Poncho's Progress

"There's a difference in amateur and pro tennis just too great to explain," said Tony Trabert. "My game is at least 25% better than it was when I was an amateur --and still I lose."

Under the glaring lights of Atlanta's Municipal Auditorium last week, last year's amateur tennis champion looked as bewildered as he sounded. Handsome Tony Trabert, 25, was still learning the difference between playing for pay and playing for polite applause. Pro Champion Richard ("Pancho") Gonzales, 27, polished him off with ease (6-1, 11-9), making it Pancho's 51st victory of the 66 matches played so far in their 100-match tour. The victory earned Pancho a $25,000 bonus as well as the assurance of a place on next year's tour. It also may have been the beginning of the end of Tony Trabert's brief pro career.

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