St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-07-26
Womens CIoy
Court Tifle To
Alfheu Gibson
CBy<ANP staff Correspondent

Chicago (ANP)--- Slim, agile
Althea Gibson, the new Wimble-
don tennis queen last Sunday set
her sights on becoming the first
Of her race to win the coveted u.
S, national women's tennis cham
pionship.
Miss Gibson moved closer to
that objective after again defeat
ing her Wimbledon finals oppon-
emit Miss Darlene Hard, go, 6-3,
in straight sets, to win the 47th
annual National Clay Courts wo-
mems singles title at suburban
River Forest, ILL.,, Tennis Club
Sunday afternoon.
Wins First Major u. s. Title
The match, televised through
out the Chicago area and played
in 9O-degree heat, was almost a
replica Of Miss Gibson's conquest
of Miss Hard at Wimbledon, when
the 29-year old cannonball stroker
from Harlem in New York also
won on straight sets.
However, last Sundays victory
was a special achievement for AL
thea, who is currently the toast of
the entire tennis world. She be-
came the first Negro ever to win
a major U. S. tennis title.
outplays Opponents
There was never any doubts
that manipulating Miss Gibson
would emerge victorious in the
River Forest tournament. She
breezed through the preliminary
rounds and then downed Miss
Hard in spectacular style before
near capacity crowd Miss Hard
was game and tovial. but her
game was not match for Miss
Gibson's
Miss Gibsons booming service
was a big factor. However. her
powerful ground strokes also sent
Darlene scampering all over the
court and her backcourt game was
brilliant She also seemed to have
conquered her former habit of
foot-faulting at the baseline.
Eyes National Title
Victory at River Forest signal
ed her future success at Forest
Hills, N, Y. where the national
championships win be played late
this summer. Now the ranking
woman tennis player in the world,
Miss Gibson has beaten every
player Of note both in the United
states and abroad. She has also
won every major tennis tourna-
ment in Europe and Asia.
Her stiffest competitors at For
est Hills are expected to be Miss
Hard, who no doubt will be seed
ed No. ?, and veteran Louise
Brough, former Wimbledon cham
pion. However, Athea has de-
feated both.
Last year at Wimbledon. Forest
Hills and River Forest, she bowed
to Shirley Frey her former tennis
nemesis, She has been trying for
the Clay Courts title since 1881
shirley meanwhile, has married
and retired from tennis competi-
ton.
Favored To Win At Forest Hills
BY winning at Wimbledon and
River Forest, Miss Gibson is in
effect working her way back 70
the U. s, championship, which has
eluded her all these years. She
has been competing for that title
since 1880 when, like Jackie Rob
inson in baseball she broke into
organized tennis And although
the Wimbledon title symbolizes
world tennis supremacy. Miss Glib
son would like to fultnn her life
long ambition by snneNng the
L, s national title.
In the opinion Of tennis experts,
that ambition will be fulfilled at
Forest Hills, A somewhat tenn
permentSl player. tainted by per-
sonality problems. 20 quote her
net coach. Sidney Uewellyn, AL
thea seems 10 have conquered the
inner problems that have inter
tered with her game in the past,
The victory at Wimbledon seems
TO have bouyed her confidence that