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Alternative Title
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Lawrence Bruner Letters, 1897
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Creator
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Lawrence Bruner
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Identifier
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081210-1897-059h
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Transcription
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MISS POUND SURPRISED CHICAGO
What a Nebraska Man Says of the Championship Match.
Her Cyclonic Style Was Something the easterners Couldn't Get Used To.
H. A. Lafler, of the state university, had the pleasure of being the only Nebraska man to witness the championship tennis match between Miss Pound and Miss Craven Wednesday and he furnished last evening on his return here the following account of the spirited event:
The day set for the final rounds of the third annual woman's tournament for the western championship in singles proved an ideal tennis day. The heat was tempered by a cool, southwesterly breeze, too light to interfere with the play. The phenomenal playing and metoric career of Miss Pound in the tennis world combined with the perfect weather drew a crowd which overflowed from the pavilion of the Kenwood country club on to the grassy courts surrounding the one on which the match was played.
Especially the ladies were out in full force, by far outnumbering the gentlemen present, making a scene of rare brilliancy and interest. The total number present was not far from 1,500.
After the consolation singles won by Miss Faulkner and comparatively uninteresting, preceding the more imprtant event, the game was called which was to decide the championship of the west in women's singles.
Of the first ten games little can be said except that Miss Pound won—won by strength, won by skill and perfect familiarity with the science of the game. During the playing of the first set a prominent gentleman player remarked to me: "If I were asked to state the weak points of Miss Pound's game, I should be unable to name one."
The score of the first set was:
Pound ...................4 4 8 4 4 4—28—6
Craven ..................0 1 6 1 0 2—10—0
Indeed, it looked for a time as if Miss Craven would lose the match with the score 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 against her. It must not, however, be inferred that Miss Craven's playing was not good. It simply was not best. At all times during the game every point was fought for, but Miss Craven's accurate and really fine lobbing was always met by the terrific drives of Miss Pound. These drives of hers won the match and the championship.
At the middle of the second set Miss Craven seemed to get her strokes better and won three successive games, but Miss Pound immediately rallied and won the second set 6-3. The score:
Pound ...................4 4 5 4 4 2 2 5 7—37—6
Craven ..................2 1 3 2 6 4 4 2 5—30—3
The next set matters changed. Miss Craven's stroke perceptibly improved, while Miss Pound seemed to weaken. Many of her drives failed to clear the net, and she lost five games with only one game to her credit, making the score 5-1, Miss Craven leading. At this point the Nebraska player's most sanguine admirers would not have dared to hope or expect that she would win the set. But Miss Pound possesses a reserve of power, energy and nerve which few, if any, women players in American can equal, and none surpass. Against odds which daunt a player less sanguine she plays with wonderful force, for a woman. In this quality of winning against long odds she reminds one of "Bob" Wrenn, the champion of the United States in singles.
To gain the third set it was now necessary to win in succession six games, and she did it. Twice or three times the score stood "advantage, Miss Craven," but each time Miss Pound won the next point and game.
When the score became 5-all it was evident that Miss Pound would win out and carry from Chicago the trophy of the western championship—an elegant silver cup. The last two games were easy. The score follows:
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Rights
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To inquire about usage, please contact Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These images are for educational use only. Not all images are available for publication.
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Is Version Of
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081210-1897-059h.jpg
081210-1897-059h.jpg