Tennis Group Defends Its South Africa Tournaments

The organization set to take control of men’s tennis today defended its scheduling of two tournaments in South Africa, saying sports venues should not be determined by politics.

Hamilton Jordan, head of the Assn. of Tennis Professionals that will run the men’s tour beginning in 1990, said the decision to play in South Africa remains under discussion.

But Jordan said it would be wrong to single out South Africa and its system of racial segregation, while allowing tournaments in such countries as Israel, China and the Soviet Union that also have been criticized for human rights abuses.

“Where do you draw the line on political judgments? I could make the argument that Iran should not have a Davis Cup team,” Jordan said. “You start asking these political questions, and I don’t know where it will stop.”

Jordan, who was White House chief of staff for President Jimmy Carter, rejected criticism by organizations with strong anti-apartheid stands, including the International Olympic Committee, and accused them of hypocrisy.

It was during the Carter presidency that the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

“The IOC held the Olympics in the capital city of the aggressor that year,” he said.

The 1990 ATP Tour will include a $277,500 event in Cape Town, South Africa, in April and a $250,000 tournament in Johannesburg in October. It also will feature events in China, the Soviet Union and Israel and several in the United States.

Jordan said the Soviet Union had a poor record on Jewish emigration. He also pointed to Israel’s actions against Palestinian protesters and China’s moves against pro-democracy activists.