TeamTennis : Buds’ White Overshadows Anne White and Body Suit

Anne White was a popular topic of conversation before and during Saturday night’s TeamTennis match between the Los Angeles Strings and the San Diego Buds.

The Strings’ White was the player who made history at Wimbledon recently by wearing a white body suit. Before the match, many wondered if White would wear her new attire against the Buds.

During the match, the PA announcer even went as far as to take a poll of the fans, asking them whether they liked White better in a body suit or a skirt.

But, as it turned out, all of the hoopla Saturday night was directed at the wrong White.

It was the Buds’ Robin White who stole the show, combining with Mary Lou Piatek for a 6-2 doubles win, then coming right back to defeat a conservatively dressed Anne White, 6-2, in women’s singles.

The two victories gave San Diego an early 12-4 lead and sent the Buds to a 24-17 victory over the Strings in front of 904 fans at the San Diego Sports Arena.

The Buds (3-0) stayed tied for first place with Oakland, which defeated Chicago, 28-24, Saturday. The Strings fell to 1-2.

“I felt really confident tonight,” said Robin White, who had lost her first two singles matches of the season in tiebreakers. “Those tiebreakers were tough, but I knew I could come back.”

Against Anne White, Robin came back, thanks mostly to her hustling court-coverage and her well-disguised drop shot.

After the players each held serve, the Buds’ White broke serve with a brilliant backspin drop shot off a first serve.

League Commissioner Billie Jean King, who was on hand for the match, wondered aloud how any player could have the nerve to play such a shot on game point.

“I feel I can drop shot against most girls,” White said. “The reason I got good at it is because I goof around so much in practice. I get tired of hitting just forehands and backhands.”

And Anne White apparently got tired of seening them. After losing her women’s singles and doubles matches, her night was topped off by a 6-1 mixed doubles loss to Butch Walts and Piatek.

Following that match-clincher, White picked up her things and retreated to the locker room with nary a word about all of the attention she had received throughout the evening.

Tennis Notes The Buds play for the first time this season on the road tonight in St. Louis against the Slims. St. Louis (1-2), is led by Terry Moor and Candy Reynolds.