Women's Tennis
The great boom that featured the whole tennis season of 1921 in
America found one of its most remarkable manifestations in the
increased amount of play, higher standard of competition and
remarkable growth of public interest in women's tennis.
England has led, and still leads, the world in women's tennis.
The general standard of play is on a higher scale and there is
more tournament play in England than elsewhere. France, with
Mlle. Suzanne Lenglen, Mme. Billout (Mlle. Brocadies) and Mme.
Golding, forces England closely for European supremacy, but until
recent years America, except for individuals, has been unable to
reach the standard of women's tennis found abroad.
Miss May Sutton, now Mrs. Thomas H. Bundy, placed American
colours in the field by her wonderful performances in winning the
World's Championship at Wimbledon more than a decade ago, but
after her retirement America was forced to content itself with
local honors.
Neither Miss Mary Browne nor Miss Hazel Hotchkiss, now Mrs.
George Wightman, followed Mrs. May Sutton Bundy in her European
invasion, so the relative ability of our champions and Mrs.
Lambert-Chambers of England or Mlle. Brocadies of France could
not be judged. Mrs. Molla Bjurstedt Mallory followed Miss Browne
as the outstanding figure in American tennis when the wonderful
Norsewoman took the championship in 1915. Miss Browne, then
holder of the title, did not compete, so their relative ability
could not be decided. Throughout the period from 1900 to 1919 the
woman's championship event had been held annually in June. The
result was that the blue ribbon event was over so early in the
season that the incentive for play during July and August died a
natural death.
Finally in 1920, at the request of the Women's Committee,
particularly on the advice of Mrs. George Wightman, the national
champion, and Miss Florence Ballin of New York, under whose able
guidance the entire schedule was drawn up, the United States Lawn
Tennis Association moved the Women's Championship to September.
Miss Ballin, following the successful system used in the men's
events, organized a schedule that paralleled the big fixtures on
the men's schedule and placed in operation "a circuit," as it is
called, that provided for tournaments weekly from May to
September. Miss Ballin, together with Mrs. Wightman, organised
junior tournaments for girls under 18, along the lines used for
the boys' events. The response was immediate. Entry lists, which
in the old days were in "the teens," jumped to the thirties or
forties, in the regular events. Young girls who, up to now, had
not played tournaments, fearing they lacked the necessary class,
rushed to play in the Junior girls' events. From this latter
class came such a promising young star of today as Miss Martha
Bayard, who bids fair to be national champion at some not distant
date.
It was a tremendous task of organization that Miss Ballin and her
assistants undertook, but they did it in a most efficient manner.
Mrs. Molla Bjurstedt Mallory lent her invaluable assistance by
playing in as many tournaments as possible. She was a magnet that
drew the other players in her wake with an irresistible force.
1920 saw Mrs. Mallory's first invasion of Europe since her
American triumphs. Misfortune was her portion. She was ill before
sailing and, never at her best on shipboard, a bad voyage
completed the wreck of her condition. She had little time for
practice in England and it was a player far below her best who
went down to crushing de feat at the hands of Mrs.
Lambert-Chambers in the semi- final round of the World's
Championship at Wimbledon.
Defeated but not discouraged, Mrs. Mallory returned to America
and, again reaching her true form, won the championship with
ease. She made up her mind the day of her defeat in England that
1921 would again find her on European courts.
The season of 1921 in America opened in a blaze of tournaments
throughout the entire country. Mrs. Mallory showed early in the
year she was at her best by winning the Indoor Championship of
the United States from one of the most representative fields ever
gathered together for this event.
Early May found Mrs. Mallory on the seas bound for France and
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.
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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 at the
moment of contact between ball and racquet.}
{PLATE III. THE COMPLETED SWING OF THE FOREHAND DRIVE. Notice the
body position, at right angles to the net, the weight on the
front or left foot, having passed from the right foot with the
swing, just at the moment the ball is struck. The racquet is
carried to the limit of the swing and falls into the left hand at
height of the shoulder. The racquet face has passed over the
ball. The reader is looking through the strings. The stroke was
made with the far side of the racquet from the camera. The eye is
following the ball in its flight. The whole movement is forward.
The tendency in hitting a forehand is to stop the swing too soon.
Notice the full follow through to the extreme limit of my swing.
The hitting plane in this picture is too high, the shot having
been made almost at the shoulder. The correct hitting plane for
the forehand drive is along the line of the waist. Play all
drives at this height if possible. Step back to allow the ball to
fall waist high if necessary rather than play it at the shoulder.
Hit your forehand drive decisively but do not attempt to kill
every shot. Be accurate first and attain speed second.}
{PLATE IV. BACKHAND GRIP. FRONT VIEW. Note the hand on top of the
racquet handle, yet retaining the straight line of arm, hand and
racquet Is in the forehand. The change from the forehand grip is
one quarter circle of the handle. The knuckles are up and
directly towards the opponent. The head of the racquet is
advanced slightly towards the ball.
BACKHAND GRIP. BACK VIEW. Notice the line of arm and racquet is
straight and the hand on top of the handle. The thumb in my
stroke is around the handle, but may be placed up the handle if
desired. Personally, I do not use it, and do not advocate it, as
it tends to detract from the freedom of the grip.}
{PLATE V. COMPLETION OF THE BACKHAND DRIVE. Notice the feet are
firmly set, with the weight on the right foot, to which it was
shifted from the left with the swing. The racquet has struck and
passed over the ball, topping it. The body is at right angles to
the net, the left arm extended to aid in perfect balance. The
whole movement is forward, while the eye is on the ball, in its
flight. The stroke in the picture was off a high bounding ball
which accounts for the racquet's position being above the wrist
in order to bring down the ball. The perfect backhand drive is
off the waist, and the racquet passes along that hitting plane.
Meet the ball well forward on the backhand, at least in front of
the right hip. This will obviate the common error of slicing off
to the sideline and will tend to pull the ball, into court. The
locked wrist, with no turn is essential on all backhand shots
below the shoulders. It insures solidity of impact and adds pace
to the return. I believe in all beginners playing their backhand
shots cross court until they have fully mastered the footwork and
locked wrist swing. The common error of slicing the backhand
cannot be too strongly emphasized and condemned and cross
courting the shot tends to avoid it.}
{PLATE VI. THE FOREHAND VOLLEY. Notice the body at right angles
to the net, the left foot advanced to the shot, the weight evenly
distributed on the feet, the wrist slightly below the racquet
head, the racquet head itself slighly{sic} tilted,,{sic} to lift
the volley, and the whole movement a "block" of the ball. The
wrist is stiff. There is no swing. The eyes are down. watching
the ball. The left arm is the balance wheel. The body crouched
and the knees bent.}
{PLATE VII. THE BACKHAND VOLLEY. The body position and weight
control and balance are the same as in the forehand volley. The
crouch is more pronounced as the hitting plane is lower. The head
of the racquet is firmly blocked by the stiff, locked wrist. The
eyes are centered on the ball, which has just left the racquet.}
{PLATE VIII. DAVIS CUP CHALLENGE ROUND, 1921
Zenzo Shinddzu. Japan and William T. Tilden 2nd. America, just
previous to the opening of their terrific match in which Shimidzu
led by two sets. 5-4 and 30-0, only to have the American finally
pull out the Victory.}
{PLATE IX. DAVIS CUP CHALLENGE ROUND, 1921
William M. Johnston. America and Ichiya Kumagae. Japan, take the
court for the opening match before a gallery of over 12,000
people. Johnston won in sequence sets, scoring the first point
for America.}
{PLATE X. FAMOUS DAVIS CUP DOUBLES TEAMS
NORMAN E. BROOKES AND GERALD L. PATTERSON Australia, 1920
R. M. WILLIAMS, 2ND AND WATSON M. WASHBURN America, 1921
M. E. MCLOUGHLIN AND T. C. BUNDY America, 1914}
{PLATE XI. FAMOUS DAVIS CUP STARS
NORMAN E. BROOKES Australia
ANTHON F. WILDING New Zealand
BEALS WRIGHT America
W. A. LARNED America}
{PLATE XII.
THE 1921 AUSTRALIAN DAVIS CUP TEAM
J.O. Anderson, J.B. Hawkes. Norman Peach and C. V. Todd.
THE 1920 AMERICAN DAVIS CUP TEAM
R. N. Williams, 2nd, W. M. Johnston, Captain Samuel Hardy, W. T.
Tilden, 2nd and C. S. Garland.}
{PLATE XIII. FORMER CHAMPIONS OF AMERICA
R. NORRIS WILLIAMS 1914 and in 1916
WILLIAM M. JOHNSTON 1915 and in 1919
MAURICE E. MCLOUGHLIN 1912 and in 1918
ROBERT LINDLEY MURRAY 1917 and in 1918}