Top stars likely for Wimbledon

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32474, 8 December 1970, Page 32

Top stars likely for Wimbledon

(N.Z. Press Association—<Copyright) LONDON

Wimbledon seems certain to have the contract professionals available to compete in 1971 after talks in Dallas, Texas.

The talks were between Mr D. Hardwick, a leading British Lawn Tennis Association official, and Mr L. Hunt, the American multi-million-aire head of World Championship Tennis, the group which employs 90 per cent of the world’s best players. Mr Hardwick returned

.from Dallas and gave his report to the Wimbledon management committee yesterday. No official statement will come before Tuesday, but it is understood that there was a clear hint that the contract professionals, who include R. Laver, K. R. Rosewall, and the reigning Wimbledon champion, J. D. Newcombe, will be playing there next year.

There have been doubts about their appearance—in what will be the fourth open . Wimbledon for several weeks, after disputes between World Championship Tennis and the International Lawn Tennis Federation over next year’s grand prix tournaments. OWN SERIES The professionals have already announced a slm prize structure for a grand prix series of. their own instead of competing in the federation’s tournaments as they did this year. Mr Hardwick left London to have private talks with Mr Hunt last week on behalf of Wimbledon and the British L.T.A. Also back in London yesterday was L.T.A. secretary, Mr B. Reay, who, with an international federation delegation, has also seen Mr Hunt in the last two weeks. The delegation reported to the federation’s committee of management in Paris at the week-end. Mr Reay, who is also their secretary, said: “Things are certainly much brighter than they were a week ago. There has been a good deal of co-operation on both sides.”