DAVIS CUP NOT OPEN

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 15

DAVIS CUP NOT OPEN

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WIMBLEDON. The Davis Cup tennis nations yesterday rejected any plans to make the competition open to professionals, but agreed that registered players who take money at certain tournaments can compete, Associated Press reported.

The meeting in London took place as the first Wimbledon championship open to professionals and amateurs neared its climax. The delegates carried by 24 votes to eight—just getting the two-thirds necessary majority—an Australian resolution which allowed registered players to continue competing in the Davis Cup. The decision was received bitterly by professionals at Wimbledon, United Press International reported. “PROS LOCKED OUT” “They’ve simply turned a blind eye to professionalism and it looks as if they’re out to get rid of outside promoters,” Australia’s 1952 Wimbledon champion, F. Sedgman, said. “We’ve pioneered the openhanded money in the sport and now we have been locked out,” another Australian, K. R. Rosewall, said. Observers believe the move is a bid to wipe out commercial promoters of professional tennis and place control of the sport firmly in the hands of the national amateur associations affiliated to the International Lawn Tennis Federation.

nis player can accept money in an open tournament as long as he has the backing of his national association to do so, and still remain an amateur within the rules as of the international federation as they now stand. At present, no amateur tennis player has been nominated as a “registered player” with the I.L.T.F. and none is likely to be before the full I.L.T.F. meeting in Monaco on July 19. But both Britain and the Netherlands have allowed their amateurs, such as M. Cox and T. Okker, to accept money at open tournaments. Many other countries have withheld support for the move until they were assured it would not affect the players’ rights to take part in the Davis Cup. PAY AND PLAY

If the I.L.T.F. verifies its executive meeting recommendation made last March, allowing amateurs to accept prize-money as “registered players.” yesterday's decision means that tennis players in the future will be virtual professionals, but under the control of the I.L.T.F. and not outside promoters. Tennis players believe that very few amateurs now will turn “professional” as the rules exist, without huge enticements beyond the means of promoters, when they can earn reasonable money without doing so

The Australian resolution read: “Any lawn tennis player who has not, and never has been, a professional and who accepts the authority of, and is in good standing with, his national association, in accordance with International Lawn Tennis Federation rules, shall be qualified to represent a nation.”

Woman’s Basketball.—The defending champion, Auckland, narrowly beat Hawera, 40-31, in the North Island women’a indoor basketball championshps yesterday. Other results are: Rotorua 62. Kawerau 10; Wairarapa 54, North Taranaki 33; Hutt Valley 62, Whakatane 40; Wellington 66. Palmerston North 40: Wairarapa 58 Waikato 40

The decision virtually means that any amateur ten-