Negro Condemns Russian Walk-Out

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30478, 27 June 1964, Page 10

Negro Condemns Russian Walk-Out

(N.Z. Press Association —Copt/rlghl)

WIMBLEDON, June 26.

Arthur Ashe, the first male Negro to play in the Wimbledon tennis championships, yesterday condemned the anti-apartheid walk-out staged by the Russians and said politics should be kept out Of sport, Associated Press reported.

“This nd doubt is some sort, of political strategy on the part of the Russians,” said the 20-year-old policeman’s son from Richmond, Virginia.

“I don’t think you want political protests of this kind in sport—especially here at Wimbledon.”

Hungarian and Soviet players both scratched from their matches yesterday rather than play with the South African, A. Segal. Their withdrawal was the first time that politics have been brought into the Wimbledon championships. The Russian was 19-year-old Metreveli, who withdrew from his third-round men’s singles match with Segal as

a “moral protest” against the racial policy of South Africa. Metreveli, whose decision, according to a Russian Embassy spokesman, was entirely his own, stressed his decision was nothing personal against Segal. Later, a Hungarian, I. Gulyas, who had been paired with Segal in the men's doubles by the championships committee, after both men found themselves without a partner, told officials he could not play with Segal. The tournament referee. Captain M. Gibson, said he understood that Gulyas, who seemed genuinely sorry to withdraw, had been advised by the Hungarian Ministry of Sport officials to do so.