GOAT Tennis Don Budge
TENNIS
John Donald Budge June 13, 1915 – January 26, 2000 (aged 84)
Oakland, California 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Don Budge’s backhand backhand with a slight amount of topspin was dominating as the first tennis player to win consecutively all four Grand Slam (Australian, French, Wimbledon, US Open). After Fred Perry (1909-1995), Budge was the second to complete the career Grand Slam, and remains the youngest to achieve the feat. 10 majors, of which 6 were Grand Slam events (consecutively, men’s record) 4 Pro Slams, three different surfaces. 3 times Budge is also the only man to have achieved the Triple Crown (winning singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles – same tournament) (Wimbledon in 1937 and 1938, and the US Championships in 1938), and achieved it twice in one year.
Professional 1938 (amateur tour from 1932) Budge was the world Number 1 amateur in 1937 and 1938 and world Number 1 professional in 1939, 1940 and 1942. He joined United States Army Air Forces to serve in World War II. Which hew injured his shoulder on an obstacle course. Professional tennis Don Budge and Bobby Riggs(1918-1995) (aged 77) were the best players in the world in 1942. Post war, in 1946, Budge battled Riggs in a U.S. tour, winning 24 matches to 22.
1948-1961
in 1949 Budge reached two more U.S. Pro finals, losing at Forest Hills to Riggs and in 1953 in Cleveland to Pancho Gonzales. In 1954, Budge recorded his last significant victory in a North American tour when, in Los Angeles, he defeated Poncho Gonzales, at the time the best player in the world. In1955 Budge won the U. S. Pro Clay Court Championships at Fort Lauderdale beating Riggs in the final.
After retiring from competition, Budge turned to coaching and conducted tennis clinics for children.
Career Highlights
Int. Tennis HoF 1964
Career record 649-297 (68%)
Career titles 43
Ranking #1 1937
Grand Slam Singles
Australian Open 1938
French Open 1938
Wimbledon 1937 – 1938
- S. Open 1937 – 1938
Professional Majors
US Pro 1940 , 1942
Wembley Pro 1939
French Pro 1939
Doubles Career record
Rank No. 1 (1942, Ray Bowers)
Grand Slam – Doubles
Australian Open SF (1938)
Wimbledon 1937, 1938
US Open 1936, 1938
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon 1937, 1938
US Open 1937, 1938
Look out for his backhand! w2
Copyright: Willis Whiteside 2023 All Rights Reserved.
REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Budge
Artistic Perspective
The Greatest of All Time art is a passion of bringing historical sports or public figures to full color. The art starts with research into the personality and reviewing available images or photographs to reference. The research includes the historical location and fan fills bleacher seats for those who witness the moments. The 18” x 24 inch canvas is laid out with the contrasting color pencil of the primary figures or elements outlines. These lines become boundaries of colors, with distinguishing edges or sfumato blended or smoky edges or color – light shading or blending. The foreground is usually in focus with the subject figure in dynamic action. Careful attention is given to these autonomist positions as sometimes these are the most recognized images or captured photo moments of the subject. Crossing the finish line or hurling a fastball, the intent is the subject is flowing with eye movement so you don’t want to stop looking in on the details.
Applying color
Applying the mixed acrylic squeezed out of a tube with a 10- 20 minute dry time. Applying or blending the colors is a matter of color and water saturation. Appling the base colors from dark to light is usually the process. The base color layers then absorb the new wet layer to blend the 2-3 color mixtures to achieve the desired color or blends. The multi layers affect of adding more color achieves more intense color saturation or white or pure color to dark blending. The blank canvas to final brush stoke is normally 2-3 weeks. Working in 2-4 hours sessions usually in the early mornings. We hope you enjoy the art as intended to bring back the best of the sport! If you have a suggestion for a new GOAT please contact us.