Tennis pro sues news organisations over claims he was worst in the world.

A British tennis professional who says he was wrongly dubbed “the world’s worst player” today launched libel proceedings against three publishers for damage to his reputation....

A British tennis professional who says he was wrongly dubbed “the world’s worst player” today launched libel proceedings against three publishers for damage to his reputation.

Robert Dee, 21, appeared in the press after losing 54 consecutive International Tennis Federation matches and is suing Associated Newspapers, owner of the Daily Mail, as well as Independent News and Media, owner of the Independent, and Reuters for their coverage.

Dee has won 19 out of 30 matches at 11 tournaments in the past year and played in one final an Almeria.

The Guardian also made the allegation in a similar article but apologised and published a correction in its daily corrections column.

David Engel of law firm Addleshaw Goddard, which is representing Dee, said: “These articles were wrong and extremely damaging to our client’s professional reputation as a tennis professional who earns his living from the game.

“The continued refusal by a number of media organisations to accede to our client’s request for printed apologies has left Mr Dee with no option but to sue for libel.

“We note that their stance is in contrast to, for example, that of The Guardian, which published a virtually identical story and which has now apologised and offered satisfactory redress without our client having to resort to litigation.”

Published on: 10 June 2008

Written by: Patrick Smith

Source: pressgazette.co.uk