CROWDS AND PLAYERS; ANNE JONES INTERVIEW (SOF); ROD LAVER INTERVIEW (SOF); CHARLTON HESTON INTERVIEW (SOF).



TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEWER: "HOW MANY WIMBLEDONS HAVE YOU TAKEN PART IN?"



JONES: "OH WELL, THAT'S A LEADING QUESTION. I'M NOT QUITE SURE, I THINK IT'S ABOUT FOURTEEN NOW."



INTERVIEWER: "WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR CHANCES?"



JONES: "WELL, I'VE HAD QUITE A GOOD DRAW I THINK, THOUGH I HAVEN'T STUDIED IT TOO CLOSELY. I PLAY NANCY RICHEY IN THE QUARTER-FINALS, THAT IS IF I GET THAT FAR, AND TO ME ON GRASS I THINK THAT'S NOT LIKE PLAYING MARGARET COURT IN THE FIRST ROUND."



INTERVIEWER: "HOW DO YOU RATE YOUR CHANCES?"



LAVER: "WELL I FEEL I'M PLAYING WELL. I'M FEELING WELL, I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE A GOOD CHANCE BARRING INJURIES, BUT HEN AGAIN THAT'S NOT SAYING THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A LOT OF UPSETS."



INTERVIEWER: "IT'S BEEN SAID THAT HAD YOU NOT MADE A FILM CAREER, YOU MIGHT HAVE BECOME A PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER?"



HESTON: "I HAVE EVERYTHING IT TAKES, BUT TALENT AND A GOOD FOREHAND VOLLEY




Initials PS/V/PW/SGM


SPORT: TENNIS

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MANY OF THE WORLD'S LEADING TENNIS STARS GATHERED AT HURLINGHAM IN ENGLAND TODAY (SUNDAY) FOR THE ANNUAL PRE-WIMBLEDON TENNIS PARTY.

THE FAMOUS WIMBLEDON LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS START TOMORROW. BUT AT HURLINGHAM THE PLAYERS WHO WILL VIE WITH EACH OTHER FOR THE GAME'S MOST COVETED TITLES MINGLED IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE -- THEIR RIVALRIES FORGOTTEN.

A NUMBER OF THEM MET IN FRIENDLY MATCHES ON THE HURLINGHAM'S CLUB'S COURTS. AUSTRALIA'S ROY EMERSON AND SOUTH AFRICA'S ABE SEGAL WERE ON THE COURT.

NUMBER THREE SEED TOM OKKER OF HOLLAND GOT IN SOME PRACTICE WITH AMERICA'S REISMAN.

BRITAIN'S ANNE JONES, THE NUMBER FOUR SEED, COMMENTED ON HER CHANCES IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

AUSTRALIA'S ROD LAVER IS A STRONG FAVOURITE TO WIN THE MEN'S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP.

AMONG THE PERSONALITIES AT HURLINGHAM WAS AMERICAN FILM STAR CHARLTON HESTON WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE EVENT TO TEST HIS TENNIS SKILL AGAINST THE EXPERTS.