the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第30章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
England。 The story of her magnificent； if losing； struggle in both countries
is told elsewhere in this book； but she sailed for home recognised abroad
as one of the great players of the world； a thing which many of the foreign
critics had not acknowledged the previous year。
The trip of the American team to France； and particularly the presence
of Mrs。 Mallory； coupled with the efforts of the Committee for Devastated
France； finally induced Mile。 Suzanne Lenglen； the famous French
World's Champion； to consent to come to America。 The announcement of
her decision started a boom in the game that has been unequalled。 Out in
California； Mrs。 May Sutton Bundy and Miss Mary Kendall Browne； our
former champions； heard the challenge and； laying aside the duties of
everyday life； buckled on the armour of the courts and journeyed East to
do battle with the French wonder girl。 Mrs。 Mallory； filled with a desire to
avenge her defeat in France； sailed for home in time to play in the
American championship。
What a marvelous tournament this proved to be！ In very truth it was a
World's Championship。 Mrs。 May Sutton Bundy； former world's champion；
back again after fifteen years with all her old charm of manner； much of
her speed of shot and foot； and even more cunning and experience； Miss
Mary K。 Browne； brilliant； fascinating； clever Mary； with all her old…time
personality and game that three times had carried her to the highest honors
in American tennis； Mrs。 Mallory； keen； determined and resourceful；
defending the title she had held so long and well； the young players； rising
in the game； struggling to attain the heights； and finally looming over all
the figure of the famous French champion of champions； Suzanne Lenglen；
considered by many competent critics the greatest woman tennis player of
all time。
The stage was set for the sensational； and for once it occurred。 The
God of Luck took a hand in the blind draw and this resulted in all the stars；
with the exception of Miss Mary Browne； falling in one half。 Mile。
Suzanne Lenglen was drawn against Miss Eleanor Goss； while Mrs。
Mallory met Mrs。 Marion Zinderstein Jessop； her famous rival； in the first
round； with the winners of these matches to play each other in the second。
133
… Page 134…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
Unfortunately illness prevented Mile。 Lenglen from sailing at her
appointed time。 She arrived in America but one day before the tournament
was to start。 The officials of the United States Lawn Tennis Association
wisely granted Mile。 Lenglen another day's grace by holding her match
with Miss Goss until Tuesday。 Mrs。 Mallory； playing brilliantly； crushed
Mrs。 Jessop on Monday。
Then came the deluge！ Miss Goss； taken suddenly ill； was forced to
default to Mlle。 Lenglen on Tuesday and Mrs。 Mallory was called upon to
meet the great French player in Mlle。 Lenglen's first American appearance。
There is no question but what it was a terribly hard position for Mlle。
Lenglen。 Mrs。 Mallory was physically and mentally on the crest。 She had
lived for this chance ever since Mlle。 Lenglen had defeated her at St。
Cloud in June。 Now it was hers and she determined to make the most of it。
The two women stepped on the court together。 Mlle。 Lenglen was
obviously and naturally nervous。 Mrs。 Mallory was quietly； grimly
confident。 Her whole attitude said 〃I won't be beaten。〃 Every one of the
10；000； spectators felt it and joined with her in her determination。 It was
an electric current between the gallery and the player。 I felt it and am sure
that Mlle。 Lenglen must have done so too。 It could not fail to impress her。
The match opened with Mrs。 Mallory serving。 From the first ball； the
American champion was supreme。 Such tennis I have never seen and I
verily believe it will never be seen again。 The French girl was playing well。
She was as good as when she defeated Mrs。 Mallory in France or Miss
Ryan in England； but this time she was playing a super…woman who would
not miss。 One cannot wonder her nerves； naturally overwrought； broke
under the strain。
Mrs。 Mallory； in an exhibition of faultless； flawless tennis； ran through
the first set 6…2。 It was at this point Mlle。 Lenglen made her mistake。
She had trouble getting her breath and was obviously feeling the strain
of her tremendous exertions。 She defaulted the match！ Mrs。 Mallory
walked from the court conqueror； clearly the superior of the much vaunted
world's champion。
It is regrettable Mlle。 Lenglen defaulted； for if she had played out the
match； everyone would have made full allowance for her defeat； due； it
134
… Page 135…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
would be said； to natural reaction from her recent sea journey。 No one
would have been quicker to make allowance for Mlle。 Lenglen than Mrs。
Mallory herself。 The whole tennis public deeply regretted an incident that
might well have been avoided。
Mrs。 Mallory was the woman of the hour。 She marched on to victory
and successfully defended her title by virtue of victories over Mrs。 May
Sutton Bundy in the semi…final and Miss Mary Browne in the final。
Marvellous Molla！ World's Champion in 1921 beyond shadow of
dispute！
It is deplorable that the quite natural reaction and nervous upset；
coupled with a return of her bronchial illness； forced Mlle。 Lenglen to
return to France before she was able to play her exhibition tour for the
Committee for Devastated France。 Possibly 1922 will find conditions
more favorable and the Gods of Fate will smile on the return of Mlle。
Lenglen to America。
MRS。 FRANKLIN I。 MALLORY （Molla Bjurstedt）
One of the most remarkable personalities in the tennis world is Mrs。
Molla Bjurstedt Mallory； the American Champion and actually Champion
of the World； 1921。
Mrs。 Mallory is a Norsewoman by birth。 She came to America in 1915。
In 1919 she married Franklin I。 Mallory； and thus became an American
citizen。
It is a remarkable game which Mrs。 Mallory has developed。 She has no
service of real value。 Her overhead is nil； her volleying is mediocre； but
her marvellous forehand and backhand drives； coupled with the wonderful
court…covering ability and fighting spirit that have made her world…famous；
allow her to rise above the inherent weaknesses of those portions of her
game and defeat in one season all the greatest players in the world；
including Mlle。 Suzanne Lenglen。
Mrs。 Mallory； with delightful smile； never failing sportsmanship and
generosity in victory or defeat； is one of the most popular figures in tennis。
MRS。 THOMAS C。 BUNDY （May Sutton）
It is said 〃they never come back；〃 but Mrs。 May Sutton Bundy has
proved that at least one great athlete is an exception to the saying。 Fifteen
135
… Page 136…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
years ago； May Sutton ruled supreme among the women tennis stars of the
world。
In 1921 Mrs。 May Sutton Bundy； mother of four children； after a
retirement of over a I decade； returned to the game when Mlle。 Lenglen
announced her intention of invading America。 If Mlle。 Lenglen's visit to
our shores did nothing more than bring Mrs。 Bundy and Miss Browne
back to us； it was well worth while。
Mrs。 Bundy in 1921 was still a great player。 She has a peculiar reverse
twist service； a wonderful forehand drive； but with excessive top spin； a
queer backhand poke； a fine volley and a reliable overhead。 Much of her
old aggressiveness and speed of foot are still hers。 She retains all of her
famous fighting spirit and determination； while she is even more charming
and delightful than of old。 She is a remarkable woman； who stands for all
that is best in the game。
MARY KENDALL BROWNE
The return of another former National Champion in 1921 in the person
of Mary K。 Browne； who held the title in 1912； '13 and '14； brought us
again a popular idol。 The tennis public has missed Miss Browne since
1914 and her return was in the nature of a personal triumph。
Mary Browne has the best produced tennis game of any American
woman。 It is almost if not quite the equal in stroke technique of Suzanne
Lenglen。 She has a fast flat service。 Her ground strokes are clean； flat
drives forehand and backhand。 She volleys exactly like Billy Johnston。 No
praise can be higher。 Her overhead is decisive but erratic。 She couples this
beautiful game with a remarkable tennis head and a wonderful fighting
spirit。
Miss Browne is a trig and trim little figure on the court as she glides
over its surface。 It is no wonder that her public love her。
MRS。 GEORGE WIGHTMAN （Hazel Hotchkiss）
The woman to whom American tennis owes its greatest debt in
development is Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman； National Champion 1909； '10；
'11 and 1919。 Mrs。 Wightman has practically retired from singles play。 Her
decision cost the game a wonderful player。 She has a well placed slice
service； a ground game that is essentially a chop fore… and backhand；
136
… Page 137…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
although at times she drives off her forehand。 She volleys remarkably。 She
is the equal of Mary Browne in this department； while her overhead is the
best of any woman in the game。
Hazel Wightman is as clever a court general and tactician； man or
woman； as I have ever known。 She has forgotten more tennis than most of
us ever learn。 She is the Norman Brookes of woman's tennis。
It is not only in her game that Mrs。 Wightman has stood for the best in
tennis； but
