The Longwood invitation tournament was interesting last week for two reasons. Helen Wills Moody, entered with Mrs. George Wightman in the women's doubles, was making her first appearance on eastern courts since 1929. John Doeg, of Newark, N. J., U. S. champion and first ranking player, was trying to get permanent possession of the Longwood Bowl by winning it for the third time. No one thought he could do it, because at Montclair, N. J. last fortnight he had shown himself to be wholly out of practice by losing to an obscure opponent in straight sets.
Four seeded players reached the semi-finals—Wilmer Allison of Texas, Clifford Sutter of New Orleans, Ellsworth Vines of California, and Doeg. Doeg, slamming his left-handed serve into court in the way which enabled him to beat Tilden and Frank Shields in the National last year, disposed of Sutter 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Vines, who was the sensation of the early tournaments last summer, beat Allison, who made his sensation four years ago, 7-5, 6-3. 6-4. Against Vines, Doeg, still serving well and winning his share of the back court rallies with a slow but effective chop-stroke, won the first set 6-4. Vines, driving to the corners, made Doeg cover his court in pendulum fashion through the next two sets, won them both at 6-3. In the fourth set, Doeg went to the net whenever he could, ran up a three-game lead and won, 6-3. In the sixth game of the last set, Vines kissed his racket when a smash he had hit with the frame dropped into the court for an ace. The ace helped him break Doeg's service, win the match set 6-3.
Mrs. Moody, playing without an eyeshade, and with a backhand chop which she has incorporated in her game, beat the club professional 7-5 in a practice set, later won the doubles with Mrs. Wightman. Asked why her husband had not come East with her, she replied: "He doesn't like to watch tennis. He had rather stay home and sail a boat."