TENNIS BOYCOTT; SOCCER STRIKE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30320, 21 December 1963, Page 17

TENNIS BOYCOTT; SOCCER STRIKE

Davis Cup Players Say "We Will Migrate”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

ADELAIDE, December 20.

Eight of Australia’s leading tennis players may boycott next month’s Australian championships in Brisbane, the Melbourne “Herald” tennis writer, Alan Stewart, reported today. Stewart said the mass walk-out is planned as the next stage in a series of moves designed to force the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia to lift its ban on players going overseas before March 31 next year.

Five of the players, R. Emerson, F. Stolle, K. Fletcher, R. Hewitt, and M, Mulligan, are considering migrating to Britain to escape the L.T.A.A.’s domination. “Most of Australia’s leading players are up in arms over the ban, and they have reached the stage where open revolt is a distinct possibility,” Stewart said. Stewart said that only two of the players, Hewitt and Mulligan, are seriously considering going overseas to live. Live In S. Africa Hewitt plans to marry a South African girl and settle permanently in South Africa, and Mulligan has been virtually a British resident for the last two years. Stewart said t' e other three players do not really want to leave Australia. He said that the “migration statement was timed to give the L.T.A.A. a chance to reconsider the ban before officials fly to Adelaide next

week for the Davis Cup challenge round.” Stewart said the eight players considering the boycott include the five “would be” migrants and J. Newcombe, A Roche and W. Bowrey. Stewart said the players argue that a walk out from the national championships would do the association more immediate damage than a threat to move out of Aus- ■ tralia for good. “Certainly, if the eight players mentioned, all withdrew from the tournament the championships would be a financial flop,” Stewart said. The former Wimbledon champion, N. A. Fraser, has not entered for the tournament because of business and personal commitments. The national titles will be staged at Brisbane from January 4 to 12. In Adelaide today, the Australian Davis Cup captain, Mr Harry Hopman, said the players’ dispute with the L.T.A.A. did not seem to be affecting their play. “They are not worrying about it, and nor am I,” Mr Hopman said.