Brave Hearts

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Eye Care Foundation

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The Heart of A Champion
The Wimbledon tournaments held every year in England attracts world-wide attention of sports-lovers because it is the most important and coveted competitions as far as lawn tennis in concerned. We now take you to the last day's encounters pertaining to the year 1951 which were to be very keenly fought between the top players of the game. In the ladies' singles, the two top ranking players were to meet. Both of them had already played at the centre court in the past and had sufficient experience of playing at a place which was called the 'most holy place for tennis players of the world. The place had assumed the significance and importance of a pilgrimage.
One of the American players who had reached the ladies' finals was Doris Hart and the other, slightly younger in age, was Shirley Fray. Both were partners in the ladies' doubles game. But today they were to face each other in the ladies' singles finals.
Doris Hart had reached the finals of the ladies' singles twice before in the years 1947 and 1948. She was defeated both times and had now reached the finals for the third time now in 1951. Being an experienced player, she was considered to be the favourite to win the finals that year. The spectators were full of anticipation and excitement.
The fact was that she had reached the finals by registering a great victory in the semi-final encounter. She had
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