Amateur Tennis “A Living Lie”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31307, 1 March 1967, Page 19

Amateur Tennis “A Living Lie”

(N.Z. Press Association Copyright) LONDON. Amateur tennis has been described as “a living lie” by Mr Herman David, chairman of the All-England Club, which holds the Wimbledon championships.

Mr David, writing in the magazine, “British Lawn Tennis,” said: "To my mind, the amateur game today is a living lie. “Everyone knows that amateurs are earning their livings from the game and, frankly, earning them dishonestly. The only straight people left in lawn tennis are the professionals who earn their money honestly.” Mr David, a staunch advocate of open tennis, said: “If I had my way, Wimbledon would stage open lawn tennis tomorrow.”

Mr David accused some national lawn tennis associations of not fairly representing their countries and clubs. “I often wonder what the result would be if there were a free vote among clubs in

America and Australia,” he said.

He hinted that the British L.T.A. might break away from the international federation if support were received from the other major tennis countries.

Organisers of the Wimbledon champions had been repeatedly pressed to “go it alone” on open tennis, but this would quickly lead to chaos in international tennis, Mr David said.

I am not in favour of unilateral action at the present time.”

Mr David said the Americans were hypocrites because they paid their players expenses which virtually amounted to a salary. “If anything is professional I would say that is,” he added. Britain has repeatedly

failed to win the necessary two-thirds majority required for the introduction of open tennis in voting at the International Lawn Tennis Federation’s annual meeting. But there are now signs that some powerful allies are joining the fight. Recent reports have suggested that the United States and French associations will support Britain at the international federation’s next annual meeting in July. The L.T.A. of Australia, a consistent opponent of open tennis, will not make its attitude known until at least next month. At the L.T.A.A. annual conference on February 1, the question of open tennis was deferred for further consideration by state associates. “The Times,” in an editorial,

r said Mr David was right when I he called amateur lawn tennis i“a living lie” at higher ■ levels. Unfortunately, there had : been certain intractable op--1 ponents of reform—Australia 1 for one, the editorial said. “Recently, Australians have ’ dominated the Davis Cup and ' by it have filled their coffers,” it said. “Thus they have consistently opposed any change in the climate of the game that might jeopardise their power. The United States, too, have resisted open lawn tennis.” The right course now was to face the International Lawn Tennis Federation with the choice of ending this “dishonest farce,” or accepting its own dissolution, the editorial said.