John Bromwich
Encyclopedia
John Edward Bromwich was a male tennis
player from Australia
who, along with his countryman Vivian McGrath
, was one of the first great players to use a two-handed forehand
.
Although a fine singles player, Bromwich was primarily known as being a particularly good doubles player. Tennis great (and near contemporary) Jack Kramer
writes in his 1979 autobiography that if "Earth were playing in the all-time Universe Davis Cup
, I'd play Budge
and Vines
in my singles, and Budge and Bromwich in the doubles. That's what I think of Johnny as a doubles player."
In 1948 Bromwich played the American Bob Falkenburg
for the Wimbledon Championship and had match point at 5–3 in the fifth set. He came to the net for a volley but decided that Falkenburg's ball would go long and let it go by. It fell inside the baseline and Falkenburg fought his way back into the match. Bromwich later had a second match point but was unable to win that either and Falkenburg won the championship by winning the last four games of the set for a 7–5 victory. Kramer later wrote that "...it never seemed to me that he was the same player after that. He doubted himself. He was a precision player to start with -- he used a terribly light racket weighing less than twelve ounces, and it was strung loosely. He could put a ball on a dime, and I suppose after he misjudged that one shot, the most important in his life, he never possessed the confidence he needed." Worth noting as well is that Bromwich also missed a match point in losing the 1947 Australian Open final to Dinny Pails
.
Bromwich gained a measure of revenge against Falkenberg the following year at Wimbledon by defeating him, once again in a five-set match, in the quarter-finals.
Writing about Bromwich, Kramer says, "Bromwich was like McMillan
today because as a kid John hit from both sides two-handed, and while he eventually had given up the two-handed forehand, he still hit backhand two-handed and could anything back from the baseline. He had strokes very much like Connors
."
Bromwich was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in Newport, Rhode Island
in 1984.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
who, along with his countryman Vivian McGrath
Vivian McGrath
Vivian Erzerum Bede "Viv" McGrath was an Australian tennis champion of the 1930s. Along with John Bromwich, he was one of the first great players to use a two-handed backhand. His name was pronounced "McGraw"....
, was one of the first great players to use a two-handed forehand
Forehand
The forehand in tennis and other racket sports such as table tennis, squash and badminton is a shot made by swinging the racquet across one's body in the direction of where the player wants to place the shot...
.
Although a fine singles player, Bromwich was primarily known as being a particularly good doubles player. Tennis great (and near contemporary) Jack Kramer
Jack Kramer (tennis player)
John Albert Kramer was an American tennis player of the 1940s. A World Number 1 player for a number of years, he is a possible candidate for the title of the greatest tennis player of all time. He was considered the father and the leading promoter of the professional tennis tours...
writes in his 1979 autobiography that if "Earth were playing in the all-time Universe Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
, I'd play Budge
Don Budge
John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional...
and Vines
Ellsworth Vines
Henry Ellsworth Vines, Jr. was an American tennis champion of the 1930s, the World No. 1 player or the co-No. 1 for four years in 1932, 1935, 1936 and 1937.-Biography:...
in my singles, and Budge and Bromwich in the doubles. That's what I think of Johnny as a doubles player."
Bob Falkenburg
Robert Falkenburg is a former American amateur tennis player and entrepreneur. He is best known for winning the 1948 men's singles Wimbledon Championship and for introducing soft ice cream and American fast food to Brazil in 1952...
for the Wimbledon Championship and had match point at 5–3 in the fifth set. He came to the net for a volley but decided that Falkenburg's ball would go long and let it go by. It fell inside the baseline and Falkenburg fought his way back into the match. Bromwich later had a second match point but was unable to win that either and Falkenburg won the championship by winning the last four games of the set for a 7–5 victory. Kramer later wrote that "...it never seemed to me that he was the same player after that. He doubted himself. He was a precision player to start with -- he used a terribly light racket weighing less than twelve ounces, and it was strung loosely. He could put a ball on a dime, and I suppose after he misjudged that one shot, the most important in his life, he never possessed the confidence he needed." Worth noting as well is that Bromwich also missed a match point in losing the 1947 Australian Open final to Dinny Pails
Dinny Pails
Dennis "Dinny" Pails was a former Australian tennis champion.Pails won the men's singles championship at the Australian Championships tennis tournament in 1947. Pails, an Australian who was born in Great Britain, defeated John Bromwich in the final in five sets: 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 8–6...
.
Writing about Bromwich, Kramer says, "Bromwich was like McMillan
Frew McMillan
Frew Donald McMillan is a former professional male tennis player from South Africa.He won five major doubles championships including three Wimbledons with Bob Hewitt. The most notable aspect of his game was that he had both a two-handed backhand and forehand, which simultaneously increased his...
today because as a kid John hit from both sides two-handed, and while he eventually had given up the two-handed forehand, he still hit backhand two-handed and could anything back from the baseline. He had strokes very much like Connors
Jimmy Connors
James Scott "Jimmy" Connors is an American former world no. 1 tennis player....
."
Bromwich was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
in 1984.
Grand Slam record
- Australian ChampionshipsAustralian OpenThe Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
- Singles champion (2): 1939, 1946
- Singles runner-up (5): 1937, 1938, 1947, 1948, 1949
- Men's Doubles champion (8): 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950
- Men's Doubles runner-up (2): 1937, 1951
- Mixed Doubles champion (1): 1938
- Mixed Doubles runner-up (5): 1939, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1954
- WimbledonThe Championships, WimbledonThe Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
- Singles runner-up (1): 1948
- Men's Doubles champion (2): 1948, 1950
- Mixed Doubles champion (2): 1947, 1948
- Mixed Doubles runner-up (1): 1949
- U.S. Championships
- Men's Doubles champion (3): 1939, 1949, 1950
- Men's Doubles runner-up (1): 1938
- Mixed Doubles champion (1): 1947
- Mixed Doubles runner-up (1): 1938
Wins (2)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1939 | Australian Championships Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
 Adrian QuistAdrian Quist Adrian Karl Quist was an Australian male tennis player.-Biography:Adrian Quist was born in Medindie, South Australia. The tennis legend grew up in Adelaide and once played Harry Hopman, however he lost, only because he gave Hopman a head start... |
6–4, 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1946 | Australian Championships (2) | Dinny Pails Dinny Pails Dennis "Dinny" Pails was a former Australian tennis champion.Pails won the men's singles championship at the Australian Championships tennis tournament in 1947. Pails, an Australian who was born in Great Britain, defeated John Bromwich in the final in five sets: 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 8–6... |
5–7, 6–3, 7–5, 3–6, 6–2 |
Runner-ups (6)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1937 | Australian Championships Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
Vivian McGrath Vivian McGrath Vivian Erzerum Bede "Viv" McGrath was an Australian tennis champion of the 1930s. Along with John Bromwich, he was one of the first great players to use a two-handed backhand. His name was pronounced "McGraw".... |
6–3, 1–6, 6–0, 2–6, 6–1 |
| 1938 | Australian Championships |  Don BudgeDon Budge John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional... |
6–4, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1947 | Australian Championships | Dinny Pails Dinny Pails Dennis "Dinny" Pails was a former Australian tennis champion.Pails won the men's singles championship at the Australian Championships tennis tournament in 1947. Pails, an Australian who was born in Great Britain, defeated John Bromwich in the final in five sets: 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 8–6... |
4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 8–6 |
| 1948 | Australian Championships | Adrian Quist Adrian Quist Adrian Karl Quist was an Australian male tennis player.-Biography:Adrian Quist was born in Medindie, South Australia. The tennis legend grew up in Adelaide and once played Harry Hopman, however he lost, only because he gave Hopman a head start... |
6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3 |
| 1948 | Wimbledon | Bob Falkenburg Bob Falkenburg Robert Falkenburg is a former American amateur tennis player and entrepreneur. He is best known for winning the 1948 men's singles Wimbledon Championship and for introducing soft ice cream and American fast food to Brazil in 1952... |
7–5, 0–6, 6–2, 3–6, 7–5 |
| 1949 | Australian Championships | Frank Sedgman Frank Sedgman Frank Arthur Sedgman, born 29 October 1927, in Mont Albert, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, was a tennis player who was arguably the world No.1 in 1952. In his 1979 autobiography Jack Kramer, the long-time tennis promoter and great player himself, included Sedgman in his list of the 21... |
6–3, 6–2, 6–2 |
Sources
- The Game — My 40 Years in Tennis (1979) — Jack Kramer with Frank Deford (ISBN 0-399-12336-9)