TENNIS MISS HARD WILL NEVER GO BACK

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29760, 1 March 1962, Page 18

TENNIS MISS HARD WILL NEVER GO BACK

(N.Z.P .A.•Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK. February 27.

The United States tennis player, Miss D. Hard, will never return to Australia to play tennis, the magazine, “World Tennis,” reported today.

In an interview with the magazine’s correspondent, Terry McLean. Miss Hard was reported as saying: “I have joined the great majority of tennis visitors to Australia — I will never go back. ‘‘Go ihroueh the list.” she added. ‘‘Maria Bueno, Angela Mortimer, Sandra Reynolds. Renee Sohuurman and now myself. After one experience of Australia, we have all said "Never again’.” The article quoted Miss Hard as saying: “The trouble with officials of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia is that they treat you not as a person, not as a player, but as a puppet. “And they are stingy.” she added, complain!r»g of the low allowances paid. Ordered to Play

“They gave me the puppet treatment they had given the others before me. Between tournaments I was not asked to play in exhibitions, I was ordered to play in them ” The popular United States champion said that because she had suffered from hepatitis last year she found long matches exhausting, yet Australian officials ordered her to play a series of exhibitions in Brisbane. “Mr Vroland, the chairman of the L.T A A., spoke very sharply to me. ‘lf you will not go. Miss Hard, we will send you home’.” Miss Hard told the interviewer. "I replied: ‘Mr Vroland. that is the best news you could possibly give me. I am ready to leave right now’.” Miss Hard said that she thought the reply gave him a nasty shock, because he “climbed down” and from that moment treated her with courtesy, the report said. "Sniping’’

“World Tennis” also reported that Miss Hard criticised the “sniping'' by Australian newspapers because of her defeats by the Australian champion. Miss M Smith, and “needling items” which she thought might have been printed in the hope that she would “blow her top” in replying to the sneers, allegations and charges.

"But I must have disappointed them.” she added. She told of being interviewed by two ‘‘slightly tipsy newspapermen” who tried for half an hour to goad her into making outrageous

statements, and when that failed they told her that they would not use the interview. In all the scoffing remarks made about her performances. Miss Hard was reported as saying, there was never any reference to the weakening effects of her hepatitis. She said she was told all over Australia that Miss Smith was the top player and would remain so.

“Margaret is a good player." Miss Hard said, according to the report. “But what has she done ouft of Australia? Who won at Forest Hills? I will be happy to settle the matter at Wimbledon There on neutral ground it will be possible to decide who is right.” She added: “I am convinced that with my health restored I can handle her a little longer.” Of the dominance of men’s tennis by Australians, Miss Hard was quoted as saying it was because autocratic officialdom made every match for young Australians a matter of life or death. She invited the writer to ask other tennis visitors to Australia about their treatment. “Our answers are all the same,” she added. “We won't go back.”