Juliette Atkinson won the singles tennis title by defeating reigning champion Elisabeth Moore 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3 in the Challenge Round of the 1897 U.S. Women's National Singles Championship, reversing the result of the previous Championships.[2] Atkinson had won the right to challenge Moore by defeating Edith Kenderdine 6–2, 6–4, 6–0 in the final of the All Comers' competition. The event was played on outdoor grass courts and held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Wissahickon Heights, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia from June 15 through June 19, 1897.[1][3][4][5]
^"Two lawn tennis stars". Stevens Point Daily Journal. June 14, 1897. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com. For several years Miss Moore and Miss Atkinson have been the bright particular stars of the meeting, and a very large share of the interest is always centered in their match, for they invariably come together sooner or later.
^Wright & Ditson's Lawn Tennis Guide for 1898. Boston: Wright & Ditson. 1898. pp. 39–40 – via HathiTrust. The championship round between Miss Bessie Moore (holder) and Miss Juliette Atkinson (challenger), aroused the spectators to the highest pitch of excitement, and quoting the remark of an authority on the game: "The play surpassed anything we have yet seen in women's tennis in this country.".
^Spalding's Lawn Tennis Annual for 1898. New York: American Sports Publishing Company. 1898. pp. 35–36. The standard of play in last year's championship match was not only a fine exhibition of grit and endurance, but completely surpassed its predecessors. Miss Atkinson won the first two sets by the excellence of her placing, and her general steadiness, only to lose the next two sets after some masterly tennis. With an even score, the impression prevailed that the champion would successfully defend the title, but Miss Atkinson rallied for a supreme effort and won the decisive set.
Juliette Atkinson[1]