In the current issue of VANITY FAIR, Frank Deford examines
the state of women's tennis with the header: "Why have so many
professional women tennis players become unstrung? ... The system
itself may have a fundamental fault." Deford writes that after
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova retired, the "golden age was
over. ... The leadership of the sport was in tatters."
IMG'S ROLE: Virginia Slims, the Tour's sponsor, was "forced
out" when anti-smoking activism spread. Then another Philip
Morris subsidiary, Kraft, was brought on to support the tour, but
"women's tennis wanted more money out of Kraft, and less input."
Kraft then quit, leaving the Tour with no financial support. IMG
has since been hired to run the Tour and find a sponsor, but
Deford writes that IMG "has a huge investment in the sport
already" as they represent players and tournaments. He writes,
"IMG pretty much owns women's tennis -- yesterday, today, and
tomorrow." Players have been known to call IMG "I'M Greedy,"
"International Money Grubber," and "Darth McCormack and the Evil
Empire" after IMG founder Mark McCormack. McCormack was asked
about conflict of interest, with IMG now representing players,
tournaments and the Tour. McCormack: "The fact that we own a
tournament (as well as many of the best players) makes the
sponsor more comfortable. The fact that we own it makes our
clients more comfortable." WTA Tour President Anne Person
Worcester says they are "comfortable" with IMG because "it's in
[IMG's] best interest to respect the rules." Deford writes that
since Worcester used to work at IMG, she "knows she must endure
the same scrutiny" (VANITY FAIR, 7/95 issue).
SELES' RETURN: Monica Seles is on the cover of this week's
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, having granted an interview to SI's S.L.
Price. Price writes, "No one. Seles included, knows what to
expect when she finally returns to competition." Chris Evert
refers to Seles as a "drama quenn" for her press conferences,
timed to coincide with Grand Slam events (SI, 7/17 issue).
