Atlanta Daily World

Comments On Sports

BY PETE FRITCHIE

TENNIS

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Tennis fortunes of the amateurs in United States play have declined in recent years to the point that we seldom write about the great sport any more.

This is unfortunate for there was a time when U.S. amateur ruled the roost, so to speak. Of course, this might still be the case if the top U. S. amateurs did not turn professional so quickly these days and times. In fact, Jack Kramer had just signed up two more.

Tennis is a great game. It is played the same in every country in the world. The court is always the same, unlike golf where the course changes from place to place.

The rules of tennis are always consistent and standard-unlike other games where various clubs have various rules.

It is a game where luck plays no part, to speak of, in the outcome. A wet course, bad weather, different weather for competing players do not enter into the picture.

Tennis players compete in the same weather and do not play in bad weather. Thus they play under identical conditions, swapping sides of the court so that wind and lighting and all other factors press equally upon each competitor.

It is a game of stamina and condition. You see no sloppy, overweight tennis champions around the courts. It, like other games, is a game of concentration and control of one's temperament.

In this connection, it was bad to see such a poor display as that made by American tennis players in Australia recently. Several tossed their rackets, protested calls, etc. One threw his racket into the crowd. We lost to Italy -- as we should have, in these conditions.

In a great sport we have suffered a decline in recent years, and our amateur tennis problem must be attacked with new vigor. The first order of business though, is to put an end to examples of poor sportsmanship on the courts such as those involving the American team in Davis Cup play in Australia.