The Question

Cocky little Bobby Riggs used to be the pet villain of tennis fans, but this time he had the gallery--what there was of it--almost on his side. And he had never yet lost a match in Madison Square Garden. He began the tour there five months ago (when 15,114 braved "the big snow" to watch him beat Big Jake Kramer). But last week the score in matches was a lopsided 59 to 19 against him.

His cockiness had vanished. Against Kramer, he had to make tremendous shots to win points. After dropping the first set, 7-5, he kept slapping his thigh in befuddlement and frustration. Kramer's best weapons (serve, volley and overhead) worked with mechanical deadliness. Big Jake romped through the next set, 6-3, for win No. 60.

Crestfallen Bobby, his pro crown askew, tried to explain Kramer: "He's the best I have ever played against . . . Now, I'm supposed to be a smart player, but I still haven't been able to figure out where he is going to serve. He keeps me off balance ... I have had plenty of time to study Kramer's game and I know I have it analyzed. The question is to cope with it."

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