WOMEN'S TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1933, Page 8

WOMEN'S TENNIS

STANDARD HAS EISEN

MRS. MOODY'S OPINION

Has the standard of women's law* tennis improved in the last few sea* sons 1 It seems as if the tournaments havl more good tennis in them than ever, Prom the first round of the more important tournaments there are interest* ing matches in which unusual skill is displayed. But has the standard improved? writes Helen Wills-Moody ia the "Daily Mail." This is rather a difficult question, for its answer depends upon a comparison between the higher-ranking players of the moment and the proficient players of several seasons ago. In making comparisons in sport ona cannot be entirely certain, because tha background is a shifting one. And then, too, much depends upon circumstances, the court, and especially upon that variable quantity in tennis, the form of a player on the day of her match, or during the week of the tournament. Therefore, it is with some hesitation; that I give my opinion. I believe that there are more players now, many more, who are playing first-class tennis. On the other hand, there is no on« who equals Mile. Suzanne Lenglen; nor is there anyone who is as good as Mrs. Kathleen McKane <Godfree was .at her best. Also, there is no one with the beautiful style of play that, belonged to Senorita Lili de Alvarez. And there is no chop-stroke player who can compare with Miss Elizabeth Ryan in this type of game, when she was engaging in singles competition. But I do believe that, in comparison with former years, there are a third as many again, women players in England at present who are playing excellent tennis. A BRIGHT FUTURE. This group of players is very- young, and its present form foretells a bright future for British • women's tennis. Among those who specially stand out are Miss Dorothy Round, Miss Peggy, Scriven, Miss S. Hewitt, Miss Heeley, Miss Kathleen Stammers, and Miss Freda James, as well as the two inora experienced players, Miss Betty Nut* hall and Mrs. Fearnley Whittingstall. All these, players are talented. Their games possess a modern note which ij lively and dashing. They are, generally speaking, less cautious than the older school of players; they may maka more errors, but they also make mora brilliant shots. . In fact, their games have borrowed something,of the all-round tennis of the modern men's game. Gradually thera are becoming fewer differences between men's and women's play. Women's tennis, of course, will never be. so severe as that of men players, because of differences in physique, but th'ej modern woman player is copying the play of. men in faster service, greater, pace on. strokes, and all-round play on the court. Players from the Continent who stand out aro Mme. Sirnone Mathieu and Fraulein Aussem, who, unfortunately, has had to retire this season because of ill health. ■-.... Also there is Frauleiii Krahwinkel, who has one of the steadiest games in tennis; Mile. Sigart, the Belgian champion, who excels at the.net; Signorina Valerio, the lively and intelligent first ranking player of, Italy; Senora Pons, who / conies from Senorita Lili de Alvarez's native land; , Mile.,, Pavot, Swiss champion, who has a. formidable drive; and Mile. Jedrzejowska, the Polish champion, who is capable of rallies as long as her name! OTHERS PROMISING. Below this formidable list rank a, number of players who might extend any one of the top-ranking players At any time. No wonder that players from the United States are dazzled by tha tennis in Europe. • The Wightman Cup, with competition between England and the United States, has done much, to raise the standard of wpmen.'s play. Especially has it helped tennis in our -country, because until the Wightman Cup matches, began, a few seasons ago, American women players (except one or two who occasionally; went abroad for tournaments) never; met foreign competitors. Has dress aided the modern women's tennis in its improvement? Probably. We are accustomed to hear how fortunate the modern girl is in having bare legs, short knee-length skirts, and sleeveless dresses for. speTt—and she is! Certainly each one of these is helpful to freedom of action in tennis. Shorts or trousers may perhaps be worn by women tennis players of the future, but it is doubtful if they would be aa comfortable for tennis as the, short skirt; and certainly they could not equal it for pleasing appearance. " As for sportsmanship—how does the modern woman tennis player behave on the court? I doubt very much if they; differ from the players of a score yeara ago. Mrs. Lambert-Chambers possessed a wonderful sense of sportsmanship. So do young players of the present day. Besides having an instinctive feeling for good sportsmanship, women players usually are adept at concealing their feelings. International play, too, has made them able to adapt themselves more easily and quickly to varying sur« roundi'^, and different conditions.