Bromwich Causes Tennis Sensation

Northern Advocate, 17 June 1947, Page 7

Bromwich Causes Tennis Sensation

LONDON, June 16. The London lawn tennis championships began at Queen’s Club today. In the men’s singles, first round, the New Zealander R. S. McKenzie defeated the Spaniard C. Carles, 6—6. 6—3, and the Dutchman A. C. van Swol defeated the New Zealander O. M. Bold 6—l, 6—4.

The Australian J. Bromwich, after lie had defeated the Indian Ghaus Mohammed, withdrew from the tournament, causing the biggest sensation of the tennis season.

Bromwich told the referee he did net wish to play any more singles. , After the draw had been made and the Australians, Dinny Pails and Geoff Brown, had been seeded they also withdrew from the singles event. The Australians are competing in the doubles, as are also the Americans, who did not enter for the singles.

IT IS INEXPLICABLE

Referring to the withdrawal of Bromwich, Pails and Brown from the singles at the London tennis championships, the Daily Express says: “Mysterious moves by the Australian team already, more than once in the past month, have irritated tennis crowds and officials. They refused invitations to play competitive tennis, preferring to practise against one another at Wimbledon.”

The Daily Telegraph says the action of Bromwich in withdrawing after the championships started is incomprehensible. It is possible that customs in tournament tennis in Australia differ from those in other countries, where such behaviour by leading players would be regarded as bad manners. Mr R. J. Ritchie, secretary of Queen's Club, said Bromwich’s decision came like a bolt from the blue.

“Not only this, but the scratching by the other Australians has been extremely disappointing, to say the least, to the tournament .committee. It is inexplicable.”