Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-24
Queen IS MACHINE, !.
!. FOE SHOWS SPIRIT.
Mrs. WhittingstalI Glorious
In Defeat in Final of U. S.
Net Tourney.
By J. r. ALLEN.


n YEW YORK, August 24.-No
shuttle in the loom speeds
IN it's monotonous way more
surely than the strokes of
Mrs. Helen Wills Moody weave a
defeat for an opponent. One ad-
mires the Rock a Gibraltar for its
unshakable grandeur. 1t is passive
reflex. So it is with lawn tennis
victory by this young woman from
california Finely done. one must
admit. Like other products of the
machine age it is invincible. Yet
not a thrill or Il quickening pulse.
beat is inspired by it.
In winning the American singles
championship for the seventh time In
her career this player. who has upheld
reign somewhat Victorian In its au-
sterity, indicates that the old stone
wall" type of campaign is not TO be
despised. The real tingling attack. the
hire of dash was with Mrs Eileen Ben-
nett whittingstall. The British player
was glorious in defeat as the American
equaled Big Bill Tilden's record OF seven
.llfUSS nhbtukldl CAidHlplOhs
hHRS. MOODY depends chiefly upon
Ilfl her drives. That was evident as
she stood for the most part feet
behind her baseline to properly recover
the lightning flashes that the British
v oman shot at her. Her stroke equip
ment Is by no means so extensive as
one might suppose of such consistent
winner. AS wallis Myers. the English
expert. remarked to the writer at the
tnnish: THE American possesses the
steadiness, but the other girl has an
Infinitely greater variety OF strokes.
Sadly fatigued by match play and Ill
ness, Mrs. Whittingstall made gallant
Night of the first set. Her net attack
scarcely stood up to its flaming fire that
toppled over Miss Helen Jacobs and
Miss Betty Nuthall When she raced
b volley, hand, nerves and eve failed
10 coordinate. This stood forth clearly
In the second set, when she repeatedly
tnissed openings big enough to drive
Through q coach and four.
There was no mistaking the attitude
BE- the gallery at Forest Hills. 1t was
distinctly with the gallant Mrs. Whit
'kinRstali-and incidentally the match
marked the FIRST time that married
women have fought for the title. Her
tremendous sweep and boldness adorned
he battle with the color that appealed.
Tet It was all splsshes against the drab
background that Mrs. Moody provided.
|VIJHIE Mrs Moody may not be as
/ w agile IS a cat on her feet. there
Is the certainty that her brain re-
bets clear and true. Her strategy
against the British player was prac-
sicslly faultiess. Much OF the time
hinder high pressure. she was able. with
y fair degree of uniformity. to stroke
for sharper and still sharper angles Tor
The points
j Apparently, rs the analysis reveals,
frs. Whittingstsll had studied fore
aand and backhand stroke production
d her opponent As Miss Mary K.
Browne. former national champion. re-
marked to the writer the other day:
ronder why they play Helen's nacknand
% much. 1t Is better than her fore
hand"
So the British player bombarded that
orehand Mrs Moody stroked the ball
bfT her forehand for winners total OF
Rs times, as against exactly half that
humber frcm her left wing. The
american brought on a total Of place
nents. outs and 10 nets from her
orehand. It was placements, outs
IND nets from the left.
Mrs Whittingstall In her tabulation
Revealed the agility Of court covering,
rh!ch is so much part Of her playing.
she strokcd the ball total OF % times
rom her forehand and 20 from her
sackhand From the regulation right
3ide she scored 4 total Of placements,
nd lost on IL outs and s nets. The
British player scored two placements
rom her left side and lost II outs and
nets.