New Tennis Plan Adds $205,356 In Prizes

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32127, 24 October 1969, Page 13

New Tennis Plan Adds $205,356 In Prizes

(N Z P A.-Reuter—Copyright) PARIS. The International Lawn Tennis Federation will set up a special committee to work out details of a world tennis championship planned to begin next year, the French federation said yesterday.

The series, offering $205,356 extra prize money to the world’s top 24 players, was submitted by Mr J. Kramer, pioneer organiser of professional tennis.

The top player of the year would get a $44,643 first prize.

The French federation said that tournaments offering a total of $1.34 million in prizes—beyond the special championship money—were expected to co-operate.

The championship table would be based on results in the four official tournaments —those of Australia, France, Britain and the United States —and other major tournaments, which would be classified according to prize money, prestige and level of competition. -.'

A points system will be worked out to reflect the importance of victories in each tournament.

The French federation said the plan had already been studied by the American, Australian, British, French, Italian and Swedish federations, and by the Wimbledon committee, and all had expressed great interest in it.

“In consequence, a committee will be designated to discuss the details so that this plan can be adopted on the international tennis circuit as of January 1, 1970,” the federation said.