SUZANNE LENGLEN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 7 October 1922, Page 9

SUZANNE LENGLEN.

AN ENGLISH APPRECIATION. After the rude intimation by the American tennis authorities to the French Lawn Tennis Association that . they did not want them to send Mdlle. Lengleh over to the States for the ■ championships, it is pleasing to learn , that the very highest opinions are held ■of the French lady by the English r people, > whose judgment can be preferred to that of the Americans. ■An English writer, commenting on - the doings at Wimbledon, states: The - little French girl has thoroughly vinr dicated herself, and her list of scalps is J impressive, for Miss Ryan, Miss McKane, Mrs. Peacock, and Mrs. Mallory - all suffered defeat at her hands. Suz- - anne (writes Hamilton Price in London r Sporting Life) is a really wonderful J girl player for she has a perfect knowt ledge of this most scientific of all games. She has cultivated practically • every known stroke in the came. The r forehand, the backhand, drive, and vol- * t ley, the lob, the service, the smash, s ' and the lob-volley all come alike to her.

i She is the poetry of motion on the j court. I 7 Hot even our own incomparable Mrs. Lambert Chambers and dainty Mrs. J Larcombe can bear favourable comLparison. Mrs. Chambers was essentially a back-court player. Mrs. Larcombe was a volleyer of superb quality. Mdlle Lenglen, however, is facile princeps at the all-round game. Certain very excellent writers on the game told us that Mrs. Mallory was almost her equal. Was this a stunt? I think it was, because no fair-minded judge of the game or unbiassed critic would dare to make such an absolutely wrong criticism. A twenty-five minutes' defeat takes some explaining. This catastrophe befel Mrs. Mallory, and she must have felt more than disappointed at the result. Let it be added that Mrs. Mallory was, in my opinion, in normal form. She was physically fit and well, j so she cannot offer any excuse on that j account. It was a most dramatic and j sensational end to the ladies' singles championship. The huge crowd was fairly staggered and bewildered. In fact it took them longer to realise what had really happened than it took Suzanne to win her fourth championship. The holder had reserved herself for this memorable half-hour, in which a very fine player was made to appeal a mere novice. Mrs. Mallory strained every nerve, but her only reward was a modest two games. ' They are still good friends on and off the courts, In spite of statements to the contrary. The match in America will now be forgotten, but this year's final will go down surely to posterity as one of the most marvellous finals ever played. France has no need, to worry about Suzanne's health. She is the proud possessor of a lawnftennis genius whose prowess has never been equalled, and will remain unchallenged until the time comes when Suzanne sees fit to retire. Apart altogether from her stroke play, there is some^thing peculiarly brainy about Suzanne, 1 who has :• many charms and winning ! ways. ■ She must have been woTth at least £3000 to the All-England Club. Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters all wanted to see her. What other player would attract such a vast assembly? No wonder "pa" and "ma" always carry Suzanne's lawn tennis bag for her. They appreciate their daughter's worth to the full and never leave her. Their vigil is unceasing and exemplary. Suzanne is an obedient and lovable daughter.