HELEN WILLS SHIES AT POSE WITH LINDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 363, 25 May 1928, Page 7

HELEN WILLS SHIES AT POSE WITH LINDY

THE INEVITABLE QUESTION CUPID NOT AT WORK The girl who revolutionised women’s tennis at Wimbledom last year established herself as the first American to win the women’s title there since 1907. and regained the United States national championship, which she had been compelled to relinquish the year before on account of an attack of appendicitis, Miss Helen Wills, returned to New York recently from the Pacific Coast, preparatory to leaving for Europe. As the pre-eminent amateur woman player in the world, Miss Wills, like Charles Lindberg, finds that fame has its besetting irritants as well as its attractions. She had no sooner walked out of the main dining room of the Hotel Roosevelt, where she had luncheon

with friends from California, than she was beset by the unescapable cameraman and interviewer, and marched off for a flashlight sitting. The photographer cannily arranged to have her pose in front of a picture of Lindbergh, but before he could set the powder off Miss Wills discovered the stratagem, and would not have it, so the picture was removed for the moment from its place, though the champion smilingly objected to that, too, and sought to move to another corner of the room. No “Close-ups” When the pictures had been taken, the cameraman sought to get a closeup, but Miss Wills overruled him. “I never take close-ups,” she said; “I never look well in them.” With her flawless complexion and classic features, Miss Wills need have no fear of the camera at any range. She was extremely pressed for time, however, and so the photographer gallantly yielded. From the Roosevelt, Miss Wills hastened to Scribner’s, on Fifth Avenue, for a conference with her publishers. She is putting the finishing touches on a book to be released in the near future, under the title of “Tennis.” She left behind her a flock of newspaper men at the hotel, and others were waiting for her at the Junior League. Trailing her up Fifth Avenue, the persistent reporter put the inevitable question to her: “You have not anything in mind like an engagement or marriage?” “Each year,” she replied, “you ask me that, and each year I answer no.” Asked from whom she thought she would receive the most serious opposition abroad this year. Miss Wills stated: “It will probably be the same players as last year. Eileen Bennett has been playing unusually well on the Riviera. Betty Nuthall and Senorita d’Alvarez should both be very good, and Mrs. Godfree did not play her best tennis last year.”