the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第31章
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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 she has given freely of her time and ability to aid young players
in the game。 She made Marion Zinderstein Jessop the fine player she is。
Mrs。 Wrightman is always willing to offer sound advice to any player who
desires it。
Mrs。 Wightman and Miss Florence Ballin are the prime factors in the
new organization of woman's tennis that has resulted in the great growth
of the game in the past two years。
MRS。 JESSOP （Marion Zinderstein）
There is no player in tennis of greater promise than Marion Zinderstein
Jessop。 She has youth； a wonderful game； the result of a sound foundation
given her by Hazel Wightman； and a remarkable amount of experience for
so young a girl。 She has a beautiful fast service； but erratic。 Her ground…
game is perfectly balanced； as she chops or drives from either side with
equal facility。 She volleys with great severity and certainty。 Her overhead
is possibly her weakest point。 She lacks the confidence that her game
really deserves。
HELEN WILLS
The most remarkable figure that has appeared on the horizon of
woman's tennis since Suzanne Lenglen first flashed into the public eye； is
little Helen Wills of California； Junior Champion of 1921。 She is only
fifteen。 Stocky； almost ungainly； owing to poor footwork； her hair in
pigtails down her back； she is a quaint little person who instantly walks
into hearts of the gallery。
The tennis this child plays is phenomenal。 She serves with the power
and accuracy of a boy。 She drives and chops forehand and backhand with
reckless abandon。 She rushes to the net and kills in a way that is
reminiscent of Maurice McLoughlin。 Suddenly she dubs the easiest sort of
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a shot and grins a happy grin。 There is no doubt she is already a great
player。 She should become much greater。 She is a miniature Hazel
Wightman in her game。 Above all； she is that remarkable combination； an
unspoiled child and a personality。
There are many other players of real promise coming to the front。
Boston boasts of a group that contains Mrs。 Benjamin E。 Cole （Anne
Sheafe） who has made a great record in the season of 1921； Miss Edith
Sigourney； who accompanied Mrs。 Mallory abroad； Miss Leslie Bancroft
and Mrs。 Godfree。 There are Miss Martha Bayard； Miss Helen
Gilleandean； Mrs。 Helene Pollak Folk； Miss Molly Thayer； Miss Phyllis
Walsh and Miss Anne Townsend in New York and Philadelphia。
France
MLLE。 SUZANNE LENGLEN
There is no more unique personality； nor more remarkable player
among the women than Mademoiselle Suzanne Lenglen； the famous
French girl who holds the World's Championship title。 Mlle。 Lenglen is a
remarkable figure in the sporting world。 She has personality； individuality；
and magnetism that hold the public interest。 She is the biggest drawing
card in the tennis world。
Mlle。 Lenglen's fame rests on her drive。 Strange though it may seem；
her drive is the least interesting part of her game。 Mlle。 Lenglen uses a
severe overhead service of good speed。 It is a remarkable service for a
woman； one which many men might do well to copy。 Her famous forehand
drive is a full arm swing from the shoulder。 It meets the ball just as Mlle。
Lenglen springs in the air。 The result is pictorially unique； but not good
tennis。 She loses speed and power by this freak。 Her backhand is
beautifully played； from perfect footwork； with a free swing and topped
drive。 It is a remarkable stroke。 Her volleying is perfect in execution and
result。 She hits her overhead smash freely with a 〃punch〃 that is as great
as many men。 It is as fine an overhead as that of Mrs。 George Wightman；
the American Champion。
Mlle。 Lenglen's speed of foot is marvellous。 She runs fast and easily。
She delights in acrobatic jumps； many of them unnecessary； at all times
during her play。 She is a wonderful gallery player； and wins the popularity
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that her dashing style deserves。 She is a brilliant court general； conducting
her attack with a keen eye on both the court and the gallery。
Mlle。 Lenglen is not outstanding among the women players of the
world； in my opinion。 She is probably the best stroke player in the world
to…day； yet Mrs。 Lambert Chambers； Mrs。 George Wightman； Miss
Elizabeth Ryan； Mrs。 Franklin L。 Mallory （formerly Miss Molla Bjurstedt）；
Miss Mary Browne； and Mrs。 May Sutton Bundy are all in her class in
match play。 There is no woman playing tennis that has the powerful
personality of Mlle。 Lenglen。 Her acrobatic style and grace on the court
form an appeal no gallery can resist。 Her very mannerisms fool people into
considering her far greater than she really is； even though she is a
wonderful player。
MME。 BILLOUTT （Mlle。 Brocadies）
Second only to Suzanne Lenglen in France is Mme。 Billoutt； formerly
Mlle。 Brocadies； once the idol of the Paris tennis public。 This remarkable
player has as perfectly developed a game as I have seen。 Her actual
stroking is the equal of Mlle。 Lenglen。 Her strokes are all orthodox； flat
racquet ones。 Her ground game is based wholly on the drive； fore… or
backhand。 She has grown rather heavier in the last few years and
consequently slowed up； but she is still one of the great players of the
world。
England
In marked contrast to the eccentricities of Mlle。 Lenglen one finds the
delightfully polished style of Mrs。 Lambert Chambers。 Mrs。 Chambers has
a purely orthodox game of careful execution that any student of the game
should recognize as the highest form of tennis strokes。
Mrs。 Chambers serves an overhead delivery of no particular movement。
She slices or 〃spoons〃 her ground strokes； forehand or backhand。 She
seldom volleys or smashes。 Her only excursions to the net are when she is
drawn to the net。
It is not Mrs。 Chambers' game itself so much as what she does with it；
that I commend so highly。 Her change of pace and distance is wonderfully
controlled。 Her accuracy marvellous。 Her judgment is remarkable； and the
way in which she saves undue exertion is an art in itself。 She gets a
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wonderful return for her outlay of effort。
Hers is a personality of negation。 Her manner on the court is negative；
her shots alone are positive。 She is never flustered； and rarely shows
emotion。
Mrs。 Chambers is the 〃Mavro〃 of women as regards her recovering
ability。 Her errors are reduced to a minimum at all times。 To err is human；
but at times there is something very nearly inhuman about Mrs。 Chambers'
tennis。
ELIZABETH RYAN
The English…American star Elizabeth Ryan is another player of marked
individuality。 Born in California； Miss Ryan migrated to England while
quite young。 For the past decade 〃Bunny；〃 as she is called； has been a
prominent figure in English and Continental tournaments。
Miss Ryan has a queer push…reverse twist service that is well placed
but carries little speed。 She chops viciously forehand and backhand off the
ground and storms the net at every opening。 Her volleying is crisp and
decisive。 Overhead she is severe but erratic。 She is a dogged fighter； never
so dangerous as when behind。 Her tactics are aggressive attack at all times；
and if this fails she is lost。
Although Miss Ryan is an American by birth she must be considered
as an English player； for her development is due to her play in England。
MRS。 BEAMISH
This English player is an exponent of the famous baseline game of the
country。 She drives； long deep shots fore… and backhand； corner to corner；
chasing her opponent around the court almost impossible distances。 Her
service volleying and overhead are fair but not noteworthy。 Another player
of almost identical game and of almost equal class is Mrs。 Peacock；
Champion of India。 Her whole game is a little better rounded than Mrs。
Beamish； but she lacks the latter's experience。
Among the other women in England who are delightfully original in
their games are Mrs。 Larcombe； the wonderful chop…stroke player； whose
clever generalship and tactics place her in the front rank； and Mrs。 M'Nair；
with her volleying attack。
Women's tennis in England is on a slightly higher plane at this time
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than in America； but the standard of play in America is rapidly coming up。
International competition between women on the lines of the Davis Cup；
for which a trophy has previously been offered by Lady Wavertree in
England； and in 1919 by Mrs。 Wightman in America； and twice refused by
the International Federation； would do more than any other factor to place
women's tennis on the high plane desired。 This plan has succeeded for the
men； why should it not do as well for the women？
ILLUSTRATION CAPTIONS
｛PLATE II。 FOREHAND GRIP。 FRONT VIEW。 Notice the straight
line of the arm； hand and racquet； the flat racquet face； the natural finger
position on the handle。 The racquet is in position to hit a forehand drive。
FOREHAND GRIP； BACK VIEW。 The line is straight； the head of the
racquet slightly in advance of the hand。 The pose is
