Bobby Wilson (tennis)
Encyclopedia
Robert Keith Wilson (born in Hendon
, Middlesex
, County of London
on 22 November 1935) is a former top-ranking English
tennis player. Wilson reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon four times, Forest Hills twice, and Roland Garros once during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was also a prominent Great Britain Davis Cup team
member.
in the second round whilst the following year he reached the third round, where he went out to eventual quarter-finalist Sven Davidson
, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8, 0-6, 2-6.
Wilson first reached a major quarter-final in 1958, at Wimbledon. Unseeded, he reached the round without dropping a set, setting up a meeting against No. 1 seed Ashley Cooper
. The champion Australian took the first two sets handily before Wilson stormed back to level matters at 2 sets apiece. The deciding set was closely contested with eventual champion Cooper prevailing 7-5. Wilson, seeded No. 4, reached the same stage the following summer but went out without much of a stir to Roy Emerson
, 3-6, 4-6, 2-6.
1960 saw Wilson, the No. 8 seed, reach the quarter-finals at the U.S. Nationals in his fourth appearance at Forest Hills. He breezed to the final 8 without dropping a set, after defeating Allen Fox
in the round of 16, 7-5, 6-1, 6-2. He next met No. 2 seed Rod Laver
. Despite hanging close in the opening set, Wilson went down easily to the future tennis legend, 7-9, 1-6, 3-6. Wilson reached the quarters yet again at Wimbledon the following summer, but not without some drama. He barely survived his first round match versus Argentine Eduardo Soriano
, coming back from 2 sets to 1 down to prevail, 6-2, 4-6, 5-7, 16-14, 6-3. Wilson two rounds later then scored perhaps the biggest match victory of his career in dispatching with No. 1 seed Neale Fraser
1-6, 6-0, 13-11, 9-7. The following round however proved once again to be a road block for Wilson as he went out to No. 8 seed Chuck McKinley
in four sets.
1963 proved to be Wilson's best year as he reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and Forest Hills. In Paris, Wilson, as he often did when he went far into tournaments, breezed through the first four rounds, including a round of 16 win over No. 6 Bob Hewitt
, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. As was his wont too however, he went out rather easily in the next round, this time to French champion and No. 3 seed Pierre Darmon
, 3-6, 4-6, 3-6. A month later, again unseeded, Wilson once more breezed into the quarters and lost there handily, to No. 4 seed Chuck McKinley, 6-8, 4-6, 2-6. His success for the year saw him seeded No. 6 at Forest Hills and he succeeded in justifying this seeding, as he, once again, raced into the quarter-finals. His opponent this time however was not a big name, unseeded Frank Froehling
. Taking the first two sets, Wilson looked primed to reach his first major semi-final, but he lost the next two sets. Froehling took the deciding set too however, saving a match point to do so, by a score of 9 games to 7.
Even when past his prime, Wilson continued to compete at Wimbledon, if only in doubles. He took eventual champion Wilhelm Bungert to 7-9 in the fifth set in their fourth round encounter in 1967 and in 1969 reached the fourth round, for the last time, in both singles and doubles. His final Wimbledon was 1973, where at age 37 he and his partner reached the second round - he played just in the doubles draw from 1971 onward.
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, County of London
County of London
The County of London was a county of England from 1889 to 1965, corresponding to the area known today as Inner London. It was created as part of the general introduction of elected county government in England, by way of the Local Government Act 1888. The Act created an administrative County of...
on 22 November 1935) is a former top-ranking English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
tennis player. Wilson reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon four times, Forest Hills twice, and Roland Garros once during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was also a prominent Great Britain Davis Cup team
Great Britain Davis Cup team
The Great Britain Davis Cup team represents the United Kingdom in Davis Cup tennis competition and is controlled by the Lawn Tennis Association. The United Kingdom played in the very first International Lawn Tennis Challenge...
member.
Grand Slam tournament overview
Wilson was a champion junior player, winning the 1951 British Junior Championship at age 15. He was runner-up the following two years as well as doubles champions partnering Billy Knight. Whilst still a junior Wilson won senior level singles matches at Wimbledon - in 1952 he lost to eventual runner-up Jaroslav DrobnýJaroslav Drobný
Jaroslav Drobný was an amateur tennis champion as well as being an ice hockey player for the Czechoslovakian national team...
in the second round whilst the following year he reached the third round, where he went out to eventual quarter-finalist Sven Davidson
Sven Davidson
Sven Davidson was a Swedish tennis player who became the first Swede to win a Grand Slam title when he won the French Championships in 1957...
, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8, 0-6, 2-6.
Wilson first reached a major quarter-final in 1958, at Wimbledon. Unseeded, he reached the round without dropping a set, setting up a meeting against No. 1 seed Ashley Cooper
Ashley Cooper
Ashley John Cooper AO is a former tennis player from Australia, who was World No. 1 in the late 1950s....
. The champion Australian took the first two sets handily before Wilson stormed back to level matters at 2 sets apiece. The deciding set was closely contested with eventual champion Cooper prevailing 7-5. Wilson, seeded No. 4, reached the same stage the following summer but went out without much of a stir to Roy Emerson
Roy Emerson
Roy Stanley Emerson is an Australian former tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His 28 Grand Slam titles are an all-time record for a male...
, 3-6, 4-6, 2-6.
1960 saw Wilson, the No. 8 seed, reach the quarter-finals at the U.S. Nationals in his fourth appearance at Forest Hills. He breezed to the final 8 without dropping a set, after defeating Allen Fox
Allen Fox
Dr. Allen E. Fox is a former tennis player in the 1960s and 1970s who went on to be a college coach and author. He was ranked as high as # 4 in the U.S. . Between 1961 and 1968, he ranked among the top 10 men in the U.S...
in the round of 16, 7-5, 6-1, 6-2. He next met No. 2 seed Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
. Despite hanging close in the opening set, Wilson went down easily to the future tennis legend, 7-9, 1-6, 3-6. Wilson reached the quarters yet again at Wimbledon the following summer, but not without some drama. He barely survived his first round match versus Argentine Eduardo Soriano
Eduardo Soriano
Eduardo Soriano is a former tennis player from Argentina.Soriano played the Davis Cup representing his country along the 1950s and the 1960s. He played a total of 32 matches and his best match is considered the five-set match in the 1966 Davis Cup when Roberto Aubone and himself won top players...
, coming back from 2 sets to 1 down to prevail, 6-2, 4-6, 5-7, 16-14, 6-3. Wilson two rounds later then scored perhaps the biggest match victory of his career in dispatching with No. 1 seed Neale Fraser
Neale Fraser
Neale Andrew Fraser AO MBE is a former tennis player from Australia, born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of a Victorian judge. He began playing tennis at age 11 and attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne where he became Captain of Tennis at the school.Fraser won Wimbledon in 1960 and the US...
1-6, 6-0, 13-11, 9-7. The following round however proved once again to be a road block for Wilson as he went out to No. 8 seed Chuck McKinley
Chuck McKinley
Charles Robert "Chuck" McKinley Jr. was an American men’s amateur tennis player of the 1960s. He is remembered as an undersized, hard working dynamo, whose relentless effort and competitive spirit led American tennis to the top of the sport during a period heavily dominated by Australians.McKinley...
in four sets.
1963 proved to be Wilson's best year as he reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and Forest Hills. In Paris, Wilson, as he often did when he went far into tournaments, breezed through the first four rounds, including a round of 16 win over No. 6 Bob Hewitt
Bob Hewitt
Robert "Bob" Anthony John Hewitt is a former professional male tennis player from Australia...
, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. As was his wont too however, he went out rather easily in the next round, this time to French champion and No. 3 seed Pierre Darmon
Pierre Darmon
Pierre Darmon was a French tennis player.In 1963, he reached his highest world ranking, # 8. He was also ranked in the top 10 worldwide in 1958 and 1964.-Tennis career:...
, 3-6, 4-6, 3-6. A month later, again unseeded, Wilson once more breezed into the quarters and lost there handily, to No. 4 seed Chuck McKinley, 6-8, 4-6, 2-6. His success for the year saw him seeded No. 6 at Forest Hills and he succeeded in justifying this seeding, as he, once again, raced into the quarter-finals. His opponent this time however was not a big name, unseeded Frank Froehling
Frank Froehling
Frank Froehling is a former American tennis player.Froehling recorded a 46-5 career in singles matches and won nine singles titles during college career at Trinity University. He was also runner-up at U.S. National Tennis Championships in 1963. That year Froehling was named No. 6 player in the...
. Taking the first two sets, Wilson looked primed to reach his first major semi-final, but he lost the next two sets. Froehling took the deciding set too however, saving a match point to do so, by a score of 9 games to 7.
Even when past his prime, Wilson continued to compete at Wimbledon, if only in doubles. He took eventual champion Wilhelm Bungert to 7-9 in the fifth set in their fourth round encounter in 1967 and in 1969 reached the fourth round, for the last time, in both singles and doubles. His final Wimbledon was 1973, where at age 37 he and his partner reached the second round - he played just in the doubles draw from 1971 onward.
Sources
- ITF 'Men's Circuit' profile page
- Wikipedia pages showing tournament drawsheets.
- Davis Cup.com player profile page
- ATP.com player profile page