Evening star., 1942-04-27
Fans Interest in Paid
Rackeiers Is Shown
To Be al Low Ebb
Amateurs Also NOT Good
Enough to Make Such
An Event Attractive
by LAWRENCE PERRY.

ny LA REVUE FShA1s
NEW YORK. April T,--Whcn
plans In the interest OF war relief
are launched by the United States
Lawn Tennis Association they win
bear comparison In comprehensive
mesa and productiveness with any
SERVES Of the sort anywhere In the
Nation. Projects TO this end cover
ing the entire country shortly win
be announced.
Primarily, II may be said definitely
that none OF the plans now formulat-
ed involve an open tourney or
series Of tournaments calling for
both amateur and professional par
ticipanx.
It is recognized that at the present
time, with the recent collapse of
Alexis Thompsons professional tour
ing enterprise and public interest In
the mercenary branch Of the game
demonstrably at low ebb, that the
pros would like nothing 80 much ~
20 hitch themselves to the amateur
kite. But this opportunity will be
denied them. not In any spirit Of
vindictiveneSs, but for what the
U. 8. L. T. A. considers 10 be the
best interests Of the sport Of which
1t liz custodian.
It's interests In one important
respect relates to the development OF
younger players.
It would be easy and q pleasure
for q lot of clubs TO take four pro-
fessional and four amateurs and
confine their Journeys to them. Far
simpler such an enterprise would be
than holding tournaments involving
from - TO 81 amateur players. But
II this were done, what about the
raft Of amateurs whose development
depends upon tournament ex-
pericnce7
Again, as to an open tournament,
what amateurs could be found cap
able OF making anything like a con-
test against Bulge. Vines, Tilden,
Perry. Riggs and even Kovacs7 As
already shown. the public no longer
Is turning out to see the pros. Would
1t turn out in any greater number
TO see those pros wallop q crowd
OF set-upse With many 194i ANA
tcurs either turned pro or in the
national service, what amateurs OF
marked ability remain? Frankie
Parker and Gardner Mulloy seem to
be about the best and their best Is
not so hot.
Tennis Bosses Consistent.
Suppose the pros should agree to
enter q tournament for national
relief gratis7 Aside from assump-
tion that the exhibition would not
draw Is the assumption they would
use 1t to commercialize themselves
afterward. The u. 3. l.. T. A. let
them slip from the amateur ranks
with good grace. but it sees no rea-
son why 1t should depart from .
standard which time has sanctioned
Just because the professionals desire
1t.
The u. s. l.. T. A. lis launching a
program very much along the lines
of that put into effect by the United
States Golf Association. AS result
of the activities of the Wartime
Tennis Committee, sponsors Of the
tri-State championship tourney at
Cincinnati have announced that all
proceeds will be turned over b war
relief and the Triple A Club of st.
Louis, holding the national clay
courts championships, win do like
wise with a heavy percentage Of Its
receipts from these matches.
Asks Concerted Relief Effort.
In aid of the American Red Cross
all of the $50 member clubs are
urged to Join in a Nation wide effort
on Memorial Day. July and Labor
Day week ends. Each OF these
holidays fall on a Saturday thus
allowing two days of play. Entry
fees. 81 each, and all receipts, ex-
penses deducted. will be turned over
to the Red Cross.
Several hundred tournaments
throughout the country, city, State,
district. sectional and national, will
be sanctioned and a goodly part, in
some cases all, of the receipts will
70 to the national war effort.
Word comes from Denver that the
city, State and sectional champion
ships this year will be merged into
one great tournament In behalf Of
the Red Cross.