Cox withdraws from Auckland tourney

Press, 26 December 1986, Page 22

Cox withdraws from Auckland tourney

PA Auckland Charles Bud Cox, one of four religious American tennis players involved in

bizarre events in Nigeria last month, has withdrawn from next month’s Benson and Hedges Open at Auckland.

After a day of prayer while playing the Lagos Challenger Series, Cox and Morris Strode destroyed passports, travellers’ cheques and other possessions.

Cox threw suitcases, clothes and rackets from a seventh-floor hotel room.

Jim Gurfein crashed through his hotel window on to the roof of an adjoining building, screaming he could see Jesus.

They were persuaded to return home and were advised to seek medical help. Some were reconsidering their tennis careers,

though Cox gave no reason for his withdrawal. Strode and Gurfein, along with the fourth player involved in Nigeria, Bobby Banck, were still entered in the Open.

The tournament director, Peter Gardner, telephoned the grand prix office in the United States on Wednesday to check on any withdrawals and Cox, with a world ranking of 171 that placed him 32nd on the entry list, was the highest-placed player to have pulled out. On his ranking, Cox would have stood a good chance of winning a place in the main event through the qualifying tournament. <

Three other withdrawals — Vallis Wilder (222), Simon Youl (245) and Tom Warneke (278) — will have little effect on the tournament.

The Open has often

been plagued by withdrawals of leading players. But another American, Brian Teacher, is so far the only player with a direct entry who has pulled out, advising Mr Gardner earlier this month that an achilles injury would prevent his playing here. That leaves the tournament with its strongest field but also Mr Gardner with a problem or two. He is struggling with his choice of wild cards and was almost hoping for the odd withdrawal that would allow him to get the top-ranked Kiwi, Steve Guy, into the list of direct entries. Mr Gardner will continue to check with the grand prix office over the next fortnight and will keep a close watch on developments at the Adelaide Open which starts on Monday.