Soviet Women to Compete as Pros on Tennis Circuit

EASTBOURNE, England — The Soviet Union, whose tennis players had previously competed only as amateurs, said Wednesday that it would enter all of its women players as professionals on the Virginia Slims circuit.

“The Soviet female players are now competing for prize money in all the tournaments that they may earn during the calendar year,” the Soviets said in a statement issued at a women’s tournament here.

A spokeswoman for the Women’s International Tennis Assn. said neither the Soviet women nor the USSR Tennis Federation previously collected any of their prize money. All prize money won in the past by Soviet women went directly to the WITA.

It is believed that the Soviet Tennis Federation will likely keep a percentage of the prize money won on the pro tour, and give some to the players.

The Soviet men still technically play as amateurs, but under an agreement with the Association of Tennis Professionals part of their earnings are diverted to the Soviet federation.