US Open coverage may be back on track

TENNIS: Members of the International Tennis Writers' Association (ITWA) appear to have averted a serious clash with US security agencies and the US Tennis Association that could have left the US Open largely unreported.

Having been told that members will be subject to background checks by US federal agencies - probably including the FBI - ITWA members, who met in London yesterday morning, are looking for a series of amendments to a waiver form they have been asked to sign by the USTA.

They have also demanded that non-US citizens should not have to supply social security numbers and that everyone who applies for accreditation is cleared two weeks before the US Open begins, which is the fortnight before September 11th.

The document, which was framed in response to terrorist threats, authorises the USTA to release writers' personal records, including national insurance, driving licence and passport details to an unnamed "agency" for background checks.

The current form reads: "I hereby authorise the release to the United States criminal justice agency(ies) conducting the security clearance process for individuals to be creditentialed (sic), of any and all records concerning me and my background, including without limitation my driving history and any criminal history (including any charges against me) . . ."

The original form also absolved the USTA of any responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of the writers while they cover the event.

Richard Evans, the Sunday Times tennis correspondent and president of the ITWA, had voiced concern about the issue of his members' freedom to work and pointed out that the 90-strong ITWA has members from all over the world, including the Middle East. But he believes the form will be signed once the changes are in place.

The association is made up of international writers who cover all of the major tennis events around the world, including the four Grand Slams, Davis Cup and Federation Cup matches and the major men's and women's tour events.

Several journalists working at Wimbledon, who view the document as an invasion of privacy, have said they will not commit to signing anything until they have sight of the changed form and have discussed the issue with company lawyers.