Davis Cup Sponsor Wants a Code of Conduct Adopted

Upset by the manners of tennis stars John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, the president of Louisiana-Pacific Corp. threatened to withdraw the company’s Davis Cup sponsorship unless the United States Tennis Assn. adopts a code of conduct for U.S. players in Davis Cup competition.

Harry Merlo made the request in a letter to USTA Davis Cup Chairman Gordon Jorgensen. Louisiana-Pacific has been the national Davis Cup sponsor since last January.

Merlo watched Connors and McEnroe play in the 1984 Davis Cup final between the United States and Sweden in Goteberg, Sweden in December. The U.S. team lost, 4-1.

Connors was fined $2,000 for three incidents during his loss to Mats Wilander, and McEnroe was openly critical of the court condition and the timing of the final.