A black line-judge yesterday dropped out of the prestigious XL Bermuda Open after an alleged open act of racism at the Coral Beach and Tennis Club.

And the woman, who did not wish to be identified, called for the $328,000 event to be moved to another local venue so that tennis buffs of all races could feel comfortable attending.

No stranger to the tournament, the woman told The Royal Gazette she was heading down to the club's beach with about eight other white line-judges during a break last Sunday.

"I realised that I had left my Walkman and went back to get it,'' she said.

Returning to the beach she said she reached the checkpoint and asked the security guard: "Is this the way to the beach?'' "You're not a member of the club,'' she said the officer told her.

And she said despite the fact she was dressed like the other line-judges -- in green shirts with XL Bermuda Open on them and khaki pants -- and told the security guard she was with the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tournament linesmen, the guard told her she was not allowed on the beach and that it was club policy.

While deeply offended the line-judge said she did not push the matter with the security guard. But she said she reported the incident to local tournament director Mr. Alec Anderson, Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association officials, and Mr.

George Wardman, general manager Horizons Ltd. (which Coral Beach Club is part of).

So far, she said, nothing has come out of it.

But when contacted last night Mr. Anderson said the entire incident was unfortunate and a misunderstanding.

Noting that Coral Beach was private and limited to guests and club members, he said guests paying some $400 a day were entitled to some privacy.

However, he said, the club lifted its general rule for the week, allowing players, line-judges, and ball boys on the beach.

But somehow Mr. Anderson said this was not conveyed to security.

He said the security guard may not have seen the other line-judges going down to the beach.

But when they returned, he said, the security guard asked them whether they were members and informed them of the club's general rule.

And when the club learned of the incident with the black line-judge, he said "the club apologised personally to her''.

"When this sort of mistake was found out, everybody could understand how she felt.'' However, the former tennis player and aspiring tennis umpire claimed officials urged her to keep quiet about the incident because of the prestige of the tournament.

"I considered this,'' she said. "I sat down and asked myself is it me? Am I being oversensitive? "I'm a Jehovah Witness. I don't really want to get involved in racial issues.

But if I forget about it, then I'm saying this sort of thing is okay.'' She said: "When I told George Wardman he said it could not be a racial thing because the (security) woman was black too and she thought I was a ball person.

"He claimed that they had had problems earlier with the ball people causing a disturbance on the beach.'' But the offended line-judge said the explanation was a further insult.

"I'm 30 years old. How can I look like a ball person?'' she asked.

She also noted that the ball people wore blue pants.

And she surmised that if they had been causing problems -- which she was not aware of, the security woman would have been familiar with their uniform and would have mentioned that when asked why line-judges were not allowed on the beach.

The line-judge said she believed the security woman was simply following orders from the club.

"Their mind is conditioned to segregate,'' she said of some club employees.

"That is the way the club trains them.'' "It's not the first racial thing that has happened down there,'' she said, adding that she has worked at the tournament before.

She said she only returned this year because she was asked and it was the only way she could be certified to become an international line-judge.

Coral Beach Club accused of racism But, she quickly added, she would have to abandon her dream, if the tournament is held at the same venue next year.

"This is my very first direct experience with racism,'' the distraught woman said. "It's made me feel different.

"I will never, ever go back to Coral Beach in my life. They hurt me and they want me to forget it. I came to that tournament to serve and I feel used.

"I will never be the same again. I was very excited about this tournament until this happened. But at this point I made up my mind that I'm not even going back for the semi-finals or finals.'' Mr. Anderson said he hoped that she did not feel that she could no longer volunteer at the club.

"She was a good line-judge,'' he added.

But stressing that she was not knocking ATP nor the tournament, the line-judge said: "It is unfortunate that the tournament is held there because it limits who goes there.

"Only a handful of black people go there and this is a sport that is supposed to be so popular, especially among the tennis junior rank.

"In fact there are Bermudians who love tennis and play for league clubs who do not go when their club is playing at Coral Beach.

"I would like to see the tournament moved to a different facility so that the masses can attend. It is the club, not the price that is keeping them away.'' Reached late last night, Mr. Wardman said he did not believe that this was a good time for a racial issue to come forward.

He added that he had apologised to the line-judge and he admitted that the club "had not made it easy for the (security) lady at the beach.

He said there was no effort by Coral Beach to restrict anyone, except those inconveniencing guests.

While chair-umpires, players, and line-judges were allowed on the beach, ball boys and girls had become a nuisance to security.

He said the security guard told him she believed the line-judge was a ball girl.