THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 19, 1937.
Pare
WALLIS MYERS REVIEWS SEASON
SENORITA LIZANA WORLD'S NO. 1 TENNIS PLAYER
STANDARD NOT SO HIGH AS IN TILDEN ERA
(By A. WALLIS MYERS)
London, September 22.
7
1 Senorit 2 Mrs. Little: 3. HBe I Jeds 4. Mrs. Sperling 5. Mine Mathien
6. Miss H. Jacobs CAmerica). 7. Miss A Marble (America) & Fri Horn (Germany) 9. Miss R. M. Hardwick. (Paris 10. Miss T. M. Bandy (Americ
variety of stroke,
sagac
his ravely tiago has provided
equalled.
BELOW, for the twentieth successive year, is published the classification of the world's first 10 players of both sexes. Only a competition con- ducted on the pool system, with equal chances and conditions for all, could u furnish a thoroughly satisfying order of merit, and such an ideal test is impracticable. Relative values must therefore, in the main, be a matter the championship at Wimbledon for of judgment governed by opportunity for research.
THE WIMBLEDON HEROINE As Miss Round, Mrs. Little wo
the second time, Her victory was -
If the results do not claim infallibility they are supported by personal observation at the hailed as a surprise, yet she had ther Wightman Cup form of 1936 three principal championships those decided at Wimbledon, New York and Paris and at the been ranked No. 3 last year, and on was, if the right inspiration came, deciding stages of the Davis Cup in England and the Wightman Cup match in America.
The men's list has an inevit-mammus able No. 1 in Budge: Champion of two hemispheres, he lost only three sets in gaining the double crown-a unique record. More-
over, he was younger by several years than either Tilden or Perry when they won at Wimbledon and in America in the same year.
MEN
man he had found his turf feet. In Ber-ja probable claimant. Her best ten- lin he nearly defeated Von Cramm nis has always been played on the in three sets. One hopes this giant centre court, outside it, and espe- cially abroad, she has never had the will emerge again from his lair.
1. J. D. Budge (America). 2 G. Von Cuzamm (Germany). 3. H. Henkel (Germany).
4. H. W. Austin (England). 5. RL. Riggs (America). 6. B. M. Grant (America). 7.1. H. Crawford (Australia). 8. R. Menzel (Czechoslovakia). 9. F. A. Parker (America). 10. C. E. Hare (England).
then at his best.
I give the last two places to same confidence. Frank Parker
and Charles Hare.
Three Continental players, train-
The American was a semi-finalist ed on non-turf courts, follow. The both at Wimbledon and at
Hills. The Englishma Forest most improved player of the year,
might have
Mille. Jedrzerowska, was a finalist
gone as far in New York if he had both at Wimbledon and at Forest got an extra game in the fifth set Hills. Her only defeat in England. against Riggs. Hare's great first after four successive tournaments, set with Budge in the Davis Cup came when, by mixing top-spin drive with drop-shot, she appeared to have was a herald.
the championship within her grasp. LESS ASSURED
IDEAL TOURIST Left to develop on his own lines, which are those of an American
ten
Mme. Mathieu played me extin
The personal triumph of the Cali- fornian was complete, for while cap- turing the major title he also re! -covered the Davis Cup for his conn- try after a decade of vain striving-von Cramm beat him on turf courts. The appraiser may congratulate He failed to win a set against Hen-
Mrs. Sperling won the champion- the youthful champion, while rekel in the final of the French cham- cognising that his zenith has pro-pionship, but was then short of ade-server and volleyer of the left-hand-ship of France again without losing bably not yet been reached and that quate match practice. Against the ed Doeg school, I consider that Hare a set, but elsewhere she was less the collective calibre of his challen- champion at Wimbledon he played with Austin, capable of keeping assured, actually losing six games England in the first flight. His zest in a row to Miss Marble at Wimble- gers was not as strong either in inspiring tennis. Physically he was
for the overhauling fight and his don and to Mme. Mathieu (after an strokes or strategy, as that which
happy disposition make him an ideal hour's play, to be sure) at Beaulieu, his Tilden resisted successfully in
Robert Riggs, only 19, is yet an-player to send abroad. prime. Budge, in other words. is at the top of a world less perilous to other product of California. A com McGrath is excluded reluctantly, nis this year than last.
plete and versatile player, he has a yet with the knowledge that, save at guished the Chilean's chances at stout heart and a cool head in a de Hamburg, his 1937 touring produc- Wimbledon and beat Mrs. Sperling ~THREE TIMES FINALIST
cisive fifth set. That he will assist
ed disappointing results. John Brom-for the first time. The doubles cham- For the third successive year) Baron You Cramm was a finalist at Budge to defend the Davis Cup next wich, though he claimed Von Cramm pionships of France and this coun as a victim în Germany and pressed try were captured by her steady Wimbledon. He did not compete in year is certain
-a shining! Below the first five is a wealth of Austin at Wimbledon, needs another hand.
AMERICA'S LOST TITLES the singles in Paris, but
America won the Wightman Cup example of knightly courage-reach-talent, some of it obviously rising, year of hardening To Destreman
by a wide margin, but her players ed the final of the American cham-a portion possibly depressed by too and Petra of France the same re-
debilitating danger in flection applies.
lost both the chief championships. HARDER IN 1937. pionship against galling opposition much play
all countries. at his first attempt.
In the women's realm the ball has Only against the Polish champion at B. M. Grant did little in Europe The champion's final challenger is obviously No. 2 How near he came this year to justify his high repu-been hit harder in 1937 than in Forest Hills was Miss Jacobs in her to sharing the chief honour with tation, but at Forest Hills, both in any previous year. Speed of stroke, best form. Miss Alice Marble, ex- Budge his magnificent effort in the the Davis Cup and in the champion-jas of foot, reveals the athletic surge, cept for one glorious set that com- fifth match of the Davis Cup chal-ships, he played more arresting ten- but haste of a modern world; it does passed the defeat of Mrs. Sperling nis than in any previous season. The not imply that more champions, at Wimbledon, lapsed too often. Her lenge round revealed.
scale than in the middle 'twenties.
vious, and as a decisive volleyer she Of the two Badge is the more smallest first-class player, he has a greater than those of the past, are flare for the game, however, is ob- consistent, the greater match-win- heart large enough and a head in the making.
The three last places are filled by ner. The German, as he showed at shrewd enough to undermine giants. A fishing school for tournament has no equal-
players, where strategy and match Wimbledon and in America, can, for He is Howard Kinsey's successor.
play tactics can be taught, is re-newcomers. Now inspiring periods, rise to heights
I find it impossible to exclude Jack quired I have never known a year
championship matches has Miss where the air may be too rare even
Crawford from the First Ten after when so for Budge
- MOST IMPROVED PLAYER Henner Henkel, who won the championships of
CRAWFORD STILL IN
his fine play against Menzel and have been lost by wron
Still court Erro Von Cramm at Wimbledon.
to say Germany- and under 30, he has only to play less to from
dgment
France
nothing of the regain his former fire. A man with care them doubles championship of America his sensitive touch cannot face con- and France with Von Cramm as-tinuous match play without a depres- cends from ninth place to third. Hesion of mind and body.
is Europe's most improved player, Of men young enough to be cham- and an orthodox shot maker with alpions again, Sidney Wood, who deadly first service and a great in five years junior
tercepting volley. Like Cup partner, he has a temperament, though he sitive to sti
his Davis ed in the rece
more sen
Crawford,
hip that, give
quisite
he would
tem for
me to
Horn has
many,
So
big in
Adri
have
tion bim
Fbod
ithout
bledon before
standard