LAWN TENNIS Gonzalez Retiring From Professional Tourneys

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS Gonzalez Retiring From Professional Tourneys

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright)

NEW YORK, Sept. 21. Pancho Gonzalez, the professional tennis champion of the world for nearly 10 years, is retiring from professional tournaments. but may be willing to play in open tournaments, according to the “New York Times” today. The 35-year-old star- of Jack Kramer's touring troupe, who lost his world hard-court title to Australia's Ken Rosewall last Sunday in Paris, has signed with Huntington Hartford to teach and coach tennis at Paradise Island in the Bahamas. -* Gonzalez, whose income annually topped 50,000 dollars as professional world champion, had accepted a four-month contract at Hartford’s new 20 million-doliar Caribbean resort, the “New York Times” said. The contract between Hartford and Gonzalez was signed in Paris after Gongalez’s defeat by Rosewall. Gonzalez will teach tennis at the resort, and give exhibition matches from January to April. Besides revealing his plans, Gonzalez disclosed that

his name for years had been constantly mis-spelt, said the “New York Times.” The final letter was “z”, not “s”, he said. Gonzalez left the door open for his return to competition. He said: “I do not Intend to take part in any more tennis tournaments unless they are open to professionals and amateurs alike.” Although Rose wall has taken the world professional hard-court title from Gonzalez, the latter still holds the outright professional world championship, which goes to the winner of the Kramer troupe's world tour each year. Gonzalez retained the title this year in a play-off series against Andres Gimeno, of Spain.