LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23092, 18 July 1938, Page 16

LAWN TENNIS

TITLES AT WIMBLEDON

GREAT RECORD OF MRS. MOODY

BY SIDELINE

In capturing all five titles at Wimbledon, the United States has every reason for self-congratulation. It is doubtful if its ascendancy at Wimbledon lias ever been so firmly established. Even in the days of Tilden and Johnston no greater superiority could be claimed. In the men's singles there was little to raise enthusiasm owing to the entire absence oi any strong opposition to i>. Budge, the title-holder, if he does not find the temptation of professionalism too strong, then it is difficult to iiiid any player among his contemporaries likely to take the Wimbledon title from him for several years to come. Budge stands with Perry and possibly Vines as the best example of what speed undisguised but reasonably under control can do in tennis. Austin, who played Budge in the final, deserves every credit for a remarkable performance. The Englishman is undoubtedly one of the best stroke players who have appeared at Wimbledon, but in spite oi a plucky elfort he was unable to do more than capture four games in three sets against Budge. The latter repeated his last year's success with Mako in the men's doubles and with Miss Marble in the combined event.

If the men's singles lacked interest, the same cannot be said of the ladies' event, which included every player of note in the world at the present time. The last eight in tha. women's singles justified the officials' views of form, for Miss Helen Jacobs was the only unseeded playe. to reach that stage, which she did by an easy victory over Miss C. Scriven in the round before the semi-finals. Miss Jacobs, however, then proceeded to eliminate two other seeded players in Mile. Jedrzeiowska (Poland) and Miss A. Marble (United States). In Miss Jacobs' match with Mrs. Moody history repeated itself and the latter won as "she had done on the three other occasions on which the pair had met at Wimbledon. Mrs. Moody's success establishes a record and is the more remarkable in that she has been out of the game for some time. Since 1927 she has won the. championship no fewer than eight times, the only breaks being in the years 1931, 1934, 1936 and 1937, when she did not compote, and most of her successes during this period, like those of the late Mile. Lcnglen, were won with the greatest of ease. The exception was in 1935, when she was 2—5 down in the final set to Miss Jacobs. She saved a match point and then went on to take the set and match at 6 —3, 3 —6, 7—5.

Mrs. Moodv was born in 1906 in Berkeley, California, so she is now 32 years of age. Most of her victories have been obtained by her devastating and well-placed drive—a drive which would compare favourably with that of many of the leading men players. Many critics have contended that Mile. Jjcnglcn was her superior, but the great American player has a record far surpassing that of her French rival. Mrs. Moody has won the American title on, seven occasions and the French title four times. Mllo. Longlen was unsuccessful on the only occasion on which she competed in tlio United States championships and won the French title six times. In 1930 a United States Senator left Mrs. Moody £4OOO in appreciation of her winning the tennis championship for California. She announced in 1935 that she would probably never again compete in major tournaments such as those at Wimbledon and Forest Hills. The lure of Wimbledon has, however, been too strong and tennis players the world over will join in congratulating her on the magnificent success which has attended her effort.