Category Archives: Tennis Players Men

Australian Top 10 Rankings Men and Women

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Australian Tennis player rankings were publicised from 1930 through to the mid 1970’s when the International Tennis Ranking system was largely adopted as the measure.

The information below does provide some interesting reading in relation to the longevity of some players and highlights some famous married couples like Jack Crawford and Marjorie (ne Cox) both number 1 in 1934 and Harry Hopman and wife Nell (ne Hall). Please do note that Thelma Coyne Long was not married to Colin Long but his brother, a point which is often confused.

Australian Rankings sometimes went past the top ten and so we have included a full list to expose the excellent performances of these individuals.

Thanks to Andrew Tasiopoulos for supplying the data.

Another note is that in the 1938/39 season officials decided to change the criteria of the men’s rankings to include only tournaments both overseas and in Australia which involved 5 set matches, as a measure of strength and stamina.  This meant that some 3 set match results from key metro or interstate tournaments etc. were not counted and hence some of the players moved positions (with not all the public agreeing with this change in precedent).

1930 (To 31st March 1930)
Mens
1. EF Moon
2. J Crawford
3. H Hopman
4. J Willard
5. RO Cummings
6. C Sproule
7. J Clemenger
8. R Dunlop
9. RE Schlesinger
10. AH Hassett
11. JB Hawkes
12. DP Turnbull

Womens
1. D Akhurst
=2. RR Harper
=2. L Bickerton
4. M Molesworth
5. E Hood
6. M Cox
7. K Le Messurier
8. G Toyne
9. U Valkenburg
10. D Dingle

1931 (To 31st March 1931)
Mens
1. J Crawford
2. H Hopman
3. EF Moon
4. RO Cummings
5. DP Turnbull
6. J Clemenger
7. J Willard
8. A Willard
9. C Sproule
=10. RE Schlesinger
=10. R Dunlop
=10. C Donohue

Womens
1. M Cox Crawford
2. C Buttsworth
3. M Molesworth
4. RR Harper
5. L Bickerton
6. U Valkenburg
7. F Hoddle Wrigley
8. K Le Messurier
9. J Hartigan
10. V Westacott

1932 (To 31st March 1932)
Mens
1. J Crawford
2. H Hopman
3. C Sproule
4. A Willard
5. VB McGrath
6. DP Turnbull
=7. EF Moon
=7. RO Cummings
9. AH Hassett
10. R Dunlop

Women
1. C Buttsworth
2. J Hartigan
3. M Molesworth
4. K Le Messurier
5. F Hoddle Wrigley
6. V Westacott
7. M Cox Crawford
8. GB Toyne
9. N Hall
10. D Weston

1933 (To 31st March 1933)
Mens
1. J Crawford
2. H Hopman
3. VB McGrath
4. A Quist
5. C Sproule
6. DP Turnbull
7. EF Moon
8. AH Hassett
9. BG Tonkin
10. LA Schwartz

Women
1. J Hartigan
2. M Cox Crawford
=3. C Buttsworth
=3. M Molesworth
=3. V Westacott
6. N Hall
7. K Le Messurier
8. F Hoddle Wrigley
9. N Lewis
10. U Valkenburg

1934 (To 31st March 1934)
Mens
1. J Crawford
2. VB McGrath
3. A Quist
4. H Hopman
5. DP Turnbull
6. EF Moon
7. EW Ewin
=8. R Dunlop
=8. WB Walker
10. LA Schwartz

Women
1. J Hartigan
2. M Molesworth
3. L Bickerton
4. V Westacott
5. N Chitty
6. N Hall Hopman
7. D Weston
8. F Hoddle Wrigley
9. K Le Messurier
10. A Hattersley

1935 (To 31st March 1935)
Mens
1. J Crawford
=2. VB McGrath
=2. A Quist
4. DP Turnbull
5. J Bromwich
6. H Hopman
7. EF Moon
8. D Thompson
9. RO Cummings
=10. AA Kay
=10. BG Tonkin

Women
1. J Hartigan
2. V Westacott
3. N Hall Hopman
4. L Bickerton
5. T Coyne
6. A Hattersley
7. N Chitty
8. M Blick
9. J Walters
=10. D Stevenson
=10. N Wynne

1936 (To 31st March 1936)
Mens
1. A Quist
2. J Crawford
=3. J Bromwich
=3. H Hopman
5. VB McGrath
6. AA Kay
7. DP Turnbull
=8. LA Schwartz
=8. EF Moon
10. D Thompson

Women
=1. J Hartigan
=1. T Coyne
3. N Wynne
4. N Hall Hopman
5. M Blick
=6. A Hattersley
=6. D Stevenson
8. G Griffiths
9. D Weston
=10. M Hardcastle
=10. J Wilson

1937 (To 31st March 1937)
Mens
1. A Quist
2. VB McGrath
=3. J Crawford
=3. J Bromwich
5. H Hopman
6. LA Schwartz
7. DP Turnbull
8. D Thompson
9. JE Harper
10. AA Kay

Women
1. N Wynne
2. T Coyne
3. V Westacott
4. J Hartigan
5. N Hall Hopman
6. D Stevenson
7. M Wilson
8. M Blick
9. V Selwin
10. M Hardcastle

1938 (To 31st March 1938)
Mens
1. J Bromwich
2. A Quist
3. VB McGrath
4. J Crawford
5. LA Schwartz
6. H Hopman
7. DP Turnbull
8. M Newcombe
9. R Ewin
=10. JE Harper
=10. GA Holland

Women
1. N Wynne
2. T Coyne
=3. N Hall Hopman
=3. D Stevenson
5. J Hartigan
6. M Hardcastle
7. V Westacott
8. M Blick
9. G O’Halloran
10. V Selwin

1939 (To 31st March 1939)
Mens
1. J Bromwich
2. A Quist
3. H Hopman
4. J Crawford
5. J Gilchrist
6. VB McGrath
7. LA Schwartz
8. L Brodie
9. CF Long
10. DP Turnbull

Women
1. V Westacott
2. N Hall Hopman
3. N Wynne
4. T Coyne
5. J Hartigan
6. D Stevenson
7. A Hattersley
8. M Blick
9. M Hardcastle
10. S Berryman

1940 (To 31st March 1940)
Mens
1. J Bromwich
2. A Quist
3. J Crawford
4. H Hopman
5. VB McGrath
6. M Newcombe
7. J Gilchrist
8. L Brodie
9. CF Long
=10. W Sidwell
=10. D Pails

Women
1. N Wynne Bolton
2. T Coyne Long
3. N Hall Hopman
4. J Hartigan
5. J Menzies
6. M Hardcastle
7. Mrs Waddell
8. A Hattersley
9. D Maugher
10. G O’Halloran

1945/ 1946
Mens
1. John Bromwich
2. Dinny Pails
3. Adrian Quist
4. Geoff E Brown
5. Harry Hopman
6. Lionel Brodie
7. Jack Crawford
8. Jack Harper
9. Robert R Barnes
=10 Max Bonner
=10 Frank Sedgman

Womens
1. Nancye Wynne Bolton
2. Nell Hall Hopman
3. Thelma Coyne Long
4. Joyce Fitch
5. Constance Coate Wilson
6. Alison Hattersley
7. Patricia Jones
8. Marie Toomey
9. Joan Hartigan
10. Dulcie Whittaker

1946/ 1947
Mens
1. John Bromwich
2. Dinny Pails
3. Geoff E Brown
4. Adrian Quist
5. Colin Long
6. Bill Sidwell
7. Lionel Brodie
8. Jack Crawford
9. James Gilchrist
10. Frank Sedgman

Womens
1. Nancye Wynne Bolton
2. Thelma Coyne Long
3. Nell Hall Hopman
4. Joyce Fitch
5. Patricia Jones
6. Constance Coate Wilson
7. Marie Toomey
8. Sadie Berryman Newcombe
9. Dulcie Whittaker
10. Mary Bevis

1947/ 1948
Mens
1. Adrian Quist
2. John Bromwich
3. Bill Sidwell
4. Frank Sedgman
5. Geoff E Brown
6. Colin Long
7. James Gilchrist
8. Jack Dart
9. Lionel Brodie
10. Robert McCarthy

Womens
1. Nancye Wynne Bolton
2. Thelma Coyne Long
3. Mary Bevis
4. Marie Toomey
5. Dulcie Whittaker
6. Esme Ashford
7. Nell Hall Hopman
8. Sadie Berryman Newcombe
9. Dorothy Jenkins
10. Patricia Jones

1948/ 1949 (issued April 11, 1949)
Mens
1. John Bromwich
2. Bill Sidwell
3. Frank Sedgman
4. Geoff E Brown
5. Adrian Quist
6. George Worthington
7. Colin Long
8. Robert McCarthy
9. Ken McGregor
10. Tom Warhurst

Womens
1. Nancye Wynne Bolton
2. Thelma Coyne Long
3. Joyce Fitch
4. Mary Bevis Hawton
5. Marie Toomey
6. Dulcie Whittaker Young
7. Esme Ashford
8. Alison Burton Baker
9. Nell Hall Hopman
10. Sadie Berryman Newcombe

1949/ 1950
Mens
1. Frank Sedgman
2. John Bromwich
3. Bill Sidwell
4. Geoff E Brown
5. Ken McGregor
6. Adrian Quist
7. George Worthington
8. Colin Long
9. Mervyn Rose
10. Don Candy

Womens
1. Nancye Wynne Bolton
2. Joyce Fitch
3. Thelma Coyne Long
4. Mary Bevis Hawton
5. Esme Ashford
6. Nell Hall Hopman
7. Sadie Berryman Newcombe
8. Marie Toomey Martin
9. Clare Proctor
10. Gwen Thiele

1950/ 1951
Mens
1. Frank Sedgman
2. Ken McGregor
3. Mervyn Rose
4. John Bromwich
5. Bill Sidwell
6. George Worthington
7. Adrian Quist
8. Don Candy
9. Brian Strofeldt
10. James Gilchrist

Womens
1. Nancye Wynne Bolton
2. Joyce Fitch
3. Esme Ashford
4. Mary Bevis Hawton
5. Beryl Penrose
6. Nell Hall Hopman
7. Sadie Berryman Newcombe
8. Dorn Fogarty
9. Pam Southcombe
10. Beverley Mance

1951/ 1952 (Released June 16 1952)
Mens
1. Frank Sedgman
2. Ken McGregor
3. Mervyn Rose
4. Ian Ayre
5. Ken Rosewall
6. Lewis Hoad
7. Rex Hartwig
8. Don Candy
9. Geoff E Brown
10. George Worthington

Womens
1. Thelma Coyne Long
2. Nancye Wynne Bolton
3. Helen Angwin
4. Mary Bevis Hawton
5. Beryl Penrose
6. Esme Ashford
7. Clare Proctor
8. Pam Southcombe
9. Beverly Mance Rae
10. Gwen Thiele

1952/ 1953 (Released on May 18 1953)
Mens
1. Mervyn Rose
2. Ken Rosewall
3. Lewis Hoad
4. Ian Ayre
5. Rex Hartwig
6. John Bromwich
7. Clive Wilderspin
8. Geoff E Brown
9. Bill Sidwell
10. Don Candy

Womens
1. Mary Bevis Hawton
2. Beryl Penrose
3. Dorn Fogarty
4. Helen Angwin
5. Pam Southcombe
6. Loris Nichols
7. Jenny Staley
8. Mary Carter
9. Norma Ellis
10. Gwen Thiele

1953/ 1954 (Issued May 17 1954)
Mens
1. Lewis Hoad
2. Ken Rosewall
3. Mervyn Rose
4. Rex Hartwig
5. George Worthington
6. John Bromwich
7. Clive Wilderspin
8. Ian Ayre
9. Neale Fraser
10. Don Candy

Womens
1. Thelma Coyne Long
2. Jenny Staley
3. Mary Bevis Hawton
4. Beryl Penrose
5. Mary Carter
6. Fay Muller
7. Helen Angwin
8. Norma Ellis
9. Loris Nichols
10. Daphne Seeney

1954/ 1955 (Issued May 16 1955)
Mens
1. Ken Rosewall
2. Lewis Hoad
3. Rex Hartwig
4. Mervyn Rose
5. Neale Fraser
6. Don Candy
7. George Worthington
8. Ashley Cooper
9. Mal Anderson
10. Roy Emerson

Womens
1. Beryl Penrose
2. Thelma Coyne Long
3. Jenny Staley
4. Mary Carter
5. Mary Bevis Hawton
6. Fay Muller
7. Elizabeth Orton
8. Margaret Hellyer
9. Loris Nichols
10. Daphne Seeney

1955/ 1956 (Issued April 16 1956)
Mens
1. Lewis Hoad
2. Ken Rosewall
3. Ashley Cooper
4. Neale Fraser
5. Mervyn Rose
6. Don Candy
7. Mal Anderson
8. Roy Emerson
9. Brian Tobin
=10. Neil Gibson
=10. Warren Woodcock

Womens
1. Mary Carter
2. Mary Bevis Hawton
3. Beryl Penrose
4. Fay Muller
5. Daphne Seeney
6. Loris Nichols
7. Lorraine Coghlan
8. Margaret Hellyer
9. Maureen McCalman
10. Beth Jones

1956/ 1957 (Issued May 20 1956)
Mens
1. Lewis Hoad
2. Ashley Cooper
3. Neale Fraser
4. Mal Anderson
5. Roy Emerson
6. Warren Woodcock
7. Bob Howe
8. Don Candy
9. Bob Mark
=10. Rod Laver
=10. Phillips Moore

Womens
1. Beryl Penrose Collier
2. Lorraine Coghlan
3. Mary Carter Reitano
4. Margaret Hellyer
5. Mary Bevis Hawton
6. Fay Muller Robinson
7. Beth Jones
8. Jenny Staley Hoad
9. Beverley Mance Rae
10. Pat Parmenter

1957/ 1958 Australian Rankings (Issued April 21 1958)

Mens
1. Ashley Cooper
2. Mal Anderson
3. Neale Fraser
4. Mervyn Rose
5. Roy Emerson
6. Robert Howe
7. Bob Mark
8. Rod Laver
9. Warren Woodcock
10. Neil Gibson

Womens
1. Lorraine Coghlan
2. Beryl Penrose Collier
3. Mary Carter Reitano
4. Mary Bevis Hawton
5. Jan Lehane
6. Maureen McCalman
7. Betty Holstein
8. Margot Rayson
9. Pat Parmenter
10. Beth Jones

1958/ 1959 Rankings (Issued April 19 1959)
Mens
1. Neale Fraser
2. Roy Emerson
=3. Rod Laver
=3. Bob Mark
5. Martin Mulligan
6. Ken Fletcher
7. Don Candy
8. Warren Woodcock
9. Bob Howe
10. Bob Hewitt

Womens
1. Mary Carter Reitano
2. Jan Lehane
3. Lorraine Coghlan
4. Mary Bevis Hawton
5. Beverley Mance Rae
6. Thelma Coyne Long
7. Betty Holstein
8. Maureen Pratt
9. Noelene Turner
10. Lesley Turner

1959/ 1960
Mens
1. Neale Fraser
2. Rod Laver
3. Roy Emerson
4. Bob Hewitt
5. Bob Mark
6. Martin Mulligan
7. Ken Fletcher
8. Bob Howe
9. Warren Woodcock
10. Francis Gorman

Womens
1. Jan Lehane
2. Margaret Smith
3. Mary Carter Reitano
4. Lorraine Coghlan Robinson
5. Lesley Turner
6. Beverley Mance Rae
7. Fay Muller Robinson
8. Betty Holstein
9. Margaret Hellyer
10. Madonna Schacht

1960/ 1961 (Issued April 18 1961)

Mens
1. Neale Fraser
2. Rod Laver
3. Roy Emerson
4. Bob Mark
5. Bob Hewitt
6. Fred Stolle
7. Barry Phillips Moore
8. Marty Mulligan
=9. Ken Fletcher
=9. Brian Tobin

Womens
1. Margaret Smith
2. Jan Lehane
3. Lesley Turner
4. Mary Carter Reitano
5. Mary Bevis Hawton
6. Maureen McCalman Pratt
7. Fay Muller Robinson
8. Robyn Ebbern
9. Jill Blackman
10. Madonna Schacht

1961/62 (Issued April 16 1962)

Mens
1. Rod Laver
2. Roy Emerson
3. Neale Fraser
4. Bob Hewitt
5. Fred Stolle
6. Ken Fletcher
7. John Newcombe
8. John Fraser
9. Owen Davidson
=10. Alan Lane
=10. William Coghlan

Womens
1. Margaret Smith
2. Jan Lehane
3. Lesley Turner
4. Mary Carter Reitano
5. Robyn Ebbern
6. Judy Tegart
7. Madonna Schacht
8. Jill Blackman
9. Norma Marsh
10. Fay Muller Robinson

1962/63 (Issued April 24 1963)

Mens
1. Roy Emerson
2. Neale Fraser
3. Ken Fletcher
4. Robert Hewitt
5. Martin Mulligan
6. Fred Stolle
7. John Newcombe
8. John Fraser
9. Anthony Roche
=10. Owen Davidson
=10. Robert Howe

Womens
1. Margaret Smith
2. Lesley Turner
3. Jan Lehane
4. Robyn Ebbern
5. Jill Blackman
6. Madonna Schacht
7. Kay Dening
8. Judy Tegart
9. Carol Newman
10. Joan Gibson

1963/64 (Issued April 20 1964)

Mens
1. Roy Emerson
2. Fred Stolle
3. Martin Mulligan
4. John Newcombe
5. Ken Fletcher
6. Robert Hewitt
7. Neale Fraser
8. Anthony Roche
9. Owen Davidson
=10. Barry Phillips Moore
=10. Warren Jacques

Womens
1. Margaret Smith
2. Lesley Turner
3. Jan Lehane
4. Robyn Ebbern
5. Judy Tegart
6. Madonna Schacht
7. Kay Dening
8. Gail Sherriff
9. Joan Gibson
=10. Kerry Melville
=10. Helen Gourlay

1964/ 1965 Australian Rankings (Issued April 26 1965)

Mens
1. Roy Emerson
2. Fred Stolle
3. John Newcombe
4. Anthony Roche
5. William Bowrey
6. Owen Davidson
7. Barry Phillips Moore
8. John Cottrill
9. William Coghlan
10. Ray Ruffels

Womens
1. Margaret Smith
2. Lesley Turner
3. Robyn Ebbern
4. Judy Tegart
5. Madonna Schacht
6. Gail Sherriff
7. Jill Blackman
8. Joan Gibson
9. Kerry Melville
10. Helen Gourlay

1965/ 1966 Australian Rankings (Issued April 27 1966)

Mens
1. Roy Emerson
2. Fred Stolle
3. John Newcombe
4. Anthony Roche
5. William Bowrey
6. Owen Davidson
7. Ray Ruffels
8. John Cottrill
9. John Cooper
=10. Barry Phillips Moore
=10. William Coghlan

Womens
1. Margaret Smith
2. Lesley Turner
3. Judy Tegart
4. Joan Gibson
5. Gail Sherriff
6. Jan Lehane
7. Madonna Schacht
8. Karen Krantzcke
9. Kerry Melville
10. Elizabeth Fenton

1966/ 1967 Australian Rankings (Issued April 17 1967)

Mens
1. Roy Emerson
2. Anthony Roche
3. John Newcombe
4. William Bowrey
5. Owen Davidson
6. Ray Ruffels
7. Allan Stone
8. Barry Phillips Moore
9. Richard Crealy
10. William Coghlan
11. Warren Jacques
12. Gary Penberthy
13. Colin Stubs
14. John Cottrill
15. Terry Addison
16. Gary Baulch
17. John Cooper
18. Phil Dent
19. Karl Coombes
20. Doug Smith

Womens
1. Lesley Turner
2. Kerry Melville
3. Judy Tegart
4. Karen Krantzcke
5. Gail Sherriff
6. Joan Gibson
7. Lorraine Coghlan Robinson
8. Jan Lehane O’Neill
9. Jill Blackman
10. Elizabeth Fenton
11. Fay Toyne
12. Helen Gourlay
13. A Lexie Kenny
14. Brenda Jenkins
=15. M Jones
=15. Mrs L Nette

1967/ 1968 (Year ending Mar 31,1968)
Mens
1. Bill Bowrey
2. Ray Ruffels
3. Barry Phillips Moore
4. Dick Crealy
5. Allen Stone
6. A John Cooper
7. Terry Addison
8. Ray Keldie
9. Phillip Dent
10. Colin Stubs
11. Rod Brent
12. Neale Fraser
13. Warren F Jacques
14. Will Coghlan
15. John Fraser
16. John Alexander
17. Bob Giltinan
18. Ray Wilson
19. Allan McDonald
20. Ian Fletcher

Womens
1. Judy Tegart
2. Lesley Turner Bowrey
3. Kerry Melville
4. Margaret Smith Court
5. Karen Krantzcke
6. Gail Sherriff
7. Helen Gourlay
8. Lesley Hunt
9. Jill Blackman
=10. Evonne Goolagong
=10. Brenda Jenkins
12. Kerry Harris
13. Elizabeth Fenton
14. Kaye Dening
15. A Lexie Kenny

1968/ 1969 (Year ending Mar 31,1969)
Mens
1. Bill Bowrey
2. Ray Ruffels
3. Dick Crealy
4. John Alexander
5. Phillip Dent
6. Barry Phillips Moore
7. Allen Stone
8. Terry Addison
9. Bob Giltinan
10. Ray Keldie
11. Rod Brent
12. Allan McDonald
13. Peter Doerner
14. Geoff Masters
15. Ross Case

Womens
1. Margaret Smith Court
2. Kerry Melville
=3. Karen Krantzcke
=3. Judy Tegart
5. Gail Sherriff Chanfreau
6. Lesley Turner Bowrey
7. Helen Gourlay
8. Lesley Hunt
9. Kerry Harris
10. Evonne Goolagong
11. Janet Young
12. Wendy Gilchrist
13. A Lexie Kenny
14. Helen Amos
15. Barbara Hawcroft

1969/ 1970  (Year ending Mar 31,1970)
Mens
1. Ray Ruffels
2. Dick Crealy
3. Allen Stone
4. John Alexander
5. Phillip Dent
6. John Cooper
7. Ian Fletcher
8. Barry Phillips Moore
9. Bob Giltinan
10. Geoff Masters
11. Colin Dibley
12. Peter Doerner
13. John Bartlett
14. Ross Case
15. Alan McDonald

Womens
1. Margaret Smith Court
2. Kerry Melville
3. Karen Krantzcke
4. Judy Tegart Dalton
5. Lesley Hunt
6. Evonne Goolagong
7. Kerry Harris
8. Wendy Gilchrist
9. Janet Young
10. Jan Lehane O’Neill

1970/ 1971  (Year ending Mar 31,1971)
Mens
1. Colin Dibley
2. Bob Giltinan
3. Barry Phillips Moore
4. Ross Case
5. Mal J Anderson
6. Ian Fletcher
7. John Cooper
8. Frank Sedgman
9. Geoff Masters
10. Peter Doerner
11. Syd Ball
12. John Bartlett
13. Allan McDonald
14. Ray Keldie
15. Greg Perkins

Womens
1. Margaret Smith Court
2. Evonne Goolagong
3. Lesley Hunt
4. Helen Gourlay
5. Kerry Harris
6. Barbara Hawcroft
7. Patti Coleman
8. Anne Coleman
9. Pat Edwards
10. Wendy Turnbull

1971/ 1972  (Year ending Mar 31,1972)
Mens
1. Mal J Anderson
2. Colin Dibley
3. John Cooper
4. Geoff Masters
5. Barry Phillips Moore
6. Ross Case
7. Kim Warwick
8. Ian Fletcher
9. Frank Sedgman
10. Syd Ball
11. John Bartlett
12. Allan McDonald
13. Greg Perkins
14. Cliff Letcher
15. Alvin Gardiner

Womens
1. Evonne Goolagong
2. Helen Gourlay
3. Patti Coleman
4. Barbara Hawcroft
5. Kerry Harris
6. Janet Young
7. Jan Lehane O’Neill
8. Marilyn Tesch
9. Sally Irvine
10. Pat Edwards

1972/ 1973  (Year ending Mar 31,1973)
Mens
1. John Newcombe
2. Ken Rosewall
3. Mal J Anderson
4. Colin Dibley
5. Geoff Masters
6. Ross Case
7. John Cooper
8. Barry Phillips Moore
9. Bob Giltinan
10. Kim Warwick
11. Syd Ball
12. John James
13. Alan McDonald
14. Greg Perkins
15. Michael Phillips

Womens
1. Margaret Smith Court
2. Evonne Goolagong
3. Kerry Melville
4. Karen Krantzcke
5. Patti Coleman
6. Kerry Harris
7. Helen Gourlay
8. Janet Young
9. Dianne Fromholtz
10. Barbara Hawcroft
11. Wendy Turnbull
12. Marilyn Tesch

1973/ 1974  (Year ending Mar 31,1974)
Mens
1. John Newcombe
2. Rod Laver
3. Ken Rosewall
4. John Alexander
5. Phil Dent  
6. Fred Stolle
7. Colin Dibley
8. Ross Case
9. Geoff Masters
10. Bob Giltinan
11. Dick Crealy
12. Allan Stone
13. Syd Ball
14. Barry Phillips Moore
15. Ian Fletcher
16. Kim Warwick

Womens
1. Margaret Smith Court
2. Evonne Goolagong
3. Kerry Melville
4. Lesley Hunt
5. Karen Krantzcke
6. Kerry Harris
7. Janet Young
8. Dianne Fromholtz
9. Helen Gourlay
10. Judy Tegart Dalton
11. Patti Coleman
12. Wendy Turnbull

1974/ 1975 (Year ending Mar 31,1975)
Mens
1. John Newcombe
2. Ken Rosewall
3. Tony Roche
4. John Alexander
5. Phil Dent  
6. Ross Case
7. Geoff Masters
8. Dick Crealy
9. Allan Stone
10. Colin Dibley
11. Syd Ball
12. Kim Warwick
13. Ray Ruffels
14. Bob Giltinan
15. Ernie Ewert
16. Cliff Letcher
17. Geoff Thomson
18. Peter McNamara
19. Chris Kachel
20. Bill Durham

Womens
1. Evonne Goolagong Cawley
2. Margaret Smith Court
3. Kerry Melville Reid
4. Lesley Hunt
5. Karen Krantzcke
6. Dianne Fromholtz
7. Helen Gourlay
8. Janet Young
9. Kerry Harris
10. Christine Matison
11. Wendy Turnbull
12. Lesley Turner Bowrey

1975/ 1976  (Year ending Mar 31,1976)
Mens
1. Tony Roche
2. Ken Rosewall
3. John Newcombe
4. Ross Case
5. John Alexander
6. Phil Dent
7. Ray Ruffels
8. Mark Edmondson
9. Geoff Masters
10. Dick Crealy
11. Allan Stone
12. Kim Warwick
13. Mal J Anderson
14. Paul Kronk
15. John Marks
16. Syd Ball
17. Colin Dibley
18. Peter McNamara
19. Bradley Drewett
20. Cliff Letcher
21. John James
22. Bob Giltinan
23. Peter Campbell
24. David Carter
25. John Trickey
26. Ernie Ewert
27. Trevor Little
28. Paul McNamee
29. Alvin Gardiner
30. Chris Kachel

Womens
1. Evonne Goolagong Cawley
2. Margaret Smith Court
3. Dianne Fromholtz
4. Kerry Melville Reid
5. Lesley Hunt
6. Cynthia Seiler Doerner
7. Helen Gourlay
8. Wendy Turnbull
9. Chris O’Neill
10. Lesley Turner Bowrey
11. Christine Matison
12. Judy Tegart Dalton
13. Jenny Young
14. Nerida Gregory
=15. Kaye Hallam
=15. Jan Wilton
17. Jenny Dimond
18. Kym Ruddell
19. Jenny Walker
=20. Julie Hanrahan
=20. Dianne Evers

1976/ 1977  (Year ending March 31 1977)
Mens
1. Ken Rosewall
2. Tony Roche
3. John Alexander
4. Ross Case
5. Phil Dent
6. Mark Edmondson
7. Ray Ruffels
8. Dick Crealy
9. Geoff Masters
10. Kim Warwick
11. Colin Dibley
12. John Newcombe
13. Allan Stone
14. Syd Ball
15. Paul Kronk
16. Barry Phillips Moore
17. Chris Kachel
18. John Marks
19. John James
20. Steve Docherty
21. Alvin Gardiner
22. Peter McNamara
23. Bradley Drewett
24. Terry Rocavert
25. Rod Frawley
26. Peter Campbell
27. Paul McNamee
28. Robert (Bob) Giltinan
29. David Carter
30. Warren Maher
31. Dale Collings
32. Ernie Ewert
33. Charlie Fancutt
34. John Bartlett
35. William (Bill) Lloyd
36. Graeme Thomson

Womens
1. Evonne Goolagong Cawley
2. Kerry Melville Reid
3. Dianne Fromholtz
4. Margaret Smith Court
5. Wendy Turnbull
6. Lesley Turner Bowrey
7. Karen Krantzcke
8. Helen Gourlay Cawley
9. Jan Lehane O’Neill
10. Jan Wilton
11. Mary Sawyer
12. Pam Whytcross
13. Nerida Gregory
14. Jenny Walker
15. Pam Bailey
16. Amanda Tobin
17. Kym Ruddell
18. Suzanne Saliba
19. Chris O’Neill
20. Christine Matison

1977/ 1978  (issued May,1978)
Mens
1. John Alexander
2. Tony Roche
3. Ken Rosewall
4. Phil Dent
5. John Newcombe
6. Colin Dibley
7. Kim Warwick
8. Ross Case
9. Dick Crealy
10. Allan Stone
11. Geoff Masters
12. Ray Ruffels
13. Paul McNamee
14. Bob Giltinan
15. John James
16. Steve Docherty
17. Mark Edmondson
18. John Marks
19. Rod Frawley
20. William (Bill) Lloyd
21. Bob Carmichael
22. Dale Collings
23. Noel Phillips
24. Chris Kachel
25. Paul Kronk
26. Alvin Gardiner
27. Syd Ball
28. Terry Rocavert
29. David Carter
30. Barry Phillips Moore
31. Peter McNamara
32. Brad Drewett
33. Ray Kelly
34. Charlie Fancutt
35. Peter Campbell
36. Keith Hancock
37. Warren Maher
38. Victor Eke
39. John Trickey
40. R Keighery

Womens
1. Evonne Goolagong Cawley
2. Kerry Melville Reid
3. Wendy Turnbull
4. Dianne Fromholtz
5. Helen Gourlay Cawley
6. Lesley Hunt
7. Pam Whytcross
8. Amanda Tobin
9. Diane Evers
10. Nerida Gregory
11. Suzanne Saliba
12. Mary Sawyer
13. Kym Ruddell
14. Kaye Hallam
15. Leanne Harrison
16. Keryn Pratt
17. Wendy Paish
18. Jan Wilton
19. Pam Bailey
20. Christine Matison

Frank Sedgman

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Born in Melbourne in 1927 , Frank Sedgman was introduced to tennis through his parents association with the Blackburn Tennis Club. Playing in the popular schoolboy holiday tournaments which included Elsternwick, Glen Iris and Kooyong he learnt of Harry Hopman, who conducted coaching lessons at Kooyong. At his mothers insistence, at aged 14 Frank plucked up the courage to ring Harry and explain, quite brazenly, that he could beat most of the kids in Harry’s current clinic and wanted to join his coaching squad. With that much front, Harry permitted Frank to join and so began their amazing relationship.

Frank’s first job, like Harry’s at the Herald, was in the newspaper business and he worked for the Argus. Tennis coaching was scheduled every Thursday and the Argus structured his work hours so he could attend the lessons.

The 1945 Victorian Junior Championships was Frank’s first major win and in the seniors event he was beaten by Adrian Quist in the 2nd round. These performances led to his selection in the Linton Cup where he played interstate matches that helped him into Australia’s National Rankings as equal #10.

In 1946 he helped secure Victoria’s Linton Cup win and also won the Australian Junior Championships. One of his stand out performances that year was beating ex Wimbledon champion Jack Crawford (#7) in the first round of the NSW Championships in a tough 5 setter. In the NSW v’s VIC Mars Buckley test he lost to Geoff Brown and beat Gilchrist and so he was proving to himself and selectors that he could mix it with many of the then current Davis Cup players plus the Australian population were seeing the rising talents of a new young player.

Jumping to 1948, Frank won his first major in the West Australian Championships beating Colin Long in the singles final and with Colin also won the doubles. Frank was now the number 4 ranked Australian player behind Adrian Quist, John Bromwich and Bill Sidwell but didn’t make the 1948 Davis Cup Team, even though Bromwich withdrew because of his fear of flying, whereas the pre-war tours involved travel by sea. Instead, Bromwich planned to set sail for Wimbledon and it was felt that Frank should also go as Bromwich’s partner but couldn’t afford to fund the trip privately. Possibly with just a slight influence from Harry, the Herald ran a publicly promoted 10 day fund raising campaign which enabled Frank to go, only after the LTAA stepped in to control the fund and provided him with appropriate accreditation.

Just as well. Frank and John won the 1948 Wimbledon Doubles and Frank came runner up in the mixed finals playing with Doris Hart. Frank was also runner up in the French playing with Harry Hopman as a precursor to Wimbledon. Back then, players didn’t relate to the French Open as they do today as part of the Grand Slam and it was treated more as a warm up tournament. In fact, Frank holds the view that Doubles was very much an Australian strength mainly because many other countries focused on singles. Growing up at tennis clubs here usually meant playing plenty of club doubles and the record books stand testament to Australia’s longtime dominance of doubles events.

The other really important event in 1948, again through Harry’s stewardship, was the sponsoring of Frank to play in the USA. This was forthcoming from successful Australian Industrialist, Fred Small who lived and worked in New York. This was all about gaining experience and Frank lived near the LA Tennis Club which was a focal development point for American tennis and he played regularly with elite players including Kramer, Riggs, Budge Patty and Falkenburg. He recalls the courts to be cement and very fast and it was here that he honed his serve volley and power game.

1949 was one of Frank’s mixed performance years. Despite winning his first Australian Championship and making the Davis Cup team, he also played with Colin Long once more in the doubles to be defeated by the powerful doubles combination of Quist and Bromwich. Over at Wimbledon, he and Bromwich didn’t back up their 1948 win and in fact missed the finals. Even more demoralizing was that Frank had a match point against Ted Schroeder in a singles match and blew a second serve by running around to his forehand and hit one high for an easy put away volley. Schroeder recovered to win the match in 5 sets and then proceeded to win the championship. The USA then cleaned up Australia in the Davis Cup Challenge Round 4-1 with only the doubles win. Frank lost both singles to Schroeder and Gonzales.

Having won the 1950 Australian Open for the second time, he was now the #1 seed at Wimbledon. During the lead up trip he slipped on a sand box used on snow covered roads and injured his wrist which meant he missed playing all the warm up tournaments and literally only just made it to the opening round when his wrist started to feel better. In a great effort, he made the finals and on the way Frank recalled a remarkable match against A. Larson with the first two sets being lost in appalling, late evening wet weather conditions. It was so slippery that Frank actually decided to play in his socks. Harry Hopman sought out the referee for a postponement until the next day. Luckily, Frank came back to win the next three sets. The trend continued in the Semi’s against Drobny where, once again, from two sets down Frank fought back to win. In the grand final, Frank lost to Budge Patty in four sets. For both Frank and Budge it was tough singles match mainly because they played each other in a previous marathon 4 ½ hour doubles (with Ken McGregor) match in which the second set went 31/29 in over 2 ½ hours. This was lost in 4 sets. Frank explained that back then each set was allocated 6 new balls only and not the current 9 game rotation. Consequently, the balls became a total disaster to the point that from a serve they just shot through off the grass and so with a huge favour to the server the balls actually helped perpetuate the score.

The 1950 Davis Cup team was now captained by Harry Hopman and some younger players were promoted to join Bromwich. This was the first season for Merv Rose and Ken McGregor and the last for Bromwich who even agreed to fly to the USA in order to participate in his suspected last Cup Challenge. The Inter Zone final was a close 3-2 win over Sweden in pretty appalling wet conditions, aka, Frank played and lost to Bergelin again resorting to playing in socks in very slippery conditions. Bromwich lost to Bergelin also, but luckily they both won their singles matches against Johansson and the doubles. Norman Brookes and Harry threatened Frank that if he didn’t win the reverse singles he was on the next plane home. The Challenge Round was a great opportunity for McGregor to shine in singles and with one loss only, Australia captured the Davis Cup 4-1 against the USA. Frank played well beating Schroeder and T.P.Brown in singles and with Bromwich beat Schroeder and Mulloy in doubles. Whilst in the USA Bromwich and Frank won the US Doubles over Bill Talbert and Gardnar Mulloy.

If 1950 was good, 1951 was totally exceptional.Frank teamed up with Ken McGregor once more and won the first Men’s Doubles Grand Slam and was only the Australian Mixed Doubles final short of a Grand Slam in that event as well.He also won his first US Open singles over Vic Seixas which became his third major singles title. This was the first time an Australian player had won the event and only the fifth time for an overseas player.

The Davis Cup Challenge round in Sydney saw a controversial decision to play Rose ahead of McGregor against the USA. Although Rose had good form leading into the round, Frank always felt that McGregor was the more match fit player. The strategy back fired and with Rose losing the two singles rubbers. Sedgman won all three of his matches to secure the cup once more, but only just.

Frank was clearly established as one of the top players in 1952 and he won his second US Open Singles title and his first Wimbledon Singles title, three mixed tournaments except the Australian Open again and won three doubles events with Ken. The last “Slam” final of the USA doubles was played against Aussie Merv Rose and Vic Seixas (US). McGregor had pulled a stomach muscle and had difficulty serving so the match went to 5 sets which they lost. A win here would have meant their 8th consecutive Grand Slam doubles win in a row. Harry Hopman was so furious at Rose for siding with an American and ruining the party, that he didn’t speak to him for two months. Australian Tennis officials declared, as reported in the press, that Rose was not to play with Seixas in the 1953 US Doubles again, in preference for Aussie Clive Wilderspin. Such was the power play of officials versus players back then in trying to engineer partnerships that would assist in aiding Australia to win the Davis Cup which meant crowds and income ahead of individual tournament performances.

The 1952 Davis Cup in Adelaide was a pretty straightforward affair with good wins over Seixas and Trabert 4-1, but then every win over the Americans is good for national pride but also the cup stays in Australia for the next revenue generating year.

This third successive Davis Cup win marked the end of Frank’s amateur career. Everything changed in 1953 when he announced to the World that he was becoming a professional with the Jack Kramer Troupe and Ken McGregor joined also.

On reviewing Franks’ overall amateur performance some very unique and interesting stats appear.

Frank is the only male to have played and made the finals of every Grand Slam Event (singles. doubles and mixed). Over the three years 1950-1952 he won 11 of the 12 titles. He won a triple crown twice (singles, doubles and mixed at the US ‘51 and Wimbledon ’52) and played in 3 consecutive winning Australian Davis Cup Team 1950 -1952, plus, the prestigious achievement of winning the Doubles Grand Slam in 1951.

Turning professional was a fairly logical progression. This was hardly surprising. Back in 1950 Frank was quoted as saying he would consider becoming a professional at some point, so everyone new it was on the cards. In 1952 to keep him amateur for the Davis Cup, Frank Packer (Consolidated Press) provided a 5000 pound wedding gift to Frank’s new wife Jean and Slazenger paid for them both to travel Europe to play exhibition matches as well as the main tournaments. Naturally this blatant payment and “sporting goods employment” contracts created plenty of ill-will from the Americans yet even though the LTAA politically managed the situation, these backhand deals that many players were receiving highlighted the need for Tennis to move into an “Open” era, which still did not occur until 1967.

Kramer was a legendary tennis player.He had won Wimbledon, US championships and Davis Cup Challenge rounds in 1946 and 1947.Kramer turned pro in 1948 and set about delivering a quality road show to not only delight the fans but to create incomes for himself and other pro players. Frank had promised Kramer that he would join after the 1952 Davis Cup Tie.

The transition was rapid. On the 7th January 1953 Frank debuted against Kramer in Los Angeles in front of a 4000 plus crowd and won 3/6, 6/4. 6/4. The press were ecstatic at the win and although many felt sure Kramer had finally found a formidable opponent, Bill Tilden commented that Frank “was the fastest man he had ever seen on a court….”, however he believed “Kramer’s shots were better, but he suffers from a lack of high calibre competition”. And, indeed Frank did lead the “head to head” results early on but Kramer came back and eventually won the tour 54-41. Frank believes Kramer is the best player he has played against due to his skill and very tactical approach to the game. Gonzales had an amazing serve and power game but the ground shots weren’t as good as Kramer’s.

Professional tennis was grueling. Constant travel, new rooms every night and often low cost, self drive transportation between events. If today’s elite players don’t think they owe Jack for persevering to create an open professional stage, improve pay and conditions that allow a contemporary first class lifestyle to be derived from tennis they certainly need to. The venues could be ice skating rinks or velodromes. The court was usually a portable, taut canvas sewn in panels. The seams did create some odd bounces and while it was different Frank felt he became quite quickly accustomed to its playability. The photo right shows Pancho Gonzales, Tony Trabert, Frank and Rex Hartwig in 1955.

When quizzed about the intensity of Pro tennis, Frank said that his game went to a totally new level. Every game, although an exhibition, was played to maximum intensity. Kramer, Segura, Gonzales and even the ‘past his prime’ Don Budge never held back. Winning meant money and pride so to win the tour series, tournaments or head to head contests was a top priority. On the subject of amateur best players versus the pro’s, the pro’s standard was way above the amateur standard and of course had the era been Open the inscriptions on the Grand Slam trophies throughout this period would have been very different.

Frank nominates his best ever tennis performance was against Pancho Gonzales in the November 22nd 1953 Open Championship at Wembley UK. He blasted Gonzales off the court in a crowd stunning 49 minute display 6/1, 6/2, 6/2 to become the unofficial World Champion.

In late 1954, Frank organised a tour to Australia independently from Kramer who was taking a break after an exhausting 18 months on the road not just playing but organising two World tours. Local Australian cycling promoter, Ted Waterford managed the tour for Gonzales, Segura, Frank and Ken McGregor.

Over the next decade Frank participated in many overseas and Australian Professional tours and many top Australian players were being lured Ian Ayre, Rex Hartwig, Ken Rosewell, Lew Hoad, Ashley Cooper, Merv Rose and Mal Anderson all became Kramer Pros. The 1959 Australian Kramer tour was banned from any official LTAA venues so they played at some very obscure venues and then in 1961 the LTAA did approve play at key venues after satisfactory financial arrangements were negotiated.

In a European tour, in 1964/65, Frank played a series of Australian Professional tournaments against Gonzales, Laver and Rosewall which were pretty much his last premier pro level tennis matches. Below is a fun shot from 1963 with a few pro’s Sugura, Gonzales, Hoad, Rosewall, Merv Rose, Kramer and Cooper lighting up Frank’s cigar.

Thanks to the Open era, a truce between the pro’s and administrators saw Frank return to club tennis, playing A grade pennant for Grace Park from 1970-1978, where it is reported he did not lose a singles match.  He rejoined the 1970 Australian Open and played against the 1968 amateur winner Bill Bowrey but missed a sitter volley on his match point to eventually lose in 5 sets 6/2, 1/6, 6/3, 4/6, 7/5. He went onto play the Australian Open until 1976 aged 48 which is a sensational effort.

We discussed the ramifications for turning professional. The power struggle between administrators and players was always brewing particularly as independently wealthy or privileged players (aka Sir Norman Brookes) were being replaced by average kids coming from the country and average suburbia. These players needed to earn a living while devoting their time to practice and overseas touring. Controlling players and money making events like the Davis Cup was the ultimate objective of the LTAA, yet by the 1960’s crowd numbers at the Cup and major tournaments were being impacted by the large number of players turning pro and the obvious lack of star quality in the amateurs.

While a pro, Frank’s membership at Kooyong was cancelled, he couldn’t play pennant or participate in any LTAA event. Looking back, the players knew what they were in for if they did turn professional, but it was a very dismal way to treat Championship winners and Davis Cup Champions. Frank ended up playing championship squash because he wasn’t allowed to play in LTAA sanctioned tennis. events anywhere.

Thankfully the open era is allowing players and tennis associations to share the revenues from a game which still excites the population via record crowds, strong media and the degree of interest in local player support. The Australian Open today is attracting crowds who flock to see the best players at one of the best venues.

In relation to racquets used, Frank started tennis with a Dunlop Maxply, then was earning 8 pounds a week from Spalding until the 1949 Australian Championships. After this Oliver paid him 20 pounds per week and Frank won the US and Wimbledon titles with the famous Oliver “BlueBird”. As a pro he used Wilson in the USA and Dunlop produced a signature /photo decal racquet in the mid 1950’s . In the mid 70’s Frank went back to Oliver and also endorsed a small Queensland racquet maker called Master. Over in New Zealand there was a signature range from Feltex.

We can only look back over the record books for Frank Sedgman and truly admire and marvel at his achievements in Tennis on the court and off.  He has won every major event across Singles, Doubles and Mixed bar the French Singles title which is an amazing effort unlikely to be seen again.  We are pleased to report also that Frank is fit and well, is still actively involved in tennis administration, goes to the gym 3 times a week and plays golf. I suspect he would still give players years younger a run for their money.

Some good books: Jack Kramer’s “The Game. My 40 Years in Tennis”1981, Harry Hopman’s “Aces and Places” 1957, “Winning Tennis” by Frank Sedgman 1955, “Our Open” Tennis Australia 2004

Thanks for taking to the time to meet with us Frank, a great privilege.

Len Schwartz

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Len passed away 23-11-2010 aged 97.  The article was produced in 2008.

Len Schwartz, was born in 1913 in the Barossa Valley, South Australia.  The other day Len kindly gave me some time to discuss his long and wonderful tennis career. His junior days were spent in country Strathalbyn where he practiced regularly against a brick wall and played at the Milang Tennis Club.

At 18 years old he went to search for a job in Adelaide and found himself employed by one of the largest retail groups, Harris Scarfe who still operate today in numerous states. On the very first weekend, Len dressed himself in his tennis gear, packed a racquet, jumped on his bike and began the search for a tennis club with grass courts. He found his new home at Unley Oval and promptly played in the West Torrence district team in the U21’s. Following good performances he found himself in the Linton Cup Team where he met Adrian Quist and Don Turnbull.  Quist was already a very promising junior having won the 1930 Australian Boy’s Doubles with Don Turnbull however he partnered with Len in 1932 to win the championship for the second time.

Len enjoyed more doubles success than in singles, yet he had match points to almost win the South Australian Championships at least once but appeared in the final four times against Hopman in 1933 in a massive 5 setter (10-8 in the fifth), Quist twice and Bromwich. As a demonstration of his doubles versatility, Len won the doubles event 4 times with four different partners (G.Hone, R Sheppard, John Wright and Adrian Quist) and the mixed event twice.

Len considers his best shot was the backhand volley however he played a constant serve volley attacking game.  He played for the South Australian Intercolonial team which enjoyed a massive public following and acted as an excellent lead-in tournament to the Australian Championships.

While somewhat in the shadow of Crawford who won Wimbledon in 1933, Quist, Viv Mc Grath and Bromwich, Len continued to impress and was selected as the 5th player in the 1937 Davis Cup team.  In those days with the Tennis Association picking up the overseas traveling expenses, it was decided that a five player team was not affordable and Len missed out.

In 1938, Len defeated Jack Crawford in the first round of the Australian Championships in front of his home crowd and then went on to be defeated in the quarter finals by the legendary Don Budge in his Grand Slam year 6-4, 6-3, 10-8. He recalls Budge changing ends saying something to him like “keep up the good work, you’re playing well”.

The dominance of Budge and the US team almost lead the LTAA to decide not to send a team in 1938. Luckily they approved a team and Len’s performances pushed him up the rankings and into side with Quist, Bromwich and Harry Hopman as Captain Manager. They toured the USA for 5 months.  The first round played was against Mexico in Kansas City which was a high altitude city and hot. Hopman, gave Len his chance to play his one and only singles match defeating D.Hernandez 6-4,6-1, 6-2.

After defeating Japan in the next round, the Australians went on to win the American Zone and then defeating Germany from the European Zone to meet the mighty US team in the final. It wasn’t the 5-0 whitewash many may have expected. The US team won 3-2 in Philadelphia, playing Riggs and Budge in the singles and Budge Mako in the doubles.Quist and Bromwich won the doubles and Bromwich won the only singles against Riggs.

On the tour Len and Harry used to play and practice alot against Quist and Bromwich. They were the ultimate doubles combination and from 1938 to 1950 with no play during the war, Quist and Bromwich won the Australian Doubles title 8 times (Quist won with Don Turnbull in 1936 1937 so he won it 10 times straight over 14 years. Whilst on tour the Australian team entered and played in the American National Doubles Tournament the feature event in that year.  Len and Harry were defeated by Quist and Bromwich 3-1 in the semi finals who in turn then lost to Budge and Mako in the finals.

The second most prestigious doubles tournament was held in Los Angeles.  Here Harry and Len defeated Quist and Bromwich and went on to defeat Budge and Mako.  Len not only sees this as his best series of wins, but he pointed out that in achieving their performance over the two tournaments they had defeated all four 1938 Doubles Grand Slam winners.

After the war in 1946, Len was asked to once again play in the Davis Cup team, however since he was married and needed a job, Len became a tennis coach and under the restrictive rules of the era that saw many fine players ineligible due becoming “tennis professionals” Len could not be selected.

Since we always have an interest in racquets, Len’s first racquet was an English made Prosser that his father gave him and after that as he became more prominent in South Australia he was approached by the local Slazenger representative to work for the company.  He did change to Spalding for a short time thanks to his mate Don Turnbull who worked there but went back to Slazenger and eventually moved to their head office in Alexandria, NSW where he was able to play exhibition matches and promote Slazeneger products to clubs and private homes. Len remained a coach until he was 70 and like many others demonstrated his sporting prowess by playing for the South Australian Lawn Bowling team for 10 years.

As a coach Len recalls teaching John Alexander and has enjoyed the many Davis Cup Dinners Tennis Australia invited him to and fondly remembers meeting fellow South Australian and AFL Crows supporter Lleyton Hewitt.

At 95, Len is still very with it and readily recalls his experiences in considerable detail which is a huge blessing. It was a great pleasure to talk with Len and to share these wonderful memories. He is very proud to have played in the Davis Cup team in 1938 and he and his family including 6 grandchildren and 4 great grand children should be thrilled that Len’s name is on the Cup.

Pictures show Len with Harry Hopman and the Cup.

Below, the Australian v Japan Teams in Montreal 1938. Harry Hopman far left, Adrian Quist 3rd left, Len 4th right and John Bromwich far right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Sidwell

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O.W.Sidwell may not be a household name in Tennis, yet Bill who resides in Sydney aged 88, was a great player in the 1940’s era with Adrian Quist, Geoff Brown and John Bromwich.

Today, Bill still leads an active 88 year olds life, playing and organising veterans golf events. Sounding, nowhere near his age we are indeed fortunate that Bill can recount some of his amazing tennis experiences.

At aged 15 a friendship between Bill’s father and the then Managing Director owner of Slazenger Australia, David Blacklock, helped Bill into his first job. Normally, this may sound typical for a young lad in the thirties, however Bill started school at 3, completed his leaving certificate at 15 and majored in advanced mathematics and accounting. To Slazenger, these skills applied to business modelling and management were very desirable and Bill stayed on with Slazenger for 47 years from 1935 to 1982.

No doubt with the Slazenger experience close at hand, Bill who started playing when he was 7, became a very good tennis player.  In the picture right, post war 1945, the Allied forces played a UK charity match hosted by Queen Mary. Bill found it quite amusing that the US flew in one of their top players, Archie Henderson, especially for the match, however Bill won in four sets.  Bill at the rear is talking with Queen Mary. He was ranked #1 in the British Empire.

1947 was a stellar year, most notably in doubles and Bill came close on three occasions to win 3 of the Grand Slam doubles events. Unfortunately as runner up at Wimbledon with Anthony Mottram, the US Open with Bill Talbert and the French Open with Tom Brown.

The important breakthough came in in 1949 playing with John Bromwich, where they won the US Open Doubles against Frank Sedgman and George Worthington 6-4,6-0, 6-1 which was Bill’s only finals win despite many attempts.

For Australia, in the Davis Cup, Bill played in the 1948 team with Colin Long and Quist in Havana to defeat Cuba, followed by a 4-1 win over Mexico and a very close Inter Zone final against Czechoslavakia 3-2.

Bill considers his Win over Drobny and Cernik (Czechoslavakia) as his pivotal matches. Drobny was ranked #5 in the World and the first rubber 4 set tussle must have been nerve racking 6-3,6-2,9-11,14-12.  At two rubbers all Bill’s final match against Cernik was critical for a win which he did in 3 sets, however it was the Drobny match which gave the “under-dog” Australian side an edge.  Unfortunately, the USA team were very strong and we lost 5-0 in the New York Challenge Round.

Bill recounts that the Challenge round against the USA had created a media frenzy and that a TV station had negotiated film rights with the USA team.  Adrian Quist not happy with this imbalance in finances stormed off to the USA camp to negotiate half the proceeds for the Australian side.  Being subsidised only $5 per day for expenses, by tennis authorities made it very enticing for players to cross over to chase larger pay packets of the professionals.

The 1949 team which introduced Frank Sedgman into the side with Bromwich saw Bill in the USA Challenge Round, again to lose to the USA team of R.Gonzales, F. Schroeder, Bill Talbert and Gardner Malloy 4-1. The only win being doubles between Bill and Bromwich over Talbert and Malloy.

In 1949, Bill was ranked #10 in the World according to the USLTA records. At the 1950 Wimbledon event Geoff Brown and Bill teamed up for the doubles and made the finals to be defeated by the other Australian Team John Bromwich and Adrian Quist.

After this sensational effort both Bill and Geoff left the game to concentrate on  Slazeneger business.

The picture right shows Bill in action against F.Parker at  Wimbledon 1949.

The picture below right shows Bill and Geoff Brown in action against Drobny and USA Bob Faulkenburg also at Wimbledon in 1949.

We will add more information about Bill as we research this era of Australian tennis with his son Terry.

Thanks for the photos and stories from the Sidwell family.

Colin Long

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The article below was published August 2008.  Sadly Colin passed away on November 8th 2009. We have elected to leave the article as written.

At aged 90, Colin Long and great mate Jack Noseda, both well known from Spalding Sporting Goods Management kindly gave me some time to discuss Colin’s interesting tennis career. Being nothing at all like his age,Colin has a great memories of his involvement with the Australian Davis Cup Team.

I thought Colin might be the oldest surviving Davis Cup player, but we learnt that Len Schwartz who played in the 1938 Davis Cup team is alive but not so well in Adelaide. We are not sure of Len’s exact age but it is the mid 90’s and we hope he recovers from a current stay in hospital.

What marvellous memories tennis has delivered to Colin. He really appreciates how lucky he has been to be part of this highly traditional and patriotic event.

As School captain at Melbourne Grammar, Colin was a promising junior and won a schoolboys doubles championship with Alistair Righetti in 1936. He joined Dunlop sporting goods for a couple of years having left school and then moved to Spalding in 1939. Back then, many players not wishing to turn professional were employed by sporting goods companies as a technical way around being professional and this argument between tennis administrators and amateur/professional players continued from the mid 1940’s to the mid 1970’s.

In 1939, he was runner up in the Australian Open Doubles with Don Turnbull and in the same year also enlisted in the army. For 5 1/2 years Colin was involved in action around the world. Despite not playing tennis anywhere near enough, he mentioned that while on leave in Egypt he managed to squeeze in their National tennis tournament.

At the end of the war, aged 28 he attracted the eye of team selectors and was included in the Davis Cup squad of 1946. This was done in fine style partnering, with John Bromwich in the Victorian Championships and playing sensational tennis against the visiting US Davis Cup team Kramer /Schroeder (see right). Colin, not noted for being a singles player also defeated Talbert in the same event.(see below).

Despite this good form and making the squad, Colin didn’t play in the 1946 Cup team which was lost 0-5 to the USA fielding the players Frederick, ‘Ted’ Schroeder, Jack Kramer and Gardnar Malloy. Throughout this period the USA team players were rightly rated the best in the world, hence a great performance in the Vic championships.

Having served throughout his formative, development years away from tennis, Colin sees his selection as an amazing piece of good fortune.

Here we have the 1947 Team- L to R John Bromwich, Geoff Brown, Manager Roy Cowley, Dennis ‘Dinny’ Pails and Colin.

In 1947, Colin played doubles with John Bromwich against Jack Kramer and Ted Schroeder in the challenge round and won in 4 sets again! ( 6-4,2-6,6-2,6-4). He rates this as a highlight of his tennis playing career due to the strength of the Americans and a concern that Bromwich was not 100% convinced he and Colin could win. The US won the 1947 Challenge 4-1.

Colin played in all the 1948 doubles matches which saw the team travel to Cuba (3-0), Mexico (4-1) and again went down to the USA (5-0)in the challenge round. So no wonder winning the one rubber in three years was a highlight.

These Challenge Cup trophies in silver were presented
to the losing team members in 1946/47/48. Somewhere
in Jack Kramer’s (& others USA team member ) cupboards
will be the all gold versions.

Colin also had numerous local successes making the 1948 Australian Championships Doubles Grand Final playing with Frank Sedgman and then losing to Bromwich and Quist after leading 2 sets to 0, with a match point in the 3rd and losing the 5th set 8-6 (Colin says this is the worst memory). He also won the Australian Mixed Doubles Championships with Nancye Bolton in 1940/46/47/48 and was runner up in 1938. Pre 1968 Colin was the most prolific male winner of the mixed title event.

Colin has enjoyed tennis all of his life and enjoyed a long career at Spalding, on radio and at Channel 7 as the Tennis, Golf and squash presenter. His main racquet of choice thoughout his career was Spalding ( no surprises there)

Thanks Colin………..a pleasure to catch up and reminisce……. Rod