TILDEN CONTROVERSY.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 114, 15 May 1924, Page 5

TILDEN CONTROVERSY.

THE CRACK WILL FLAY.

FEN V. RACQUET.

(Received 9 a.m.)

NEW YORK, May 14.

It is now virtually certain that Tilden will, after all, 'be a member of this year'e American Davis Cup team. At his request the Tennis Association has announced that a meeting will shortly be held, at which clubs will pronounce their final judgment on the player-writer controversy. The prompt acceptance of Tilden's suggestion has revived hopes of the matter being amicably settled, and of Tilden's amateur standing being restored-

In the forthcoming issue of a tennis publication, Tilden criticises the ruling making professionals of players who write for the newspapers. He says he is willing to play in the Davis Cup matches if the Tennis Association will call a meeting to rehear his case, and if the constituent clubs uphold him: Tilden offers to withdraw his resignation when the meeting is announced, and promisee to abide by the decision of the clubs. He says that surely an association which sends a man 45,000 miles in 18 months in order to bring a trophy back has professionalised that man. Tennis is commercialised by the association, not by the players.

The huge gate receipts for the national chamionships in the Davis Cup matches are, says Tilden, a far more dangerous influence toward professionalism than written articles. The time has come to re-write the amateur rule. Also, the i association must uphold its own standard and abolish the gate receipts at official matches.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)