WIMBLEDON’S STARS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 8

WIMBLEDON’S STARS

HELEN WILLS MAY PLAY AGAIN

ENTRY IN DOUBLES EXPECTED

(From a Reuter Correspondent.) LONDON., A quarter of a century is a big span in one’s life, and at that age a number of tennis players have reached their peak. Yet there are players still appearftig in front-rank tennis who were champions at Wimbledon before some of the present-day stars were bom-more than 25 years ago. These thoughts are brought to mind by news that Helen Wills—the name by which she is best known—will be at Wimbledon this year, and that some of those famous Frenchmen of nearly 30 years ago, particularly Jean Borotra and Henri Cochet, can still topple the giants. ’ i Helen Wills, who won Wimbledon titles in that name and also as Mrs Moody and who is now Mrs Roark, wife of a well-known British polo player, is expected to appear in doubles at Wimbledon. One phrase in the news probably reveals the secret of why she can still hold her own in top-rank tennis—she "is reputed to have become a useful volleyer.” Now 47, Mrs Roark plays regularly at her local club in California.

The point about volleying is allied with the success of Borotra and Cochet,' aged 54 and 51 respectively, when, still good enough to be chosen for the Paris team against London recently, they beat Gerry Oakley and Bobby Wilson, two of Britain’s recognised stars of the present time. Their volleying turned the scale. Often they made no attempt to reach the fast first services, angled to the corners, but in mid court they volleyed and smashed winners with a minimum of effort.

Borotra has confessed that he is too old for singles, but so long as he can save his energy by such brilliant volleying then he will still be on the winning side in matches. And it would seem that Helen Wills by becoming "a useful volleyer’’ has also found the secret of keeping a place in top-class tennis.