
Jacobs Tailed only three games and the
previous season Betty Nuthall. the
promising English youngster, could do
no better than five.
Stadium Rings With Cheers.
So surprising a battle did Mrs. Wat
son put up that the stadium rang with
applause n outright cheers. Her
every winning shot was hailed with
excited acclaim, while those Of Miss
Wills we're met with polite handicap
ping. The contest from start Il finish
provided the unusual spectacle of an
American crowd at an American cham
p1onship frankly and v~ociferously tax
ing the side Of the foreign player
against the American t%itleholder.
In many OF the long, deep court
n held the gallery enthralled, Mrs.
Watson's strokes carried more sting
and accuracy than those of the cham
pion herself. Peppering the corners
and playing to Helen's backhand when
ever possible. Mrs. Watson again and
again was able to work her out Of DO
sition and finish the rally by punching
over a placement.
The wonderful sharp-shooting Of the
English player is indicated by the fact
that she scored IL placements in the
TWO sets to Helen'S five. The strong
service Of the American girl proved an
important factor. producing three aces
in the opening set at moments when
they were needed badly.
Pierces HeIen's Service.
The greatest excitement came soon
after the match began, and again short
ly before the end.
Almost before the gallery could realize
what was taking place Mrs. Watson.
starting service, had won the opening
game. Hitting out boldly she had taken
the offensive and was forcing Helen
into costly errors. Bedlam broke loose
when, after dropping the next two
games. she pierced Helen's famous can
non-ball service. then forced ahead on
her own delivery.
But here Miss Wills rallied her forces
with the cool courage that marks the
champion. and bouncing upon those siz-
cling drives she sent them whistling
back so fast that Mrs. Watson dropped
three games in a row. Still fighting, she
pulled out her next service game, but
Helen raced through the next at love
for the set.
In the longest game Of the match,
Mrs. Watson took her service after
Helen had reeled of the first two of the
second set. But the champion was play
ing at top speed now. Five of the first
six games in this set went to Miss Wills,
and then, with almost certain defeat
staring her in the face, Mrs. Watson
came up from love-40 to win her service
and get a moments reprieve.
At match point for the fourth time
in the next game Miss Wills again was
beating back before she finally out
Unanswered her foe for the deciding
point.