July and was reported to be in hospital in August, thus missing the USPLTA U.S. Pro won by Van Horn over a depleted field. 1946 In the 1946 world professional tournament series organized by the Professional Players Association, Kovacs won the California State Pro Championship at Beverly Hills at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on cement (defeating Perry in the final), the Southwestern Pro at Phoenix indoor (defeating Earn in the final), the Southern California Pro at Santa Barbara on cement (defeating Perry in the final), the Texas State Pro at Dallas on grass (defeating Van Horn in the final in five sets). Kovacs displayed his skill on clay, winning the Cotton State Pro in Birmingham Ala. on clay (defeating Earn in the final), the Michigan State Pro at Kalamazoo on clay (defeating Riggs in the final), and the Great Lakes Pro Championships in the Chicago area at the Knollwood Club in Lake Forest, Ill. on clay (defeating Riggs in the final in five sets). Kovacs did not play in the northeastern portion of the tournament series, and in the final point standings, Kovacs finished third behind Riggs and Budge. Of the 31 tournaments, Riggs won 14, Kovacs won 7, Perry won 4, Budge won 3, and Van Horn won 2. 1947 The World Professional Players Association was formed, led by Riggs and Budge, but disappeared before the end of the year. Kovacs lost to Riggs in the U.S. Pro Indoor semifinal at Philadelphia on wood in March. In April, Kovacs began an 11-match two-man tour with Riggs, who organized the tour, the U.S. Professional Challenge Tour. Kovacs scored six match wins against Bobby Riggs' five to win the tour, the final and deciding match of best-of-five sets being postponed until early September with the series tied at five wins each. In late April and May, Kovacs won three tournaments in New York State, at Buffalo (over Riggs in the final), at Rochester (over Earn in the final) and at Troy on canvas (over Van Horn in the final). Riggs withdrew from the quarter-finals at Rochester and Troy due to a foot problem, but it was reported that in the doubles final at Troy, Riggs "ran like a scared rabbit despite reports of an injured foot". Kovacs lost to Riggs in the U.S. Pro at Forest Hills semifinal on grass in June. On September 2, Kovacs won the decider of the