By Bill Nichols

CLEVELAND, O. – Some people will go to outlandish lengths to stage a single tennis match. But worldwide attention, it’s certainly worth the trouble.

 A case in point was the Bonne Bell Cup matches in Cleveland which pitted the best girl players from Australia against some of the better American players just to provide a reason for having Uncle Sam’s teenage sensation Chris Evert play Australia’s Aborigine bombshell, Evonne Goolagong.

"The idea came up during last year’s Wightman Cup matches," recalled Mrs. Carole Graebner, captain of America’s Bonne Bell team.

"Jess Bell (owner of the Bonne Bell cosmetics firm in Cleveland) and I had lunch and he asked me, ‘How can we get an Evert-Goolagong match in Cleveland?’ I said, ‘Why not have a team event like the Wightman Cup?’ We went on from there," added Carole.

The idea germinated and final arrangements were made last April.

The Evert-Goolagong battle was realized July 30 and the 17-year-old pixie from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., prevailed 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 over Miss Goolagong before a record Cleveland tennis turnout of 7,428 fans. In fact, the three-day series between the two nations consisting of a best-of-seven series attracted 20,936, another attendance mark for the Lake Erie city.

Chris Evert won the big battle, but Australia won the war, taking five of the seven matches played.

The series, of course, was highlighted when, on the third day, Chris took the court opposite Evonne. But also brought out of retirement Australia’s Margaret Smith Court, probably the finest girl player ever.

Margaret, now 30, took a year’s leave of absence from the circuit to give birth to her first baby. Her first match upon her return came July 28 when she lost in straight sets to Chris, 6-3, 6-3.

 Mrs. Court came back two days later to defeat San Diego’s Valerie Ziegenfuss, 6-1, 6-2, to give Australia an insurmountable 4-1 advantage. She concluded her weekend’s activity by closing out the series when she teamed with Kerry Melville for an easy 6-1, 6-2 doubles victory over Wendy Overton and Miss Ziegenfuss.

It’s a nice feeling to win in just my second match," said Margaret, "It was a challenge to get back and do well right away."

In fact, Margeret Court, who owns 17 major titles, used the Bonne Bell matches as a stepping stone for bigger and better things to come, most notably the United States Open the first week in September.

Chris Evert used the matches as an opportunity to gain revenge. She dropped a three – set decision to Evonne in the semi-finals of Wimbledon in June.

"The pressure was really there then," said Chrissie. "That’s all everybody was talking about and I certainly was sorry I lost, but I’m glad it’s over."
 

 The Bonne Bell meeting was reminiscent of their Wimbledon battle, but the ending was different.

As in England, Chris won the first set and Evonne evened matters by winning the second. Then Miss Evert bore in and won the deciding set, 6-0.

"I didn’t have the same aggression I had at Wimbledon," admitted Miss Goolagong. "Wimbledon was the place I wanted to beat her because there had been so much talk about the match. I got tired of hearing it.

"There wasn’t the same atmosphere here (in Cleveland). There wasn’t the same tension, the same pressure, I was more relaxed. I didn’t take her as seriously as I did in our first match," added Evonne, a product of the back country of New South Wales.

Miss Evert spoke of her desire and determination, but she doesn’t believe her victory in the Bonne Bell Cup matches make them even.

 "I put a lot of emphasis on this match, but Wimbledon still has more prestige," said Chris.

"The crowd was for her (Evonne) at Wimbledon and here the crowd really encouraged me. If a crowd is against me, I don’t play as well."

The world’s two young darlings of tennis now even at one victory apiece. Their rivalry surely will grow into one of the finest in tennis history. And given enough time, the Bonne Bell Cup matches also should develop into an international rivalry. Round two of the matches will be played in Australia in December, 1973, and then return to Cleveland in 1974.

A great team competition is sure to develop because Carole Graebner and Jess Bell found a way to match up Miss Evert and Miss Goolagong.