Lorne Main
Encyclopedia
Lorne Main is a former world-class amateur tennis player who competed 11 Grand Slam
tournaments in singles. Main won the singles title of the prestigious Monte Carlo tennis championship in 1954 and was an integral Canada Davis Cup team
team member during the early 1950s. Still competing competitively into his 80s, Main has been a highly ranked ITF
Veterans, Seniors (Masters), and Super Seniors player during the 1990s and 2000s.
and Wimbledon
. At Roland Garros, Main defeated his first two opponents, Frenchmen, handily to set up a third round encounter with No. 7 seed Mervyn Rose
. Rose won the first and third sets with Main drawing level twice, taking the second and fourth sets, before Rose prevailed in the fifth, 6-3. Similarly at Wimbledon, Main breezed through his first round opposition and handily won his second match before falling in five sets to his third round foe, American Gilbert Shea. At the U.S. Nationals, as a result of his very solid year to that point, Main was seeded No. 18. Despite being seeded however, Main faced No. 1 seed Tony Trabert
in the third round. Lorne played the World No. 1 tight in the first two sets, falling 9-11 and 6-8, before running out of steam and losing the third, 2-6.
Main was runner-up at the 1949 Canadian National
, losing the final to compatriot Henri Rochon
in four sets. His 1954 title win at Monte Carlo is the only one ever in singles by a Canadian of a major tennis tournament (Grand Slam or Masters Series
) aside from the Canadian championship.
Further singles titles that Main won include 1949 Vancouver City, 1950 British Columbia for both lawn and clay courts, 1950 Western Canada lawn, 1951 Quebec indoor and Ontario, 1953 Quebec, and 1954 Ontario, Quebec, St. Petersburg, and Belgium. In doubles, he won, in 1954, Orlando with Gilbert Shea, Jamaica with Harold Burrows, and Ireland with Shea. He was ranked No. 1 in B.C. in 1949, No. 1 in Canada in 1951, 53 and 54, and No. 2 in 1952.
In Davis Cup, Main compiled a win-lose record of 14 and 14. Canada did not progress beyond the America Zone Final stage during Main's time, losing either to the United States or Australia
in that round. Main failed to defeat an American or Australia opponent in eleven rubbers.
Main was inducted into the British Columbia Sport Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991.
Main is currently ranked World No. 3 by the ITF in the over-80 category, and No. 40 in the over-75 bracket. In 2000, he was World No. 1 in the over-70 category.
In October, 2010, Main captured the 80 and over world singles championship, his 12th overall. He also took the doubles title, partnering longtime super seniors partner Ken Sinclair.
and winters in Florida
, having previously lived in Toronto
, Montreal
, Vancouver
, and Halifax. He attended UC Berkeley on a tennis scholarship but stayed only two semesters before dropping out. Main married his late wife Ivy in 1951 at the age of 21. He is a recovered alcoholic who lost his wife to health problems attributed to her own alcoholism. He worked in newspaper and magazine advertising after leaving the amateur tour in the mid-1950s.
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
tournaments in singles. Main won the singles title of the prestigious Monte Carlo tennis championship in 1954 and was an integral Canada Davis Cup team
Canada Davis Cup team
The Canada Davis Cup team represents Canada in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by Tennis Canada.Canada currently competes in the Americas Zone of Group I. The team's best result came in its first appearance in 1913 when it reached the World Group final, losing to the United States 0–3...
team member during the early 1950s. Still competing competitively into his 80s, Main has been a highly ranked ITF
International Tennis Federation
The International Tennis Federation is the governing body of world tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations.It was established as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by 12 national associations meeting at a conference in Paris, France on 1 March 1913...
Veterans, Seniors (Masters), and Super Seniors player during the 1990s and 2000s.
Tennis career
Main reached the round of 32 in singles five times in a major - at the 1951, '53, and '54 U.S. National, as well as the 1954 French Championships1954 French Championships (tennis)
List of Champions of the 1954 French Championships :-Men's Singles: Tony Trabert defeated Arthur D. Larsen 6-4 7-5 6-1-Women's Singles: Maureen Connolly defeated Ginette Bucaille 6-4 6-1...
and Wimbledon
1954 Wimbledon Championships
-Men's Singles: Jaroslav Drobný defeated Ken Rosewall 13-11 4-6 6-2 9-7-Women's Singles: Maureen Connolly Brinker defeated Louise Brough Clapp 6-2, 7-5...
. At Roland Garros, Main defeated his first two opponents, Frenchmen, handily to set up a third round encounter with No. 7 seed Mervyn Rose
Mervyn Rose
Mervyn Rose was an Australian male tennis player. He was born in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales and turned professional in 1959...
. Rose won the first and third sets with Main drawing level twice, taking the second and fourth sets, before Rose prevailed in the fifth, 6-3. Similarly at Wimbledon, Main breezed through his first round opposition and handily won his second match before falling in five sets to his third round foe, American Gilbert Shea. At the U.S. Nationals, as a result of his very solid year to that point, Main was seeded No. 18. Despite being seeded however, Main faced No. 1 seed Tony Trabert
Tony Trabert
Marion Anthony Trabert is a retired American tennis champion and long-time tennis author, TV commentator, instructor, and motivational speaker...
in the third round. Lorne played the World No. 1 tight in the first two sets, falling 9-11 and 6-8, before running out of steam and losing the third, 2-6.
Main was runner-up at the 1949 Canadian National
Canada Masters
The Canada Masters , currently sponsored as the Rogers Cup, is an annual tennis tournament held in Canada. The men's competition is a Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour. The women's competition is a Premier 5 tournament on the Women's Tennis Association tour...
, losing the final to compatriot Henri Rochon
Henri Rochon
Henri Rochon was a Canadian National tennis champion and Canadian Davis Cup tennis player.Born in and resident to Montreal, Rochon won the Canadian Open, the precursor to today's Rogers Cup ATP 1000 Series event, in 1949, defeating fellow Canadian Lorne Main in the final, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2...
in four sets. His 1954 title win at Monte Carlo is the only one ever in singles by a Canadian of a major tennis tournament (Grand Slam or Masters Series
ATP Masters Series
The ATP Masters Series was a series of nine tennis tournaments that formed part of the Association of Tennis Professionals tour, held annually throughout the year in Europe, North America...
) aside from the Canadian championship.
Further singles titles that Main won include 1949 Vancouver City, 1950 British Columbia for both lawn and clay courts, 1950 Western Canada lawn, 1951 Quebec indoor and Ontario, 1953 Quebec, and 1954 Ontario, Quebec, St. Petersburg, and Belgium. In doubles, he won, in 1954, Orlando with Gilbert Shea, Jamaica with Harold Burrows, and Ireland with Shea. He was ranked No. 1 in B.C. in 1949, No. 1 in Canada in 1951, 53 and 54, and No. 2 in 1952.
In Davis Cup, Main compiled a win-lose record of 14 and 14. Canada did not progress beyond the America Zone Final stage during Main's time, losing either to the United States or Australia
Australia Davis Cup team
The Australian Davis Cup team is the second most successful team ever to compete in the Davis Cup, winning the coveted title on 23 separate occasions, second behind the United States with 32....
in that round. Main failed to defeat an American or Australia opponent in eleven rubbers.
Main was inducted into the British Columbia Sport Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991.
Main is currently ranked World No. 3 by the ITF in the over-80 category, and No. 40 in the over-75 bracket. In 2000, he was World No. 1 in the over-70 category.
In October, 2010, Main captured the 80 and over world singles championship, his 12th overall. He also took the doubles title, partnering longtime super seniors partner Ken Sinclair.
Squash
Main took up squash after retiring from tennis and became a four-time consecutive Canadian doubles champion in the early 1960s, partnering David Pemberton-Smith.Personal
Main is a resident of King City, OntarioKing City, Ontario
King City is an affluent, unincorporated village in King Township, Ontario, Canada, located just north of Toronto. It is the largest community in King Township, with 1,629 dwellings and a population of 4,902.-History:...
and winters in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, having previously lived in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and Halifax. He attended UC Berkeley on a tennis scholarship but stayed only two semesters before dropping out. Main married his late wife Ivy in 1951 at the age of 21. He is a recovered alcoholic who lost his wife to health problems attributed to her own alcoholism. He worked in newspaper and magazine advertising after leaving the amateur tour in the mid-1950s.