Mixed singles introduced

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 28

Mixed singles introduced

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) RIDGEFIELD (Connecticut). A 19-year-old girl will meet lon Tiriac, of Rumania, in the opening round of the $U525,000 Fairfield County international tennis tournament in Ridgefield. It will be the first time that a woman has played a man in a big tennis tournament. It will also mark the first time that Tiriac has worn a tennis dress. Tiriac said yesterday in Boca Raton, Florida, that, in the spirit of the event, he would wear a tennis dress while playing Abigail Maynard. The dress is being made by Mrs J. Nogrady, the wife of the tournament director. “I’m looking forward to the match,” Tiriac said. “I play with women every night off the tennis court.

and now I’ll get a chance to play with one on the court.”

The Rumanian Davis Cup representative also said that he would wear a bra, containing two tennis balls. In spite of his encumbrances, Tiriac Is not expected to have any trouble in beating Miss Maynard, an aggressive power-hitter with limited tournament experience. “I don’t expect to win, but I’ll do my best,” said Miss Maynard, one of two local players entered in the tournament.

Mr D. Long, the coach of the men’s team at Wesleyan University, where Miss Maynard is a student, predicted that she would lose, 6-0, 6-0. “The interest will be in how many points she wins, not how many games,” he added.