Pro., Amateur Tennis Rift

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31670, 4 May 1968, Page 15

Pro., Amateur Tennis Rift

INZ Press Association—Copyright; LONDON. The first signs of a rift between professional and amateur tennis has threatened to halt the progress of open tournaments, Associated Press reported.

The American promoter, Mr G. Mac Call, was reported to be withdrawing his 10 players from the Kent championships at Beckenham next month—one of the open tournaments scheduled to precede Wimbledon. He said the prize money offered was not big enough and had started planning a

rival tournament of his own at Eastbourne. Officials of the Kent championships reacted angrily and complained to the British Lawn Tennis Association. Mr L. McCallum, the organiser of the tournament, said: “1 hope we can still sort out the situation.” The international federation sanctioned open tournaments a month ago and allotted four open events to Britain this . year. The first—the British hardcourt championship at Bourne- . mouth last week—was won by K. R. Rosewall, one of Mr MacCall’s professionals. Ban On Tournament Reuter reported that the L. is expected to ban Mr Mac Call from holding his own tournament

The Eastbourne Corporation agreed to a request by Mr Mac Call to stage a preWimbledon tournament for the professionals between June 10 and 15, the same dates as the Kent championships.

The Kent organisers claim that the absence of R. A. Laver and Rosewall would virtually ruin their championships.

Mr B. Reay, secretary of the L.T.A., said he very much doubted whether Eastbourne would get permission to stage its restricted competition, despite the fact that it agreed to hold it at the professionals' own request.