THE NEW CHAMPION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19132, 29 September 1936, Page 7

THE NEW CHAMPION

MISS ALICE MARBLE TENNIS IN UNITED STATES VERSATILE SI 'ORTSWO'UAN The defeat of Miss Helen Jacobs in the final of the United States lawn tennis championships recently cairn-' as a surprise, especially as the winner, Miss Alice Marble, has been out, of* the game lor two years. .Miss Jacobs’ disappointment will be shared by many of her supporters who would have welcomed her success in her National championship in the year in which she won the Wimbledon title. If she had won the American title this year it would have been her fifth successive victory. Since 1934 Miss Marble has not competed in the major tournaments- following a. breakdown. Tho circumstances surrounding, her retirement are interesting. Her final physical breakdown camo in Paris in 1934 when she was competing in a match against France as a member of (lie American Wiglitnian Cup team before its engagements in England. THE CAUSE Actually the beginning of her disability was in the Maidstone club events in America in 1933; which events were played tho week before the Wiglitnian Cup matches. The latter matches wove scheduled Tor Friday* and Saturday, August. 4 and 5. at Forest Hills, and the” Maidstone. championships were crowded hi to the week-end of July 29-30. Play was 'held up on Saturday and Sunday so that* tho semi-final and final matches were postponed until Monday. “American Lawn Tennis” reports of this tournament state: "-Miss Alice Marble was the victim of the tournament. iShe had * the extreme misfortune of being; successful enough to gain the final rounds of- both the singles and the doubles: with the result that on Monday, the hottest day of the year and one of the most torrid on record—lCO degrees—she .-was obliged to engage in two semi-final and two final matches, three of them three-set affairs and, the other unusually long; and hard fought. One 'hundred "and ' eight games was her total. The* results were a doss in both finals, lire doubles with Mrs. Moody; and the .drain bn Miss Marble’s health and physical reserve which affected* her for the, remainder of the week and prevented her; from playing in* the Wightman Cup* Singles.l ■V =• ', ; • IN PARIS

In the championships tiro following week Miss' Marble -Was considered, tit enough to' play,' but she lost to Miss Betty Nhthail 'alter-having a' long, lead And several -match* point's, and sire Jailed badly* in the doubles. The following spring Miss :i Marble-' was sent to Pans with this W’lghtma'n Cup team, and in. a, Thatch with The' Frencii she-crumpled on-'tiro*'court hi-a 1 faint After Muting Mmb*. IJehtcitin.' She was taken, to hospital where she*remained for three weeks, with 'pleurisy! , Thereafter* Miss Marble did not play until the' Californian tournaments this season. Her play in those events indicated' that she had Tost none of Tier skill: and that she would be a strong contended in * the'riational championships iLsho went* East. " v : )ior .first nppporance in tlie- .Eastern t6nrnainonts at. uongwhod in July aiid -won* the’singles 1 , and "with' Miss 1 Gracyn Wheeler- the doubles.' ' .This was 1 . the beginning of a. series'of successes'which culminated! in her' victory. lit The national* singles against Mbs Jacobs,' het finest achievement. * *'T * HER RECORD Miss Marble has won many notable victories against many of tho distinguished women players of Great. Britain and the'United States. * hßssr Dorothy Round, Miss" Mary Heeley',’Mrs. Sarah Palfrey Fabyan, and Miss Carol in Babcock have all been beaten in various matches by the young Californian. She will be 23* on September 28. Miss Marble is a versatile sport swoman, basketball, baseball, and table tennis being included in her repertoire. She Inis' won tile Pacific Coast table tennis' title. .