Evening star., 1952-01-03
Sedgman, Real Hero.
To Aussies, Now Aims
For SayiH's Crown
By the Akseeiafed Pres.

SYDNEY, Australia, Jan. s.
Frank Sedgman, shy, even-tem-
pered young man of "a, has sue
ceeded Jack Crawford as Aus
tralia's gentleman of the courts"
cHe also is the greatest tennis
player the country has produced
since Crawford.
Frank, who lives simply and
neither smokes nor drinks. is a
real hero to Australian tennis
fans. They like him for his cool
ness. ability and modesty. There
is no showmanship about Frank.
Australians are delighted he de-
.cided to stay an amateur.
Sedgman told the Associated
Press it was definite he would re-
main an amateur until after the
1852 Davis Cup challenge" Be-
yond that, Frank was not saying.
Although Ted Humphreys. Aus
tralian promoter, said he offered
10000 pounds ($89,600 to Sedg-
man to turn pro, amateur inter-
ests persuaded the blond cham
pion to stay with the amateurs
at Saturdays Davis Cup dinner.
May Get $22,4O0 Gift.
Sedgman has not said what he
is going to do but it looks as III
he will get good paying job with
another sports goods firm. At
present he is the Melbourne repre-
sentative Of a racket maker.
Meanwhile, the Sedgman we'd
ding-gift fund reached the 1856
pound mark (S3,244) in the first
"a hours it was opened for public
subscription.
The Sydney Daily Telegraph
sponsored the drive after Sedg-
man rejected the offer to turn
professional.
Won't Have to Pay Tax.
In Canberra, officials said
neither Sedgman nor his fianceeI
would have to pay income tax onI
the big cash present. Donors,
however, will be unable to claim
tax exemption on their gifts.
The "gift for Frankie" CAM
paign will continue for another
week or more.
There also have been reports he
viii get tax free wedding pres
ent of around 10000 pounds
1922, ,40O from a group of busi-
nessmen. Sedgman says he knows
nothing about this.
Sedgman and pretty 21-year- old
Jean Spence of Melbourne an
nounced they planned to marry
last October II. The date has not
been set but Sedgman said it'll
probably will be January 80. That
would follow the Australian cham
pianships at Adelaide, ending
January %. where Sedgman will
attempt to regain his national title
from American Dick Savitt.
After the Australian champion
ships, the honeymooning Sedg-
mans expect to visit Wimbledon.
Frank said he was uncertain
whether he will be able to defend
his United States title, but would
like to.
Has AlI-Court Game.
Sedgman - 5-foot-11H and
weighing 168 pounds - has the
all-court game needed to take the
Wimbledon title. rs
He can volley winners from any
part of the court. His neatest
shots are volleys from midcourt
taken a few inches from the
ground and his stiff arm net VOL
leys.
He can hit winners from fore
hand and backhand. He can vary
his service. You can see how good
his service is when he has game
point against him. Frank lines up
that service and usually puts it |
within an inch or two of the spot
he picks. It might be a fiat hard
one. It might be one that spins
away or it might be high kicker.
But most times it is a winner or
opens the way for a winner from
the net.
Playing Since He Was o.
Sedgman has been playing ten
mis- since he was 9. He used to go
down to the local club with his
parents, both of whom were keen
Saturday afternoon players, and
hit the ball about.
At 13, he won his first title, the
Victorian schoolboy champion
ship.
About this time, Australia's
present Davis Cup captain. Harry
Hopman, saw how easily the rangy
boy played. He got young Frank
to build up his strength by daily
visits to the gym and Smile runs.
He has played tennis most of the
time since.
Frank had no time to develop
hobbies but plays a few other
games such as squash. basketball
and golf. He likes swimming.
He's no champion in these sports
and has no golf handicap because
he is not a regular club player.