PROTECTION FOR SWEDE... Heavy police guard at Wimbledon

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33565, 20 June 1974, Page 20

PROTECTION FOR SWEDE... Heavy police guard at Wimbledon

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. ” The Wimbledon tennis organisers have joined the ranks of security-conscious sports officials with a stepped-up protection campaign for players next week.

Mobile barriers, hordes of police, armed guards patrolling 24 hours a day—these are just some of the extra security measures planned for the $156,000 fortnight of tennis, starting next Monday.

Despite weeks of private consultations with police, tournament organisers say

they expect no terrorist interest in the Wimbledon centre court. They are, however, geared for an invasion of a different sort.

The series was disrupted last year by thousands of schoolgirls trying to get at Bjorn Borg, the 18-year-old Swede with the film star looks.

The barriers will be up whenever Borg plays, the All-England Club secretary (Mr A. Cooper) said yesterday. . Concert death Uniformed police are expected to ring the courts when Borg is playing, and they will also be cordoned off with moveable barriers. “We are always securityminded, but the police told us to watch out for schoolgirls this time,’’ Mr Cooper said. “They are very worried in case another one dies."

A young girl died after a recent David Cassidy concert in England, and several pop groups tours have since been cancelled.

Borg will, at least, have time to recuperate before tackling the tennis stars — and the fans — next week. He was surprisingly eliminated from the John Player tournament at Nottingham on Tuesday, and made immediate plans for a restful few days in the country. Tough opening

While Borg worries about the schoolgirls, another tennis pin-up, the Rumanian, I. Nastase, faces a torrid pipeopener to another Wimbledon campaign.

Knocked out last year in the fourth round, Nastase will meet Jiri Hrebec in the first round. Hrebec, a 23-

year-old Czech, built up a big reputation in Australia last year by beating this year’s top seed, J. Newcombe, in the Davis Cup inter-zone semi-final in Melbourne.

Nastase is battling to boost his tennis morale — shaken by losses in the Italian and French titles, his elimination from the John Player tournament yesterday, and the knowledge of his previous Wimbledon failures.

Yesterday, Nastase was beaten by the American, M. Riessen, 6-3, 9-8. Another casualty was Newcombe, who lost to another American, R. Tanner, 6-8, 4-6. Parun successful The New Zealander, 0. Parun, advanced to the third round, beating J. Ganzibal (Argentina), 6-1, 9-7. Other results included.—A. Metreveli (Russia) beat R. Giltinan (Australia), 6-3, 3-6, 17-15; S. Smith (United States) beat J. Fillol (Chile), 6-1, 64; T. Gorman (United States) beat M. Orantes (Spain), 6-1, 64.