TENNIS COURT SENSATION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 23 April 1935, Page 6

TENNIS COURT SENSATION

Czecho “Slovakian Star Walks Off at Rome Tourney LAUGHS FROM THE GALLERY (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright). Received 3 p.m. to-day. ROME, April 22. Hopman, the Sun-Herald Service correspondent, says that the Czechoslovakian tennis star, Menzel, created a sensation by walking off the centre court at the Italian lawn tennis championships when he was leading comfortably and refusing to return. His opponent, Palmieri, returned the ball, apparently a certain winner, from Menzel who missed the volley and gesticulated to Heaven'. A section of the gallery began whistling, but ceased 1 when Menzel spoke to the umpire, who appealed for silence. Menzel waited at the umpire's chair for complete silence and laughing broke out. Menzel then marched off without saying a -word to the umpire. (Palmieri, who had been a passive spectator , collected the racquets and left the court. Borotra and officials attempted to persuade Menzel to return, but after 20 minutes the umpire announced t-ha't> Menzel retired -adding that Menzel said he had nothing against the public and would have liked to return, but as ho had had a rest, he thought it would bo fairer to his opponent for him to scratch.