PERRY BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21938, 12 November 1936, Page 14

PERRY BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL

_♦—_ PEW WORLD CHAMPIONS HAVE TURNED TILDEN’S campaign of provocation [By CROSSCOURTJ Frederick J- Perry, undisputed world champion for the last three years, and one of the greatest players the world has seen since the war. appears to have turned professional at last, and critics the world over are already picking : the successors to Perry’s several thrones. Cablegrams state that British followers of the game are resigned to the loss of the Davis Cup and the Wimbledon championship, and if the latest reports about Perry are correct —it is significant that Perry himself has said nothing about his plans—it seems fairly certain that next year’s programme of big tennis will be merely a fight for the spoils. Whether Perry’s change to the professional side will hasten the coming of Open tournaments" is a matter of opinion, but it is certain that it will give a much-needed stimulus to the professional game. Perry is the first ruling world champion to turn professional since Suzanne Lenglen — Vines, Tilden, and Cochet all commercialised their ability after they had lost their championships, and therefore after their money-earning power had passed its peak. Perry’s matches with the leading professional players of the world will be followed with interest by all lawn tennis enthusiasts, as they will provide a measure of the comparative standards of amateur and professional tennis. Tilden, subtle psychologist and skilful business man, is fanning this public interest by provocative statements concerning Perry’s ability compared with that of the leading profes-, sionals. Perry, he says, will rank only fifth or sixth among the professionals, although he was the best amateur in the world. As a matter of fact, all Tilden’s statements on this subject in the last few years might be regarded as calculated to provoke Perry into matching himself against Vines. Nusslein, and the other leading professionals. He has consistently belittled Perry in spite of his magnificent record, and has even declared that the Englishman, as a tennis player, not as a winner of matches, is inferior to other leading amateurs.

Those statements will no doubt be rankling in Perry’s mind, and when he faces Vines for the first time it will be something more than a professional exhibition match. It will be a “needle” match between the champion of the professionals and the champion of the amateur players. Vines, of course, is a wonderfully good player,- and although observers declare that he has never again reached the heights that won him the Wimbledon and American championships, he is certainly not the discouraged and nerve-worried player who in 1933 first yielded his English title to Crawford and then collapsed pitiably against Austin in the Davis Cup final and against Grant in his own American championships. CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION DRAW FOR SATURDAY’S MATCHES Following is the draw for matches in the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association's competitions on Saturday, all matches, unless otherwise stated, to be played at Wilding Park: — Senior Men’s—Opawa v. Cashmere, Elmwood v. Cathedral, Canterbury College V. Lin wood. A Grade, Section 2—North Beach v. Redcliffs, Te Whaka v. Avonside, North Linwood v. Cathedral, Riccarton Domain v. St. Albans. A Grade, Section 3—Waimairi v. Edgeware No. 2, Linwood No. 2 v. St. James, South Christchurch v.’ Sumner, Elmwood No. 2 v. Barrington. B Grade—St. Albans v. St. Mary’s, Addington Catholic v. Opawa, Barrington v. Fendalton, North Linwood No. 1 v. St. James, at North Linwood; Woolston v. South Christchurch, Avonside v. North Linwood No. 2, Shirley v. Linwood, at Shirley. C Grade—Edgeware v. Burwood Park; Opawa v. Prebbleton, at Opawa; Riccarton Domain v. Barrington, Cathedral v. Redcliffs, Linwood v. Heathcote. Addington v. Mount Pleasant, Fendalton v. Addington Catholic. THE AMAZING TENNIS BALL. The New Dunlop 1937 Quality Ball, of lasting durability, giving accuracy and consistency in every serve. 2s 3d pair or 12s doz. ’Phone 31-452. Postage paid on country orders. THE TENNIS SHOP, Armagh street and Hereford court. 83247-1