Dec. 14, 1967

While the International Lawn Tennis Federation has repeatedly rejected open tennis proposals, the tennis barons of Britain defy tradition and vote overwhelmingly to abolish the line between amateurs and pros. This "revolt" by the British Lawn Tennis Association, by a vote of 295-5, opens the way for open tennis at Wimbledon.

The move is made because the English are tired of the hypocrisy in the sport, the shamateurism that plagues high-class tennis. It is well known that amateurs bargain for -- and receive -- exorbitant expenses to compete at many tournaments.

"We must take action on our own account to make the game honest," said Derek Penmam of the British association. "For too long now we have been governed by a set of amateur rules that are quite unenforceable."