Amateurism in Tennis

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21117, 19 March 1934, Page 10

Amateurism in Tennis

The report of the international committee set up last year to revise the regulations governing amateur status in tennis is, to judge by the cabled summary, mainly an angry denunciation of existing abuses. It heaps elaborate scorn on those nominal amateurs who " tour the world " without putting their hands in their " pockets " and who complain when not provided with private bathrooms; it issues a solemn warning against " the lure of professionalism"; and it "deplores the fact '" that the great players are becom- " ing professionals." There is nothing either new or helpful in all this. Everyone knows that most of the men and women who play international tennis are amateurs in name only, and everyone will agree that such a state of affairs ought not to continue. But the international committee's proposals to tighten up the regulations governing amateur status are not a solution of the problem, since no player who does not devote his whole time to the game can hope to reach the first rank. Either the spirit of the regulations will continue to be infringed or, what is even less desirable, first- ' class tennis will become the preserve of those lucky enough to have patrons or substantial private means The French have a saying that evil: which cannot be cured should bt regularised; and that is the sensible way out of the dilemma. If professionalism cannot be eliminated iron international tennis, then it should be brought out into the open and legalised. Few would argue thai the spirit and the prestige of cricket have suffered because professionals are allowed to play with amateurs. In any case, nothing can be more harmful to a sport than a standard of amateurism which is in effect a sham.