William Harris (tennis)
Encyclopedia
William Harris was an American tennis player in the mid-20th Century.
Harris began playing tennis at the age of 8, and started playing tournaments at age 11. Harris was one of the best junior tennis players of the mid 20th century.
Born January 14, 1947, in West Palm Beach, Florida
, won the singles title at the Cincinnati Masters
in 1968. He knocked Premjit Lall
of India out in the semifinals and Allan Stone
of Australia
in the final for the title. He also reached the singles final in Cincinnati in 1966.
In junior tennis, Harris was the No. 1 ranked player in the United States, and won the National Boys championship in the 13, 15 and 16 age divisions.
He attended Trinity University
in San Antonio, Texas
.
Harris practiced with his brother Robert Harris during the summers for 9 hours a day or more at Howard Park. "I won't leave this park until I hit the ball 500 times back and fourth without missing" - Bill Harris. Harris reached the world record to be #2 in the world with the highest number of tennis balls hit on the backboard without missing. Harris said "I caught the ball at 966, people were amazed and stared at me like I was crazy, but I just didn't want to take that little girls world record away of 967."
Harris was diagnosed with Schizophrenia
when he was at the age of 18, he then retired from tennis at age 22 because of this genetic disease. "Harris could have been world No. 1 ranked player if he wasn't diagnosed with this disease because he never missed" -Harris Family.
Bill Harris died in his mid 50's from an allergic reaction to a medication for his treatment for his illness.
Harris' father, Charles Harris, reached the Cincinnati singles final in 1936 before falling to Bobby Riggs
, 6–1, 6–3, 6–1.
Harris began playing tennis at the age of 8, and started playing tournaments at age 11. Harris was one of the best junior tennis players of the mid 20th century.
Born January 14, 1947, in West Palm Beach, 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...
, won the singles title at the Cincinnati Masters
Cincinnati Masters
The Cincinnati Open is an annual outdoor hardcourts tennis event held in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio, USA. The event started on September 18, 1899 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States played in its original city., Between...
in 1968. He knocked Premjit Lall
Premjit Lall
Premjit Lall was a professional tennis player from India.Lall reached the Junior final at the 1958 Wimbledon Championships. He played on the India Davis Cup team from 1959 until 1973...
of India out in the semifinals and Allan Stone
Allan Stone
----Allan Stone played amateur and professional tennis in the 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked as high as World No. 38 in singles on the ATP Rankings , although Stone played for many years before the ATP Rankings were instituted.Stone found the majority of his success on the doubles court...
of 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...
in the final for the title. He also reached the singles final in Cincinnati in 1966.
In junior tennis, Harris was the No. 1 ranked player in the United States, and won the National Boys championship in the 13, 15 and 16 age divisions.
He attended Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Harris practiced with his brother Robert Harris during the summers for 9 hours a day or more at Howard Park. "I won't leave this park until I hit the ball 500 times back and fourth without missing" - Bill Harris. Harris reached the world record to be #2 in the world with the highest number of tennis balls hit on the backboard without missing. Harris said "I caught the ball at 966, people were amazed and stared at me like I was crazy, but I just didn't want to take that little girls world record away of 967."
Harris was diagnosed with Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
when he was at the age of 18, he then retired from tennis at age 22 because of this genetic disease. "Harris could have been world No. 1 ranked player if he wasn't diagnosed with this disease because he never missed" -Harris Family.
Bill Harris died in his mid 50's from an allergic reaction to a medication for his treatment for his illness.
Harris' father, Charles Harris, reached the Cincinnati singles final in 1936 before falling to Bobby Riggs
Bobby Riggs
Robert Larimore "Bobby" Riggs was a 1930s–40s tennis player who was the World No. 1 or the co-World No. 1 player for three years, first as an amateur in 1941, then as a professional in 1946 and 1947...
, 6–1, 6–3, 6–1.