Clowning Frank Kovacs: his first match as a professional tennist; defeating Don Budge, onetime nonpareil; 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; before a crowd of 11,000; at Manhattan's Madison Square Garden. In the other singles match of the opening performance of an 80-city tour, Bobby Riggs, also making his professional debut, won by default from Fred Perry, 1941 pro champion, when Perry sprawled headlong on the hard floor, injured a nerve in his right forearm. To pinch-hit for Perry for at least a week, Promoter Alexis Thompson got Gene Mako, onetime U.S. doubles champion (with Budge),...
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