Helen Wills-Moody’s Secret

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 205, 13 August 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)

Helen Wills-Moody’s Secret

Speed of Stroke Allied to Accuracy HITS FASTER THAN ANY OTHER WOMAN. Ever since Helen Wills—as she was then—won the championship at Wimbledon in 1927 she had not lost a set to anyone in tournament or in match till early this year when, out of form, she lost a set in a minor American tournament. That record equals Mlle. Lenglen’s, but with this difference—the F rench woman hardly lost a game in any set, whereas Mrs. Moods loses plenty (writes (Stanley N. Doust, in the London “Daily Mail’’).

Speed of stroke allied to accuracy is the secret of Mrs Helen Wills-Moody s unbroken success. Her first visit to England was in 1921, when a schoolgirl of 18 summers. At that time she was renowned for her hard hitting, and it must be said she disappointed the Wimbledon crowd because so many of those hard-hitting shots missed their aim by yards. In other words, her shots were uncontrolled. But she persevered in practice and in match, regardless of- the result, until she had command of her shots, «o that to-day she hits the ball appreciably faster than any other woman, past or present, has ever done. Moreover, she is as steady as a rock. That is why Mrs Moody has never been beaten since 1927.

Mrs Moody is a student of science, art, and lawn tennis. Never has she neglected her art and science for the pastime, but rather has she combined the three with purposeful intent. Certainly her scientific talents are reflected in her tactics of the game, and her art —well, she has at the moment of writing an exhibition of her sketches and paintings in Paris. There are pen pictures of the most famous men and women lawn tennis players in action, and so lifelike as to indicate that when she is watching games from the stand, with never a change in her countenance,

she is studying every movement, every facial expression, as well as the strategy of the players who are on the court.

Mrs Wills-Moody’s skill to-day is such that she can challenge good men players with hope of success. She learned to play by always practising with men. Hence her speed of shot. There is not a player in the world, not even Tilden at his best, who would refuse to play a single against Mrs Moody on the ground that she could not give him a “decent’’ game. Mrs Moody on the court has an unchangeable countenance. The eyeshade, which she popularised, hides the kindly smile of encouragement to her opponent when a good shot scores against her. But she never spealts. There can be bad decisions by the dozens against her and she never even glances at the offending linesmen. Nothing seems to perturb her. Yet Mrs Wills-Moody is nervous when she enters the centre court. But such is her will power that she has herself under perfect control so that her nervousness really acts as a spur to her game.

Her court manners are as perfect as her strokes, and any young woman who wants to know how to play and how to behave in success and defeat—• she has often lost in doubles—is recommended to watch Mrs Helen M Ik. Moody, if she has the opportunity, aud emutate her example.