1920s “MISS POKER FACE” TENNIS STAR HELEN WILLS FILM 1924 WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIP XD43454

[@kennethjohnson6319]

Hellen wills i never heard of her a great women's tennis champion i liked about this episode is the way they dress and played tennis by in 1924

[@davidr2802]

she has a smile similar to Monica Seles

[@lenwelch2195]

The original Chris Evert- miss poker face and the “ Ice Maiden”. I love her story, back then without social media she like Evert was not a giggling young women. The British love runner ups who smile and give their all and act like gracious champions. It was supposed to show that winning at all costs as showing how much for a woman not to show the determination of a man was looked down on is she appeared thirsty for a win. wills did more than that , she committed the biggest sin : her constant winning was looked at as masculine and or robotic and aren’t women supposed to care more about her husband and children and not pursue winning championships like her entire life depended on it. Sure on court but they stereotyped her as wanting to win too much making her less sympathetic and cold . If a man showed those qualities they were praised. Court and King got same abuse but not to the degree Evert did in beginning as theBritish nicknamed chrissie the “ little miss cool” or “ ice maiden” never by looking at her face could one tell if she was ahead in a match or behind. She was concentrating like Wills did. Sexism for sure. Later chrissie married an Englishmen John Lloyd and the British public warmed up to chrissie. Also chrissie won 6 opens 7 French , 2 Australian ( played there only 6 times ,each time reaching the final. Evert won 90 percent of all her matches over 19 years , won at one stretch 125 straight clay court matches from 73 till 79 until Austin beat her 7-6 in third set . Then Chris won 64 more straight clay court matches. From august 73 till Sf 81 Sf vs Mandlikova which she lost she won 189-2. For 8 years on clay she lost twice ( once 7-6 in third and to Mandlikova 6-4,7-5. Chris didn’t play French 76,77,78 a time when she didn’t lose to anyone on clay and if she played the tench instead of world team tennis she would’ve had 10 French titles. Austin was the only one who threatened Evert on clay and didn’t win her first match against Chris until April of 79,so Austin wasn’t a threat to evert in years evert didn’t play French 76,77,78. Their first meeting was Wimbledon 77 where Chris won 6-1,6-1. Austin won 79 open, Avon New York and Italian then 3 more times in fall of 79 . Then again in Cincinnati to start 1980. - 5 straight two set wins that were lopsided. In 79 Chris was 2-6 against Austin plus losing in beginning of 80 . Evert took 3-4 months off and vowed not to return unless her desire to win returned. Boy did it ever. She won French, beat Navratilova to avenge two straight losses in W finals of 78,79 in Sf and was flat against GoolGong who played two best matches of her career - Austin in Sf and evert in final plus Mandlikova in QF. She deserved that W title. But evert had beaten all her foes including Goolagong ina warm up tournament against Goolagong but she hadn’t drawn Tracy . She knew if she wanted to be number one again having fallen to number two or three depending on rankings and ITF standings for 79. She had won French and reached finals of W and open but due to her 4 losses to her two wins vs Austin was number 3 by many. She had to prove a lot in 1980 to reclainnumber one and she did winning the openhaving beaten Austin and Mandlikova at open . After the open Austin was never ranked above Evert. At open she won 4-6,6-1,6-1 nd then Mandlikova 5-7, 6-1,6-1. She also beat Austin 7-6 in third set at end of the tours championships . Due to double elimination format had to play Austin in Sf next day and lost due to soreness but by then had the overwhelming ranking points to be number one even before the year end championships. A year later in same year end championships beat Austin 6-0,6-0. The final was 3setsvs Martina which started a two year 13 straight wins in which at 30 ( old for the time ) beat Martina at 85 and at 31 beat Martina fir back to back French titles. Being the underdog vs Martina warmed the publics sentiments for Chris and from then on had the publics heart s Martina. Public loved Martina but the public still turns away from a woman if she wins too much. That never happened to borg who won W five straight times or Federer when he won 7 wimbledons or Sampras who was number one for 6-7 straight years and beat Agassi every time they played except for an Australian open win. Wills was the first woman player who was determined like Evert and her constant winning turned public against her. It happened with Chris until Austin threatened her for. 6 months and Martina’s dom8nation of Evert in all of 83 and 84 although the W and open 84 finals were very close losses. Sexism in tennis still exists. I suppose it’s not feminine to show determination like a man if your a woman. Determination is not decided by genitals. It’s in the mind . Wills and evert along with Martina , graf and for 6 months Austin ( Austin was never number one at year end rankings , she reached number two in 80. Wills was an all time great winning over a number of years . Lenglen was lucky to win their only encounter 8-6, 6-4 I believe . Lenglen wasn’t about to play wills again. Wills and evert didn’t show emotion on curtcAuse it was smart not too, it frustrates opponents .

[@RandomJ2023]

Imagine Hellen Wills vs Serena Williams, back in the 1920's. #Mindblown

[@markthomas6703]

They didn't have steroids back then.

[@davidr2802]

@@markthomas6703 Mark, do you have proof of William's use of steroids?

[@markthomas6703]

@@davidr2802 She hid in her "safe room" for over an hour when the inspectors did an unannounced visit to draw blood. The drug that she took to hide her obvious doping takes an hour to take effect, which explains her pathetic excuse that she thought they were burglars.

[@stephentooth]

Could never have happened as non white players were not allowed

[@ajwasp3642]

As a player and fan, I should have known this story. Good video. Looks to me, that King Gustav sucks at tennis.

[@kalrioproductions]

The great AMONG US

[@williamt256]

Hellen Wills. Worth study, learning. Same for Suzanne Lenglen. Don't just rely on this embilshed video.