the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第36节
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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
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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。
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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。
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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
