The former tennis ace, Helen Newington Wills Roark
The former American tennis ace, Helen Newington Wills Roark was born on 6th October, 1905 in the city of California. She is one of the "the very first USA born women to accomplish international fame as a professional tennis player”.
Wills has grabbed a total of thirteen Grand Slam trophies all through her career including mixed doubles, singles as well as women's doubles. She won a total of four singles trophies at the French Open tournament and eight single ones at the grass court Grand Slam championship. Apart from her failure at the French Open tournament as well as the grass court Grand Slam event back in 1962, she made her way at least to the final of every single major event she participated in during her professional life.
Wills also gained a total of two gold medals at Olympics back in 1924. She was also the American lady‘s singles winner both in 1921 as well as 1922.
She grabbed her very first women's national trophy when she was just seventeen years of age and thus became the youngest ever champ from the girl’s side at that point. Helen also remained a member of United States Wightman Cup side in 1923, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 as well as 1938. The girl used to wear a white coloured dress along with a short skirt and a milky visor apart from her white shoes.
Back in 1962, the twenty year old Helen faced a six times grass court Grand Slam winner Suzanne Lenglen in the final match of the championship in Cannes. Lenglen triumphed in the final encounter 6–3, 8–6 and grabbed the trophy. It was one of the few matches where Helen showed some signs of aggression while speaking angrily with one of the line judges.
Wills did not find a second opportunity to face Lenglen after that match and thus it was their first and the only meeting excluding the exhibition matches. Shortly, after their encounter, Helen faced an injury problem and thus missed the United States Open that season as prescribed by the doctor.
However, in spite of the injury, Helen fell down in a total of just four matches in a period of three complete seasons starting from 1923. She was knocked down once by Lenglen as well as Elizabeth Ryan where as by Kathleen McKane Godfree on two occasions.
During the time, stretching over a period of seventeen years from 1922 to 1938, Wills participated in a total of twenty four Grand Slam championships, triumphing in nineteen of them while ending up as a runner up on two occasions and ducking out twice due to her abdominal pain.
During 1933, Helen got injured in the final match of the US Open while playing against Helen Hull as a result of her back injury. After a whole season rest, the American tennis ace, Helen Wills returned and won the 1935 as well as the 1938 grass court Grand Slam trophies prior to her retirement.
Charlie Chaplin was once questioned what in his view is the most lovely vision that he had ever experienced. He replied that it was "the sight of Helen Wills playing the game of tennis”.
Wills was awarded as the Associated Press Female sportswomen of the season back in 1935 and was included into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the year 1959. The US tennis star, Helen Newington Wills Roark passed away back in 1998 at the age of ninety two years. However, there is no doubt about the fact that her contributions towards the world of tennis will be remembered for ages.
Tags: