Trabert, Connolly French Net Stars: Tony Beats Larsen in Straight Sets, Daily Racing Form, 1954-05-31

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Trabert, Connolly French Net Stars Tony Beats Larsen In Straight Sets Maureen Sets Tournament Record in Winning Crown For Second Year in Row , By ROBERT AHIER United Press Sports Writer PARIS, France, May 29 UP . — Tony Trabert of Cincinnati won the mens singles title in the French International tennis championships today when he easily defeated Art Larsen of San Leandro, Calif., in straight sets as Maureen Connolly of San Diego, Calif., successfully defended her womens crown. With a superb display of tennis, Trabert turned back Larsen, 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 as he won his first major European title in his first attempt while Miss Connolly, seeking to duplicate the sweep of all major womens championships she scored last year, downed Mrs. Ginette Bucaille of France, 6-4, 6-1. Playing before a capacity crowd of 12,000. including Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery, in the Roland-Garros Stadium, it took Trabert only an hour and 20 minutes, including a brief pause for rain in the third set to down the rangy Californian. The southpaw swinging Larsen never had a chance as he was Unable to break through Traberts perfectly paced game and for the first time in the tournament found himself running after balls instead" of directing Play. "Little Mo," starting out as she did last year when she won the French, Wimbledon and U. S. crowns, established a brilliant tournament record of losing only 14 games as she successfully defended her championship. Puts. Up Strong Defense But in defeat, the 27-year-old French brunette housewife had the satisfaction of knowing that she extended her 19-year-old American opponent more than any one in the tournament. She put up an unexpectedly strong defense in the first set and came close to breaking up the rhythm of Miss Connollys play. She started out by reaking Miss Connollys service and then held her own for a 2-0 lead. But then she dropped her own service and "Little Mo" held hers to square the set. They battled evenly until it was * four-all when Miss Connolly broke Mrs. Bucailles service and then held her own to win the set. The French star attempted to disrupt Miss Connollys game with long slow returns along the sidelines, and thus slow up the rhythm of her game. But it didnt work arid in the last two games, finally lost set point on a smash by Trabert. In the second set, Miss Connolly won five games in a row before Mrs. Bucaille broke service to win her only game of the set. Trabert started strongly, cracking Lar-sens first service, but the Californian fought back to even at four-all. With the crowd cheering for the underdog Larsen, Trabert then held service as Larsen ob" viously became nervous. He double-faulted the first point of his serve, threw away the next two points on easy shots and finally lost set point on a brilliant smash by Trabert. The ex-sailor from Cincinnati won the first three games of the second set only to have Larsen come back again and tie it at three-all. Trabert finally pulled ahead, 5-4, and was 40-love in what might have been the decisive game. But again Larsen rallied to level the count, but from that point on he couldnt stand the pressure! and Trabert won easily. Larsens final minute of glory came in the fourth game j of the third set when he managed to hold service. The third set was interrupted by rain with Trabert leading, 2-0.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1954053101/drf1954053101_2_1
Local Identifier: drf1954053101_2_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800