The Tennis Match of the Century
Explore the only face-off between Suzanne Lenglen and Helen Wills at the Carlton Club tournament in the French Riviera in 1926.
The "Goddess and the American Girl"
Women’s tennis in the 1920s was dominated by two women: Suzanne Lenglen of France and Helen Wills of the United States.
Suzanne Lenglen
Suzanne Lenglen, the 26-year-old French star, was widely acknowledged as the best player in women's tennis. Leading up to the match she was ranked No. 1 in the world for five straight years, had a 163-match winning streak, and was a six time Wimbledon champion.
Helen Wills
Helen Wills, the 20-year-old American, was regarded as an up-and-coming star and one of the only players who could potentially defeat Lenglen. She had been ranked No. 2 in the world and won the U.S. National Championships the previous three years.
Prior to this historic match the two women had never met on the court in a singles face-off. In fact, their only experiences of being across the net from one another had been the week prior competing in a mixed doubles match at the Nice tournament.
Reported on around the world
Dubbed "the match of the century" by global news outlets, it also featured on the front cover of American Lawn Tennis
.
On February 16, 1926, the first and only singles match between them took place in the final of the Carlton Club tournament in Cannes on the French Riviera.
Lenglen-Wills_spectators on ladders International Tennis Hall of Fame
A huge spectacle in the making
56 women entered the singles competition, and Lenglen and Wills were placed at opposite sides of the draw. The only way to meet would be in the final. This set up the increased global buzz as both women easily moved through their respective rounds of play.
On the day of the finals, additional seating was still under construction as throngs of people clamored to get into the Carlton Lawn Tennis Club. Attendance at the match is estimated be between 3,000 and 6,000.
“Despite the fact that in sixty or seventy minutes the match was to begin workmen were still building the stands. As fast as a plank was put in place chairs were hastily placed, and people sat down. I saw one man with a ticket in his hand looking up into space. His seat was in the process of being erected, and at the moment it was air.” – John Tunis for American Lawn Tennis
Lenglen-Wills_spectators on ladders International Tennis Hall of Fame
Besides the several thousand tickets that were sold, many more individuals climbed trees and ladders to look over walls onto the courts. Neighboring buildings sold space on rooftops and balconies.
Lenglen prevails
Wills put up a strong fight and gave Lenglen a bigger challenge than anticipated. Nonetheless, Lenglen prevailed in straight sets 6-3, 8-6.
Once in a lifetime event
Unfortunately for the legacy of tennis, this was the only singles encounter between the two great champions.
Denied a second meeting at French National Championships
An emergency appendectomy forced Wills to retire from the French Nationals. Lenglen would win that event, her last major singles title, as she would turn pro later that year, removing herself from the amateur ranks, which Wills would compete in until 1938.
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