I.L.T.F. sets conditions for tennis league

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33444, 28 January 1974, Page 32

I.L.T.F. sets conditions for tennis league

GV Z P A, Kenter—CopyTight) LONDON. The International Lawn Tennis Federation has decided not Io ban players from joining the new American World Team Tennis league if officials of the league agree to four conditions.

“Failing agreement, or if any clause is subsequently broken, then there could be a com-, :plete explosion in the game,” said the president of the international federation (Mr A. Heyman). The federation met in ' emergency session in London{ {for six hours to decide its | ■action on the establishment) of World Team Tennis, andi authorised its committee of • management to negotiate an ■ agreement with the league,! based on the following four' conditions: No World Team Tennis; I event shall be played’

during the international federation’s . official championships in - Rome, Paris, Wimbledon, Forest Hills, South Africa, South America, Australia, Asia, and Scandinavia. All players must be released, if requested, to play for their countries , in the Davis Cup and Federation Cup competitions. All World Team Tennis events shall be played in accordance with the rules of lawn tennis. A player must be free to play in the official national championship of his country. The committee of management was also authorised to

set other conditions it might deem necessary. The nevi league plans to hold tournaments from May until September, and it has been opposed by the federation because of the threat to national events traditionally held throughout Europe during the late northern spring and summer. The league had offered to break up its season to enable players to compete in the Italian. French, and Wimbledon championships but the conditions set by the federation appear to indicate it will have to go further than that.

MORE SIGN The league received a boost this week when the Association of Tennis Professionals removed a ban by its members on players taking part in World Team Tennis events. The move has led to an increase in signings by the 16 members of the league who plan to have three men and three women players on each team. About 20 players have signed contracts with World Team Tennis. They include the Australians. Mrs M. Court, Miss E. Goolagong. J, Newcombe, and K. Rosewall, and Mrs B. J. King, of the United States. After the meeting of the federation. Mr Heyman said: “There is still a strong feeling, particularly in Europe, for a ban, but we realise that America would be placed in difficulties with its anti-trust laws.” The meeting also appointed a committee to investigate professional tennis.