By Bill Nichols

 
The future of big time tennis in Cleveland will be decided next year.

Come 1969 Cleveland could have the choice of Wightman Cup matches, the Davis Cup challenge round or an open tournament, But two of these possibilities are projected by a big IF.

Actually Wightman Cup play is nearly a certainty. The ifs for the other two. In Davis Cup, the United States must win it all this year. And the key match is next week when the U.S. meets Spain at Harold T. Clark Stadium.

UNCLE SAM'S BOYS must get by the Spaniards, then West Germany and finally past current holder, Australia. Spain promises to be the toughest test.

Now the open question:

The world tennis body approved open tennis this year, allowing amateurs and professionals to compete in the same tournaments. The first open on U.S. soil will be the $100,000 National Open late this month at Forest Hills.

This is a tournament that almost came to Cleveland. New York, Cleveland and Los Angeles bid for the first open and our city lost for one very important reason-no place to play.

Nearly 200 players compete in a tournament of this magnitude and Cleveland does not have any Facility to handle such an undertaking.

BUT, TAKE HEART. There is hope for next year.

Cleveland Racquet Club, a planned tennis complex to be located in Pepper Pike, should be a reality by spring of next year. And if it is, Cleveland, for the first time, will be ready for an open.

The Pepper Pike zoning commission approved the club and the city council will vote on it in September. Early signs are that council will authorize it.

The complex will have 20 acres devoted to tennis. There will be ample courts, stands seating more than 7,000 and modern clubhouse facilities.

But if the club does not come about, look for "big time" tennis to move to Los Angeles.

A $1.2 million stadium seating 7,500 and adaptable to increase to 25,000 with 16 courts has been approved for West Los Angeles.

OF COURSE, the West Site Tennis Club at Forest Hills has been the center of tennis for years in this country, but it is believed to have served its usefulness.

Nothing has been said officially, but the property on which it is located has become extremely valuable - in fact too valuable for a tennis club. But time will tell the story.

Cleveland has done well during its eight years of international team matches.

IT ALL BEGAN in 1960 with American Zone Davis Cup play against Venezuela. The highlight was in 1964 when the U.S. met Australia in the challenge round. In all, we've had six Davis matches, including next week's battles, and three Wightman Cup matches. And each year the books were closed in black ink.

Last year the Wightman matches set an American attendance record with 10,001 on hand at Harold T. Clark Stadium.

Open tennis is with us at long last and Cleveland can be part of the scene. Let's not pass up the opportunity.