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Frank Sedgman

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Frank Sedgman
AO
Full nameFrancis Arthur Sedgman
Country (sports) Australia
Born (1927-10-29) 29 October 1927 (age 97)
Mont Albert, Victoria, Australia
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Turned pro1953 (amateur tour from 1945)
Retired1976
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF1979 (member page)
Singles
Career record863–516 (62.5%)[1]
Career titles49[2]
Highest rankingNo. 1 (1950, Harry Hopman,[3] Ned Potter.[4])
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenW (1949, 1950)
French OpenF (1952)
WimbledonW (1952)
US OpenW (1951, 1952)
Other tournaments
Professional majors
US ProF (1954, 1961)
Wembley ProW (1953, 1958)
French ProW (1953)
Other pro events
TOCF (1957AU, 1957FH, 1958AU)
Doubles
Career record5–13
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (1951, 1952)
French OpenW (1951, 1952)
WimbledonW (1948, 1951, 1952)
US OpenW (1950, 1951)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenW (1949, 1950)
French OpenW (1951, 1952)
WimbledonW (1951, 1952)
US OpenW (1951, 1952)

Francis Arthur Sedgman AO (born 29 October 1927) is an Australian former world No. 1 tennis player. Over the course of a three-decade career, Sedgman won five Grand Slam singles tournaments as an amateur as well as 22 Grand Slam doubles tournaments. He is one of only five tennis players all-time to win multiple career Grand Slams in two disciplines, alongside Margaret Court, Roy Emerson, Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams. In 1951, he and Ken McGregor won the Grand Slam[broken anchor] in men's doubles. Sedgman turned professional in 1953, and won the Wembley World Professional Indoor singles title in 1953 and 1958. He also won the Sydney Masters tournament in 1958, and the Melbourne Professional singles title in 1959. He won the Grand Prix de Europe Professional Tour in 1959.

Sedgman was ranked as the world No. 1 amateur in 1950 by Harry Hopman and Ned Potter, in 1951 by Pierre Gillou, Hopman and Potter and in 1952 by Lance Tingay, Gillou, Hopman and Potter. Tennis de France magazine ranked Sedgman as the world No. 1 professional tennis player for the 1953 season. Jack Kramer, in his personal ranking lists, ranked Sedgman as the world No. 2 professional behind Pancho Gonzales for the 1958, 1959 and 1960 seasons.

Career

[edit]

Amateur

[edit]
Frank Sedgman

Sedgman was a 180 cm (5'11") right-hander who played the serve-and-volley game that had just been popularised by Jack Kramer. He was one of a number of Australian players who used the Continental grip in which the racquet is held the same way for both the forehand and the backhand. He was particularly known for his volleying and speed at the net. When asked in 2005 who was the best player he had ever faced, Mervyn Rose replied, "Hopman's pet, Sedgie."[5]

Sedgman led the Australian Davis Cup team to victory in 1950, 1951, and 1952. In a five-year span from 1948 to 1952 Sedgman won 22 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Sedgman and his partner Ken McGregor were the only men's doubles team to ever win the Grand Slam in a single year—they won all four majors in 1951. The following year they also won the first three majors, then, at Forest Hills, were upset by a pick-up team of another Australian, Mervyn Rose, and an American Vic Seixas, denying them eight consecutive Grand Slam victories. According to Rose in a 2005 interview, Harry Hopman, the coach of the Australian team, would not talk to him for two months afterwards.[5]

1945

[edit]

Although still playing in the junior events in Australian tournaments in 1945, Sedgman began to enter the men's singles events as well. In June, he lost a close match to Jack Harper at the Elsternwick tournament.[6] In December, at the Victorian championships, Sedgman beat Noel Kirkby before losing to Adrian Quist. Writing in The Melbourne Herald, renowned coach Harry Hopman called Sedgman a "potential champion". Hopman also said, "it is about a year ago that I advised him (Sedgman) to go to a gymnasium. The work he has done there – about three times a week after his work – has put on a stone in weight and improved him in many ways. His legs, wind and stamina are now first class. His temperament, too, is good".[7]

1946

[edit]

Sedgman began the year by reaching the final of the South Australian championships in Adelaide, where he lost to John Bromwich. Writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, Bromwich said, "Sedgman was not inclined to induldge in long drawn-out-rallies, and after the ball crossed the net three or four times, he either endeavoured to force the play or strived for an outright placement".[8] Sedgman made his debut at the Australian Championships in 1946. He won his first match against Reg Clements, but lost in the last 16 round, to Geoff Brown in straight sets. Brown played "faultlessly throughout", whilst Sedgman was "not able to settle down, and did not look comfortable".[9]

1947

[edit]

In 1947, Sedgman lost in the opening round of the Australian Championships to Patrick Callaghan. It was his second appearance in the singles. He also won the Victorian Hardcourt Championships in June, beating Lionel Brodie in the final. The final was played in a strong wind. It was a "closely contested final, which produced some brilliant tennis under most difficult conditions".[10] At the Australian hardcourt championships in Toowoomba in November, Sedgman was suffering from strained muscles in his right shoulder in the final against Quist and lost in straight sets.[11]

1948

[edit]

At the 1948 Australian championships, Sedgman beat veteran former champion Jack Crawford before losing to Bromwich in the quarterfinals. At the West Australian championships in March, Sedgman beat Colin Long in straight sets in the final. According to the Melbourne Age, Sedgman's success was "due to stronger driving, more powerful service and greater all-court agility".[12] At the French championships, Sedgman lost in the last 16 to Giovanni Cucelli. In June, Sedgman won the Kent championships, beating fellow Australian Jack Harper in the final.[13] At Wimbledon, he lost in the last 16 to eventual winner Bob Falkenburg.[14] At the U.S. Championships, Sedgman lost in the last 16 to Frank Parker. Sedgman lost in the final of the New South Wales championship to Bromwich.[15]

1949

[edit]

At the Australian Championships in January 1949, Sedgman beat defending champion Quist in the quarter-finals and former champion Bromwich in the final to win his first Grand Slam singles title. Sedgman "gave a flawless exhibition of attacking tennis" in the final against Bromwich.[16] Bromwich was now 30, whilst Sedgman was 21. In the Gold Cup final at Toowoomba in April, Sedgman beat Brian Strohfeldt in the final.[17] At Wimbledon, Sedgman had two match points against Ted Schroeder in the quarterfinals, but lost in five sets.[18] Sedgman lost to Schroeder again in a five set quarterfinal at the U.S. Championships.

1950

[edit]

Sedgman began the year by winning the South Australian championships in Adelaide, beating Jaroslav Drobny in the final in three straight sets, losing only three games.[19] Sedgman won his second Australian Championships men's singles title, beating Bromwich, Eric Sturgess and Ken McGregor. Sedgman's superior groundstrokes were a key factor in his victory over McGregor.[20] Sedgman won the West Australian Championships beating Clive Wilderspin in the final, showing a "much superior brand of tennis" than he had in earlier rounds.[21] He then won the Australian Hardcourt Championships beating George Worthington in the final.[22] At the French Championships, Sedgman was seeded second, but surprisingly lost in the last 16 to Irvin Dorfman. At Wimbledon, Sedgman was top seeded. He beat Art Larsen and Drobny (both from two sets to love down), before losing the final to Budge Patty in four sets. Sedgman lost in the last 16 of the U.S. Championships to Earl Cochell.[23] In September, Sedgman won the Pacific Southwest Championships in straight sets against Schroeder, though Schroeder was suffering from a knee injury in the latter stages.[24] In November, Sedgman beat reigning U.S. singles champion Larsen in straight sets in the final of the Queensland Championships.[25] Larsen beat Sedgman in the final of the New South Wales Championships, but in December, Sedgman beat Larsen in the final of the Victorian Championships[26] Sedgman was ranked world No. 1 amateur by Harry Hopman[3] and by Ned Potter.[4]

1951

[edit]

Sedgman began the year by winning the South Australian Championships, beating Larsen in the final.[27] He failed in his bid to win a hat-trick of Australian singles titles, when he lost in the semifinals of the 1951 championships to Dick Savitt. Sedgman beat Rose in the final of the MCC championships in Melbourne in March[28] and later in the month was victorious in the Australian hardcourt tournament in Tasmania over Don Candy.[29] Sedgman lost to Drobny in the semifinals of the French Championships. Top-seeded at Wimbledon, Sedgman led by two sets to love against Herbert Flam in the quarterfinals, but lost in five sets. At the Newport championships in August, Sedgman beat Mervyn Rose in the final to become the first overseas winner of the men's singles since 1916.[30] At the U.S. Championships, Sedgman beat Bill Talbert, Tony Trabert, Larsen and Vic Seixas to win the title. He then retained his Pacific Southwest title in Los Angeles, beating Trabert in the final, by manoeuvering him out of position.[31] Sedgman beat Ian Ayre in the final of the Queensland championships in November.[32] In December, Sedgman beat three of the best American amateurs Trabert, Seixas and Savitt to win the Victorian Championships.[33] In late 1951, Sedgman was tempted to turn professional for 1952. Harry Hopman, however, led a fund-raising drive via his newspaper column in the Melbourne Herald to keep Sedgman an amateur. Enough money was raised to purchase a gasoline station in the name of Sedgman's future bride.[34] Sedgman remained an amateur for another year. Sedgman was ranked world No. 1 amateur No. 1 by Pierre Gillou,[35] Harry Hopman[36] and Ned Potter.[37]

1952

[edit]

Sedgman began the year in January by winning the Manly seaside tournament beating McGregor in the final.[38] Later in the month, Sedgman lost to his doubles partner McGregor in the final of the Australian Championships. Sedgman won the Asian Championships in February beating Tony Mottram in the final. Sedgman won titles in Cannes in March (over Milo Branovic)[39] and in Beaulieu in April (over Philippe Washer).[40] At the French Championships, Sedgman beat Patty and Sturgess before losing in the final to Drobny, but Sedgman had beaten Drobny in the finals of the Monte Carlo tournament and the Italian Championships. Sedgman had a successful tour of Britain, where he won the Sutton event in April, the Harrogate tournament in May beating Sturgess in the final,[41] the Northern tournament in June over Candy and the Queens club tournament over Rose.[42] Sedgman also won his first Wimbledon singles title (it was the third year in a row he had been number one seed). In 2012, Sedgman said "You always wanted to win the Wimbledon title and I had offers to turn professional before I won Wimbledon and I had put it off because I thought, gee, I wanted to win the Wimbledon title to cap your career, really, as an amateur".[43] To win the Wimbledon title, Sedgman beat Sturgess, Rose and Drobny. Sedgman won the Velbert tournament in July beating Sturgess in the final.[44] Sedgman beat Rose to win the Newport tournament in August.[45] At the U.S. Championships, Sedgman beat Lew Hoad, Rose and Gardnar Mulloy to retain his title. In November, Sedgman (hampered by a blistered hand) beat 18 year old Ken Rosewall in five sets in the semifinals of the Queensland Championships[46] before overcoming Rose in five sets in the final. Sedgman won the New South Wales Championships over McGregor.[47] Sedgman was ranked world No. 1 amateur by Lance Tingay,[48] Pierre Gillou,[49] Harry Hopman[50] and Ned Potter.[51] Sedgman turned professional at the end of the year.

Professional

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1953

[edit]

Sedgman faced Jack Kramer in the 1953 World Series tour. Sedgman began the tour well and opened up an 11–6 lead (Kramer had been suffering from the flu during several matches).[52] However, by winning in Houston on 11 March, Kramer opened up a 28–19 lead. In the end, Kramer won 54 matches to 41. The tour grossed $860,000.[53][54] Sedgman won the tournament at Wembley beating Don Budge and Pancho Gonzales (both in straight sets).[55] Sedgman won the tournament in Paris, beating Gonzales in the final.[56] Sedgman beat Dinny Pails and Segura at Vienna and Geneva.[57] Tennis de France magazine ranked Sedgman as the world No. 1 professional tennis player for the 1953 season.[58] This gave Sedgman world number one rankings for both the amateur tennis world and for the contract tennis professionals in his career record.

1954–1955

[edit]

In 1954, Sedgman competed in the World Series alongside Gonzales, Pancho Segura, Budge, Bobby Riggs and Carl Earn. On the opening night of the tour at Madison Square Garden, Sedgman led Gonzales by a set and 5–3, but Gonzales took the second set 11-9 and the third set 13–11 to claim victory.[59] Gonzales went on to win the series. Sedgman was runner-up to Gonzales in the Cleveland version of the U.S. Pro, played under the billed name of Cleveland World Pro Championships. In September and October, Sedgman won a 4-man tour of Asia over Gonzales, Segura, and Kramer. In November, Sedgman won the Australian professional championships in Perth beating Gonzales and then Segura in the final.[60] Sedgman toured Australia in 1954–55 with Gonzales, Segura, McGregor and Ian Ayre. Gonzales won the tour. Sedgman missed approximately four and a half months tennis in 1955 due to an operation for appendicitis.[61]

1956–1957

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Sedgman missed the first 5+1⁄2 months of 1956. In September 1956, Sedgman beat Tony Trabert in the semi-finals of the tournament at Wembley, but lost in the final to Gonzales,[62] despite leading by a set and 4–1. Sedgman won round robin tournaments at Brisbane and Kooyong in December against Trabert, Segura, and Hartwig.[63] In 1957, Sedgman won the Perth round robin event in January beating Segura, Rex Hartwig and Trabert.[64] Sedgman beat Ken Rosewall in three straight sets in 57 minutes in their first match against each other as professionals in the semifinals at the Ampol Tournament of Champions at White City, Sydney, in February.[65] Sedgman lost to Segura in the final.[66] Sedgman finished runner-up to Gonzales at the Forest Hills Tournament of Champions (played on a round-robin basis) despite losing his opening match to Hoad, as he won against Rosewall, Trabert, and Segura. He lost the deciding match to Gonzales in five sets, although he led two sets to one.

1958

[edit]

In February 1958, Sedgman won the Ampol Masters Pro at the White City stadium, Sydney, earning him AUS£2,000 in first-prize money.[67] He defeated both Gonzales and Trabert in five set matches to win the tournament.[68] Kramer designated the Sydney Masters of 1958 as one of the four major professional tournaments.[69] At Wembley in 1958, Sedgman beat Gonzales in the semifinals and Trabert in the final to win his second Wembley title, five years after his first. Kramer ranked Sedgman No. 2 in his pro ranking for 1958.

1959

[edit]

Sedgman won the Melbourne event in the Ampol world series in January 1959, defeating Gonzales in the final in three straight sets. The match was played outdoors on a slow wooden court at the Olympic Velodrome.[70] Sedgman reached the final of the Ampol series event at Toronto on red clay, beating Segura and Hoad before losing the final to Gonzales. Sedgman won the Grand Prix de Europe tour in 1959, finishing ahead of Rosewall, Hoad, and Trabert.[71] Sedgman beat Segura and Hoad before losing to Trabert in the final of the French Pro at Roland Garros in September, also an Ampol series event. Sedgman finished fourth in Kramer's official Ampol point ranking for the year behind Hoad, Gonzales, and Rosewall.

Jack Kramer ranked Sedgman as the world No. 2 professional player in his personal ranking list (as distinct from Kramer's point ranking) for the 1959 season behind Gonzales and ahead of Rosewall and Hoad.[72]

1960–1965

[edit]

By the 1960s, Sedgman's career was declining, although Kramer ranked Sedgman as the world No. 2 professional player behind Gonzales and ahead of Rosewall and Hoad for the 1960 season.[73] Sedgman was runner-up to Gonzales at the Cleveland event in 1961. In November 1962, Sedgman won the White City Charity event at Sydney, beating Luis Ayala in the final.[74] Sedgman entered a period of retirement from the professional tour at the end of 1965.

Open era

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Open tennis arrived in 1968. Sedgman returned to play in Grand Slam events at the 1970 Australian Open, where he lost in five sets in the second round to former champion Bill Bowrey.[75] Sedgman won the Victorian Hardcourt Championships in October 1970 beating John Stephens in the final[76] and won the title again in 1971 beating Neale Fraser in the final,[77] a few days before his 44th birthday (he had won his first Victorian hardcourt title 24 years earlier in 1947). He reached the third round at Wimbledon in 1971. At the 1972 Australian Open, Sedgman beat fifth seed Owen Davidson[78] before losing in the third round to John Cooper. He continued to play professionally until his 1976 retirement. His last appearance in the Australian Championships men's singles in 1976 was 30 years after his first appearance (a record span at Australian Championships men's singles).[79]

Broadcasting and promoting

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Sedgman commentated on various Australian TV channels (mainly on broadcasts of Davis Cup matches or Australian championships) from 1960 to 1976. In 1972, the LTAA appointed Tennis Camps of Australia to promote the Australian Open (Sedgman, Jim and Doug Reid and John Brown were the directors).[80] The first year that Tennis Camps promoted the event (the 1973 event which began in December 1972 and concluded in January 1973)[81] was also the first year that Channel Seven televised the event. "I remember we gave the TV rights away (for nothing), so that we could get publicity for the event" said Sedgman.[80] Sedgman was one of the commentators for Channel 7 in the mid-1970s. He commentated on the Newcombe v Connors final of 1975, lost in the second round of the men's singles that year and was still involved in promoting the event. Tennis Camps ceased to promote the event in the early 1980s.[82]

Honours

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Sedgman was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1979; in 1985 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.[83][84] He received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000.[85] Sedgman was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for "distinguished service to tennis as a player at the national and international level, and as a role model for young sportspersons".[86] In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer, the long-time tennis promoter and player, included Sedgman in his list of the 21 greatest players of all time.[87] In 2019 he was made an Officer in the Order of Australia.[88]

Major finals

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Grand Slam tournaments

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Singles: 8 (5 titles, 3 runner-ups)

[edit]
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Win 1949 Australian Championships Grass Australia John Bromwich 6–3, 6–2, 6–2
Win 1950 Australian Championships Grass Australia Ken McGregor 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6–1
Loss 1950 Wimbledon Championships Grass United States Budge Patty 1–6, 10–8, 2–6, 3–6
Win 1951 US Championships Grass United States Vic Seixas 6–4, 6–1, 6–1
Loss 1952 Australian Championships Grass Australia Ken McGregor 5–7, 10–12, 6–2, 2–6
Loss 1952 French Championships Clay Egypt Jaroslav Drobný 2–6, 0–6, 6–3, 4–6
Win 1952 Wimbledon Championships Grass Egypt Jaroslav Drobný 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2
Win 1952 US Championships Grass United States Gardnar Mulloy 6–1, 6–2, 6–3

Doubles: 14 (9 titles, 5 runner-ups)

[edit]
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1947 Australian Championships Grass Australia George Worthington Australia John Bromwich
Australia Adrian Quist		 1–6, 3–6, 1–6
Loss 1948 Australian Championships Grass Australia Colin Long Australia John Bromwich
Australia Adrian Quist		 6–1, 8–6, 7–9, 3–6, 6–8
Loss 1948 French Championships Clay Australia Harry Hopman Sweden Lennart Bergelin
Czechoslovakia Jaroslav Drobný		 6–8, 1–6, 10–12
Win 1948 Wimbledon Grass Australia John Bromwich United States Tom Brown
United States Gardnar Mulloy		 5–7, 7–5, 7–5, 9–7
Loss 1949 U.S. Championships Grass Australia George Worthington United States John Bromwich
Australia Bill Sidwell		 4–6, 0–6, 1–6
Win 1950 U.S. Championships Grass Australia John Bromwich United States Gardnar Mulloy
Australia Bill Talbert		 7–5, 8–6, 3–6, 6–1
Win 1951 Australian Championships Grass Australia Ken McGregor Australia John Bromwich
Australia Adrian Quist		 11–9, 2–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
Win 1951 French Championships Clay Australia Ken McGregor Australia Gardnar Mulloy
Australia Dick Savitt		 6–2, 2–6, 9–7, 7–5
Win 1951 Wimbledon Grass Australia Ken McGregor Egypt Jaroslav Drobný
South Africa Eric Sturgess		 3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win 1951 U.S. Championships Grass Australia Ken McGregor Australia Don Candy
Australia Mervyn Rose		 10–8, 6–4, 4–6, 7–5
Win 1952 Australian Championships Grass Australia Ken McGregor Australia Don Candy
Australia Mervyn Rose		 6–4, 7–5, 6–3
Win 1952 French Championships Clay Australia Ken McGregor Australia Gardnar Mulloy
Australia Dick Savitt		 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
Winner 1952 Wimbledon Grass Australia Ken McGregor United States Vic Seixas
South Africa Eric Sturgess		 6–3, 7–5, 6–4
Loss 1952 U.S. Championships Grass Australia Ken McGregor United States Mervyn Rose
United States Vic Seixas		 6–3, 8–10, 8–10, 8–6, 6–8

Mixed doubles: 11 (8 titles, 3 runner-ups)

[edit]
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1948 French Championships Clay United States Doris Hart United States Pat Canning Todd
Czechoslovakia Jaroslav Drobný		 3–6, 6–3, 3–6
Loss 1948 Wimbledon Grass United States Doris Hart United States Louise Brough
Australia John Bromwich		 2–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win 1949 Australian Championships Grass United States Doris Hart Australia Joyce Fitch
Australia John Bromwich		 6–1, 5–7, 12–10
Win 1950 Australian Championships Grass United States Doris Hart Australia Joyce Fitch
South Africa Eric Sturgess		 8–6, 6–4
Loss 1950 U.S. Championships Grass United States Doris Hart United States Margaret Osborne duPont
Australia Ken McGregor		 4–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win 1951 French Championships Clay United States Doris Hart Australia Thelma Coyne Long
Australia Mervyn Rose		 7–5, 6–2
Win 1951 Wimbledon Grass United States Doris Hart Australia Nancye Wynne Bolton
Australia Mervyn Rose		 7–5, 6–2
Win 1951 U.S. Championships Grass United States Doris Hart United States Shirley Fry
Australia Mervyn Rose		 6–3, 6–2
Win 1952 Wimbledon Grass United States Doris Hart Australia Thelma Coyne Long
Argentina Enrique Morea		 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 1952 French Championships Clay United States Doris Hart United States Shirley Fry
South Africa Eric Sturgess		 6–8, 6–3, 6–3
Win 1952 U.S. Championships Grass United States Doris Hart Australia Thelma Long
Australia Lew Hoad		 6–3, 7–5

Pro Slam tournaments

[edit]

Singles: 7 (3 titles, 4 runner-ups)

[edit]
Result Year Championship Opponent Score
Win 1953 Wembley Pro United States Pancho Gonzales 6–1, 6–2, 6–2
Win 1953 French Pro Championship United States Pancho Gonzales
Loss 1954 US Pro Championship United States Pancho Gonzales 3–6, 7–9, 6–3, 2–6
Loss 1956 Wembley Pro United States Pancho Gonzales 6–4, 9–11, 9–11, 7–9
Win 1958 Wembley Pro United States Tony Trabert 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 1959 French Pro Championship United States Tony Trabert 4–6, 4–6, 4–6
Loss 1961 US Pro Championship United States Pancho Gonzales 3–6, 5–7

Singles performance timeline

[edit]

Sedgman joined the professional tennis circuit in 1953 and as a consequence was banned from competing in the amateur Grand Slam events until the start of the Open Era at the 1968 French Open.

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments 5 / 31 84–26 76.4
Australian Open 3R 1R QF W W SF F not eligible A 2R 2R 3R 1R 1R 2R 2R 2 / 14 25–12 67.6
French Open A A 4R A 4R SF F not eligible A A A 1R A A A A A 0 / 5 13–5 72.2
Wimbledon A A 4R QF F QF W not eligible A A A 3R A 1R A A A 1 / 7 26–6 81.3
US Open A A 4R QF 3R W W not eligible A A A A A A A A A 2 / 5 20–3 87.0
Pro Slam tournaments 2 / 19 30–17 63.8
U.S. Pro A A A A A A A A F SF A A A A A A F A A A 1R A A 0 / 4 6–4 60.0
French Pro not held SF NH SF F SF A A SF QF QF A A 0 / 7 11–7 61.1
Wembley Pro not held A A A A W NH NH F A W QF SF A A 1R SF SF A A 2 / 8 13–6 68.4
Win–loss 1–1 0–1 9–4 12–2 14–3 17–3 23–2 4–0 5–2 0–0 3–2 0–0 5–1 4–2 3–2 1–1 0–0 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 3–3 2–1 0–2 0–1 1–1 1–1 7 / 50 114–43 72.6

The results of the Pro Tours are not listed here.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Frank Sedgman: Career match record". thetennisbase.com. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Frank Sedgman: Career tournament results". thetennisbase.com. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b "HOPMAN'S WORLD RANKINGS". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 22979. Victoria, Australia. 16 January 1951. p. 16. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b "Sedgman Tops World Tennis". The Age. No. 29, 796. Victoria, Australia. 26 October 1950. p. 16. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b Interview with tennis historian Rich Hillway in 2005 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
  6. ^ The Argus, 18 June 1945
  7. ^ The Melbourne Herald, 12 December 1945
  8. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 January 1946
  9. ^ The Age, 22 January 1946
  10. ^ The Melbourne Herald, 16 June 1947
  11. ^ The Melbourne Argus, 10 November 1947
  12. ^ The Age, 30 March 1948
  13. ^ Townsville Daily Bulletin, 14 June 1948
  14. ^ The Akron Beacon Journal, 27 June 1948
  15. ^ Barrier Miner, 27 November 1948
  16. ^ Queensland Times, 1 February 1949
  17. ^ Courier Mail, 19 April 1949
  18. ^ The Boston Globe, 28 June 1949
  19. ^ The Examiner (Launceston), 3 January 1950
  20. ^ Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga), 31 January 1950
  21. ^ The West Australian, 11 April 1950
  22. ^ Queensland Times, 24 April 1950
  23. ^ The New York Times, 2 September 1950
  24. ^ The Argus, 20 September 1950
  25. ^ Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), 6 November 1950
  26. ^ The Examiner (Launceston), 11 December 1950
  27. ^ Barrier Miner, 2 January 1951
  28. ^ "Advocate (Burnie), 19 March 1951". Advocate. 19 March 1951.
  29. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April 1951". newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Warwick Daily News, 14 August 1951
  31. ^ National Advocate, 18 September 1951
  32. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 November 1951". newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Cairns Post, 11 December 1951
  34. ^ The History of Professional Tennis, Joe McCauley, page 58
  35. ^ Collins (2016), p. 757
  36. ^ "Sedgman leads in Hopman ranking". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 23, 290. Victoria, Australia. 16 January 1952. p. 15. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "Sedgman rated No. 1". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. XVI, no. 185. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 25 October 1951. p. 24. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ "The Age, 7 January 1952". newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Tyler Morning Telegraph, 1 April 1952". newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "The Times Record (New York), 7 April 1952". newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Advocate, 19 May 1952
  42. ^ Queensland Times, 23 June 1952
  43. ^ Wimbledon memories: Frank Sedgman. Wimbledon: Tennis Australia. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  44. ^ "The Spokesman-Review (Spokane), 14 July 1952". newspapers.com.
  45. ^ Cairns Post, 19 August 1952
  46. ^ Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), 7 November 1952
  47. ^ Cairns Post, 24 November 1952
  48. ^ "Writer Ranks Tennis Stars". The Age. No. 30, 385. Victoria, Australia. 17 September 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  49. ^ "SEDGMAN TOPS FRENCH LIST". Sporting Globe. No. 3191. Victoria, Australia. 3 January 1953. p. 11. Retrieved 17 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  50. ^ "SEDGMAN WORLD'S TOP IN 1952". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 23, 593. Victoria, Australia. 6 January 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  51. ^ "Ogden Standard-Examiner, 17 October 1952". newspapers.com.
  52. ^ The Indianapolis News, 30 January 1953
  53. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 September 1979
  54. ^ The Los Angeles Times, 24 July 1997
  55. ^ The Guardian, 21 November 1953
  56. ^ The Age, 24 November 1953
  57. ^ Gazette de Lausanne, 14 September 1953
  58. ^ Tennis de France, "Annual Rankings for 1953", February 1954, No. 10, P. 3, 4, 5
  59. ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer, 4 January 1954
  60. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, 25, 28 November 1954
  61. ^ McCauley, P.65
  62. ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer, 30 September 1956
  63. ^ The Age, 24 December 1956
  64. ^ The Age, 7 January 1957
  65. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 1957
  66. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 February 1957
  67. ^ "Sedgman has £2,000 victory". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 February 1958. p. 17.
  68. ^ McCauley, p. 208
  69. ^ World Tennis, November 1958
  70. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 15 January 1959
  71. ^ McCauley, p. 214
  72. ^ McCauley, P. 97
  73. ^ McCauley, P. 104
  74. ^ The Age, 12 November 1962
  75. ^ The Sacramento Bee, 20 January 1970
  76. ^ The Age, 19 October 1970
  77. ^ The Age, 18 October 1971
  78. ^ The Age, 29 December 1971
  79. ^ "GRAND SLAM TENNIS STATISTICS What are the men's singles Grand Slam records?". tennis.co.nf. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  80. ^ a b Our Open, 100 years of Australia's Grand Slam (2004), p.52
  81. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 September 1972". newspapers.com.
  82. ^ Our Open, 100 years of Australia's Grand Slam (2004), p.54
  83. ^ "Sedgman, Francis Arthur, AM". It's an Honour. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  84. ^ "Frank Sedgman". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  85. ^ "Sedgman, Frank: Australian Sports Medal". It's an Honour. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  86. ^ "Francis Arthur Sedgman AM". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  87. ^ Writing in 1979, Kramer considered the best player ever to have been either Don Budge (for consistent play) or Ellsworth Vines (at the height of his game). The next four best were, chronologically, Bill Tilden, Fred Perry, Bobby Riggs, and Pancho Gonzales. After these six came the "second echelon" of Rod Laver, Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Gottfried von Cramm, Ted Schroeder, Jack Crawford, Pancho Segura, Frank Sedgman, Tony Trabert, John Newcombe, Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Björn Borg, and Jimmy Connors. He felt unable to rank Henri Cochet and René Lacoste accurately but felt they were among the very best.
  88. ^ "Frank Sedgman named Officer of the Order of Australia". Tennis Australia. 10 June 2019.

References

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