Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-04
Present TitlehoIder,
Former Ruler Will
Clash Tomorrow
Willie Herbert, Choice
OF Gallery, Awaiting
Opponent in Semis
BY BILL DISMER, Jr.


The winner of tomorrow's semi
final match between Defending
Champion Mango Lee and Mary
Cootes Belin, title-holder in 1887 and
'39. will be an odds-on choice to
capture The Stars City of Wash
ington tennis tournament, which
winds up Saturday at Army Navy
Country Club.
But if there ever was a popular
favorite to beat either of these two
lassies, it is little Willie O'Steen
Herbert, likely finalist from the OPP
posite half of the draw.
Willie didn't know this morning
whether she would be called upon
to face fourth-Seeded Charlotte
Decker or Peggy KeySer Smith in
tomorrow's other semifinal. Miss
Decker was indisposed yesterday and
her quarter-flnal match with Mrs.
Smith was postponed until this
afternoon by mutual agreement. But
whoever wins will be a short ender
against Mrs. Herbert. who appears
to be playing some OF the best ten
mis- of her career.
Has All Other Titles.
One reason why most tennis folk
would like to see Mrs. H. come
through all the way is that this is
the only local tournament she hasn't
won. She has been District cham
pion, local public parks champion
and winner of the annual Women's
League tourney, but the City of
Washington title always has eluded
her.
But the big reason for her popu-
lar support is the fact that she will
be a natural underdog against
either Miss Lee or Mrs. Belin. A
working young lady. Mrs. Herbert
doesn't have the time to devote to
the game possessed by either of the
game worthy of one OF the Districts
high ranking stars. Ambitious and
courageous, Willie also has an I'M
usually strong forehand for one so
small, and isn't afraid to trade pow
er drives with her lustier-sWattin
opponents.
She has been beaten by both Mrs.
Belin and Miss Lee in former years
here. but she won't be entirely
bereft of hackers if she happens to
reach the finals to play either one
Of them on Saturday. The COM
bined knowledge that nothing is
certain in sport and that the worm
has to turn sometime lend hope to
her supporters.
Doubles to Be Started.
The Lee-Belin match tomorrow
will start at 2 o'clock, with Mrs.
Herbert taking the court against
either Mrs. Smith or Miss Decker at
$50 Aside from the Smith-Decker
singles duel, today was to be de-
voted entirely to the start of dou-
bles competition. In the team play
Mrs, Belin and Frances Rowan were
seeded No. l and Mrs. Herbert and
Miss Decker No. 2.
Fans expecting drama in the
match between Mrs. Belin and
Sara Moore yesterday were not dis
appointed. After taking the first
set at "a, Mrs. Belin ran up 80
and 40-love lead in the second
when a light rain suddenly became
brisk and forced suspension of
hostilitieS.
When play was resumed Mary
asked Sara if she didn't want to
start the fourth game of the second
set over again, but Sara, Just one
point away from a "a deficit,
sportingly refused.
AS 1t turned out she didn't need
any help, for she rallied gamely to
take not only that game, but the
next four in row. Even though
Mary broke her service in the
ninth, Sara returned the gesture to
square the match with a Ga
victory.
Five Straight Games Tell.
Miss Moore jumped into a 81
lead in the final set, only to have
her foe run off five straight games
for the match. Even with the end
In sight, Miss Moore didn't give I'D
without a struggle, staving off three
match points before succumbing to |
one of Mrs. Belin's hot forehands
on the fourth.
Mrs. Rowan simply was out
classed by Miss Lee in their quarter
final engagement by scores of 60, |
81, while Mrs. Herbert raced
through two sets with Jane Will
merding to win, GO, 60.