Former Champion Condemns Some Players For Making Side Deals

Ann Haydon- Jones, the Wimbledon and French champion of the 1960’s is clearly a winner from a different era. However the 74 year-old has launched a pointed attack at Caroline Wozniacki and some of today’s other female stars, saying they are happy to make money through advertising deals because they don’t have the talent to succeed on court.

Jones was prompted into her attack by seeing Wozniacki’s campaign to launch her own brand of lingerie, complete with a series of pictures of the 22 year-old Dane clad in nothing but her underwear.

“Maybe she feels she can’t win the Grand Slams,” said a clearly offended Jones whose finest hour came when she beat Billie Jean King to take the Wimbledon title in 1969.

“Maybe she accepts that she can’t and wants fame in a different direction.

I think she probably would like to win a Grand Slam but I’m not sure she’s good enough.”

Jones, voted into the International Hall of Fame in 1985, added that seeing players such as Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Kirilenko and even Britain’s Laura Robson market their photogenic image rather than their tennis playing ability is understandable.

“‘Part of me says they should get on with the game,” said Jones whose list of major titles stand at seven with three triumphs in the French ladies doubles and a 1969 Mixed Doubles win at the Wimbledon alongside Fred Stolle.

‘I know my parents would have said that to me. But part of me also says that, if you want to attract the spectators with some attractive players, it’s a good thing.