THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 21, 1988.
Donald Budge Turns
American Sports Promoter's Offer Of £15,000 Accepted
J.
(By AIR MAIL)
New York, November 10. DONALD BUDGE, the first man in lawn tennis history to hold all four major championships Wimbledon, American, French, and Australian in one year, has decided to turn professional. He has accepted an offer of £15,000 made by the promoter, Jack Harris, to tour America with H. Ellsworth Vines, another former Wimbledon cham- there was
tennis.
pion.
n
Budge, who is of Caithness parentage, will make his debut as
Don, Budge-he won everything to offer in amateur
professional against Vines at Madison Square Garden, on January Newcomers
3 of next year.
So far no plans have been made that he could utilise the money. it Cause Big
He recently stated that he would like never to have to turn profes- senal.
"But every person should try to sell himself the best way he can," he added. "Trankly, I would like to establish myself financially
for including F. J. Perry in the is said that his parents have been tour, but Jack Harris said to a urging him to "cash in" on his suc-| reporter: "I should like to ress, especially as his family is not have Fred play in some of the particularly wealthy. larger cities, but I don't know yet what I can do for him." £5000 Budge received
of his guarantee yesterday,, and he will be paid another £5000 on March 1, and the remainder at the end of the tour. He also has the option of for-geed' a liberal percentage of the gate re- ceipts. The tour, which will stretch from coast to coast, will last about
He is the fifth Wimbledon Cham- five months, and will also include pion in the last decade to turn pro- Canada.
fessional. The others were W. T.
Fifth In Line
Upset
Wood And Mrs. Clifford Beat Fincher and Mrs. Williams
T
Pro.
"REVIEWER'S" SPORTS COMMENTARY
Effect of Budge's Decision
THE conversion of Donald Budge to professionalism is likely to have
4 stimulating effect on international awn tennis. With the Californian in cne amateur ranks, no one else had a chance of winning Wimbledon, the French, Australian, or American cham- pionships, while America were prac- cically certain to retain the Davis Cup —a tribute to Budge's greatness.
The domination of a sport to such an extent robs it of a lot of its com- petitive interest, and though Budge's absence will be universally regretted, it will, nevertheless, undoubtedly lead to keener rivalry among those who nave been his victims.
From a British point of view, the return of the Wimbledon championship
to this country becomes a real posl
bility, for only Budge stood in H. W. Austin's way to success last
season.
Austin has twice been in the final at
win Wimbledon, and a belated
may. come next year when he is 32 Lieut, G. A. L. Wood and Mrs.
America won the Davis Cup and held Clifford yesterday caused an un-it against the challenge of Australia expected upset in the Colony Mixed this year largely because of Budge, bút -
it is doubtful whether they will be Doubles Lawn Tennis Champion- strong enough to beat Australia's pair, ship when they defeated E. C. Adrian Quist and John Bromwich, in Fincher and Mrs. Williams by the next Challenge Round.
Budge, who is 22, comes of Scottish 6-2, 6-1.
Mrs. Clifford was the outstand-ancestry, a fact of which he has always been very proud. From the long, ing player on view and gave a rangy youth who first visited England brilliant all round performance. in 1935, he blossomed into one of the Playing from the baseline, she out-greatest players the game has known. drove both her opponents while her de won everything that the game had to offer, a feat never before accom- partner remained at the net where plished. His backhand is acknowled- he enjoyed a fair measure of ged by all experts to be the most pow
erful stroke of its kind ever seen. In success.
fact, he did not appear to have a fault at all.
Promoter Jack Harris has been Tilden, H. Cochet, H. E. Vines, negotiating with Budge for some and F. J. Perry. time, and the champion's decision) Budge said to-night: "I hate to to accept has come as no surprise, turn professional. I would have even though he originally held out liked to play amateur tennis for for £20,000.
the rest of my life, but because of my parents and my obligations it
Mrs. Clifford hits the ball very was necessary to accept this offer." hard and is excellent on both her He said that he intended to play fore and back hands and looks like aa certainty for the Ladies' Singles Budge has frequently denied his for two years, or possibly for intention to turn professional, but maximum of three, after which; "I Championship of the Colony. She he never made any secret of the fact (Continued at foot of Next Col.)
Would Have Liked To
Remain Amateur
THIS IS
BURGUNDY WEATHER
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND
OUR FINE SELECTION OF
VINTAGE BURGUNDIES
THE QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE
OF THESE WINES BEING
UNSURPASSED IN HONG KONG.
CALDBECK'S
is almost as good as Mrs. Kayll al- though she was rarely seen at the net.
Wood and Mrs. Clifford will now meet 0. Rumjahn and Miss R. Rumjahn in the second round.
A
*
Jack Durston For
Umpire's Post -
4
Middlesex County Cricket Club, it is Jack understood, have recommended Durston, their old fast bowler, coach to the second eleven, for election The to the first-class umpires list. first-class captains will select the um- pires next summer's matches at Their
and
E.PAYNTER'S is meeting at Lord's on Novembor
HURRICANE INNINGS
Kimberley, Saturday. At the close of the first day's play in a three-day match against Griqualand West, M.C.C. had com- piled 569 for six. ·
L. Hutton scored 149, which were featured by brilliant cover drives,
28.
year,
1919
in
Durston, who is in his 45th played for Middlesex between and 1933. In his prime he was one of the best fast-medium bowlers country, and towards the end of his county career he successfully exploited slow off-break bowling. He played at for England against Australia Lord's in 1921.
RADIO AND
two sixes and thirteen fours. Ed-AIR FORCE WIN
rich scored 109, which included two
sixes and seven four, and E. Payn- AT HOCKEY
in
ter, in a hurricane innings which he scored nine sixes and 10/ fours, scored 158 in 125 minutes, this being his second big knock of the four...
H.K.H.A. Tourney.
Two Hong Kong Hockey Asso- N. W. D. Yardley was 86 pot out ciation Tournament fixtures were when stumps were drawn Reu-held yesterday.
ter
would like to settle down to some business, but I'll always be ready to ofter my services to help in coaching the American Davis Cup team.
“I realise that I shall, have to be in marvellous condition to stay even Iwith Vines, let alone best him."
Club de Recreio and Radio Sports Club, next at King's Park when the latter won by one-nil the goal being scored by Gurbachan Singh.
David Leonard and A. E. P. Guest, in the forward line for the winners, combined splendidly, and on many occasions" came near to scoring.
In the other game Air Force de- feated Nomads by 8 goals to 2.-
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