Keldie resents “Hippie” label

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 16

Keldie resents “Hippie” label

One of the most eyecatching players in the BP New Zealand tennis championships at Wilding Park has been Ray Keldie, the Australian with the long, flowing locks and the wide, white sweatband.

He attracted attention early when he beat R. N. Hawkes, and again on Thursday when he disposed of the Austrian, H. Kary. Inevitably, spectators would trace his presence by asking where was “the hippie.” Keldie, however, is extremely unhappy about this means of identification.

“I don’t like any label,” he said yesterday, after losing to the Czech with the big serve, V. Zednik. “It puts you in a category. People seem to class the word hippie with . . . well, I don’t know.

“But I don’t like characterisations at all. I want to be free to do as I please. You may be classified as something in one area of the world, but regarded entirely differently in another.” Was his wish to do as he pleased a reason Keldie has not been chosen for an Australian Davis Cup team? “I really value this thing of playing for your country. It is something very, very important, but the things you have to do, and the life you have to lead to be part of a team—well, I don’t think I’d fit in too well.

“My life is other things than tennis. If the occasion arose when I was picked, I would have to think a lot about it. But I don’t think that occasion will arise.” Keldie has also been classed a non-conformist. “Am I? Who is to say what is conforming? I just do as I see best for myself.” i And on having other things

in life apart from tennis: “I enjoy travelling to places that are not big cities, and where there are no tennis tournaments. I like to see nature and the material things that the big city cannot offer.” But Keldie, aged 25, and from Sydney, admits that tennis does offer him many opportunities, and as such he likes the life. “It gives you a big opportunity to do what you want to do, and you are free to travel around.”

A registered player, Keldie has been round the world seven times, and “gets by” financially. “I don’t plan my future. 1 just take what ever comes up next week. I enjoy playing tennis; I enjoy the physical side of it; I like keeping myself in good condition.” Keldie is a very restrained character on the court, although once yesterday he slammed the ball into the wire netting. His muttered comments are usually indis-

cemible, but those that carried yesterday included, “Oh dear, oh dear,” when he put the ball into the net. And, “Oh, there it is,” when he played a losing shot in the tie-breaker third set.

The worst was a barely audible “son of a bitch.” “I think I have worked on my concentration a lot over the years, and keeping selfcontrol is a big part of concentration and a big part of life.” His philosophy on bad calls: “These things happen, in all matches. I suppose it destroys you inside, but there's not much you can do once it’s been called.” And then Keldie left to prepare to fly out of Christchurch yesterday afternoon, bound for Los Angeles, and then "something next week.” This most placid character will get home for two months in the next year. “I always enjoy that. I always enjoy touring. I enjoy my life."