TENNIS.

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1928, Page 2

TENNIS.

TILDEN’S STATUS. A WRITTEN DEFENCE. NEW YORK, August. 22. Tilden has sent a letter to the United States Lawn Tennis Association, stating that he will bo unable to appear in person at th e professionalism hearing on August 24, but giving his reasons against being rated as a professional. A distinctly unfavourable impression has been caused by Tilden’s decision not to appear in person. Be-fove the henring it had been hoped that the entire position of American tennis would be clarified at an open hearing, where a face to face discussion between the so-called Conservative and Liberal elements of tennis officialdom would help the sport over a dangerous transition period here. Tennis writers ar e . particularly bitter over Tilden’s action,’and some of them are asking, “Has he turn ed tail and is fleeing?’’

In his letter. Tilden says that he has never intentionally violated the amateur writer rule, and that his articles were editorial and conimentative; that any violation was only a technicality; that he had made great personal and monetary sacrifices to aid the American Davis Cup team this year; that he received no compensation for the Wimbledon articles in question, and asking that “something should b e done to clarify and accurately define the rights of a player, under the piayer-writer rule. ’ ’