Sport: Ma

A few false moves, and even the choicest young prospect is expelled from the ranks of Southern California’s youthful tennis elect. Perry Jones, who runs the region’s amateur tennis (as secretary of the local tennis association), demands that his protégés get good marks in conduct and in book-learning both; they may some day be on display at Forest Hills or Wimbledon. Four years ago, the school’s problem child was a talented Mexican-American lad of 15 who found both discipline and schoolwork distasteful. He cut classes at high school, finally dropped out altogether. So Richard (“Pancho”) Gonzales ceased to be one of the Jones boys.

That meant that Pancho no longer got the benefits of specialized coaching, got no expense money and no invitations to the best tournaments. Being taboo at the swank Los Angeles Tennis Club, he drifted over to the public park courts. Just the opposite of Pancho was Herbie Flam: he was hardworking, well-behaved and a model Jones boy. Under Jones’s careful handling, Herbie Flam twice became national junior champion. Last week lanky (6 ft. 2 in.) Pancho Gonzales wangled an invitation to play in the Southern California Championships and soon came face to face with Herbie Flam.

He had to do it the hard way. First there were the qualifying matches, and he breezed through them; then Pancho liquidated two opponents who had been considered good enough to sidestep qualifying matches. His usual lethargic, mañana attitude was gone, replaced by a calm, white-toothed grin and a cannonball service. In the third round he met and disposed of Herbie Flam, 8-10, 8-6, 6-4. Said Pancho: “I don’t think he’ll ever beat me again unless he’s playing especially good and I’m bad.” It was a big victory for Pancho, even though he went on to lose to the best amateur in the U.S., Davis Cupper Jack Kramer. Pancho aced Kramer six times, won a set before bowing out, 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Bad Boy Pancho might yet get to Forest Hills and Wimbledon. He is only 19 and there is plenty of time mañana.