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