SUZANNE LENGLEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19456, 12 October 1926, Page 9

SUZANNE LENGLEN.

FIRST PROFESSIONAL GAMES. EXHIBITION IN NEW YORK. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 10.35 p.m.) NEW YORK. Oct. 10. Six thousand spectators last night witnessed the first tennis matches in illicit Mdlle. Suzanne Lenglen commenced her career as a professional player. The matches were held in Madison Square Garden, on specially-prepared cork courts and under artificial lighting. The gate receipts amounted approximately to £SOOO. In one of the most brilliant exhibitions of her career Mdlle. Lenglen defeated Mary Browne 6—l, 6 —l. Richards defeated Feret 6—3, 6—4. A sporting writer in the New York Times says the success of t.Tie fixture was, in the main, a testimonial to the drawing power of Suzanne Lenglen, but it also demonstrated that there is apparently a genuine public interest in high-class tennis, regardless of whether it is played by amateur or professional players. The gallery, both in enthusiasm and numbers, testified to the popular appeal of professional tennis, as played by famous players. Nothing like the frenzied cheering which was heard last night was heard through the tournament, season, despito the fact that they were only exhibition matches. The partisanship and tenseness that prevailed in championship play were missing, hut the brilliancy of the competition was no loss productive of enthusiasm.