Man with No Weakness

"It's kind of fun to be the underdog--it's a novelty," said Don Budge last week.

Cocky little Bobby Riggs--who won the pro tennis championship last December after ten years in the long shadow of Don Budge, first as an amateur, then as a pro--thought it even more fun to be top dog.

In Chicago they began a 25-match tour with Riggs's title at stake. Said Bobby:

"Budge was the greatest player the world ever saw--up to now. I'll run Budge down. I'm probably the fastest player who ever played tennis. I play his forehand: that's his big weakness. I have no weakness. That's why I'm better. This tour is putting a great player with a weakness against a great player with no weakness."

He was sure enough about it to bet about $10,000 on himself. Almost as big a plunger as he is a talker, brash Bobby says he offered to put the tour on a winner-take-all basis, but that Don couldn't see it. (The Budge version: Budge offered to split the profits 70-30 but Bobby preferred 60-40 because he "doesn't want to put his money where his mouth is.")* "It must be tough for Don," says Bobby sympathetically, "trying to get back."

Amiable Don Budge, a freckle-faced six-footer, whose strong point on the court is his backhand, expertly backhanded: Bobby is "amusing, acts awfully young for his age and doesn't mean half what he says." Not yet in prewar form, he was still confident: "There's no doubt about the final outcome of the tour. When I play him, he can't control the game at all; I'll either win or beat myself." Usually no self-bettor, Budge had his dander up this time, made a $1,000 side bet with Riggs. Said he: "I'm betting with Riggs because he's always talking about betting and I'd just like to rub his face in it."

Match No. 1, played in Chicago, ended as both players had expected, with Budge wearing himself out, and losing. Score: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-8, 6-3.

* Their last series tour in 1942 (which Budge won easily) was played with a $25,000 guarantee for Riggs, and 60% of the gate for Budge. The tour made no money; Budge collected 60% of nothing. Said Bobby, pocketing his $25,000 check: "Congratulations, Don."

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