Tag Archives: Forest Hills
Rod Laver
Rod Laver (Tennis. Born, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, Aug. 9, 1938.) Rodney George Laver, ironically, was born in the year that America’s Don Budge became the first player ever to win the tennis “Grand Slam.” The irony, of course, is that years later, Laver became the second man to win the Grand Slam and, subsequently, the […]
Art Larsen
Art Larsen (Tennis. Born, Hayward, CA, Apr. 17. 1925; died, San Leandro, CA, Dec. 7, 2012.) A rangy lefthander, Arthur David Larsen won the U.S. national singles in 1950, his only trip to the championship match, defeating Herb Flam, 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, at Forest Hills. Larsen was ranked in the U.S. Top 10 […]
Alice Marble
Alice Marble (Tennis. Born, Plumas County, CA, Sept. 28, 1913; died, Palm Springs, CA, Dec. 13, 1990.) Perhaps the forerunner of the modern woman tennis player, Alice I. Marble introduced an athletic and aggressive style to the game that helped make her the No. 1-ranked woman in the U.S. from 1936 to 1940. She was […]
Al Laney
Al Laney (Sportswriter. Born, Pensacola, FL, Jan. 11, 1896; died, Spring Valley, NY, Jan. 31, 1988.) Starting with the Pensacola Journal in his birthplace, Albert Gillies Laney moved to newspapers in Dallas, Tex., amd Minneapolis, Minn., before joining the U.S. Army during World War I. After two years in the service, Laney mustered out in […]
Fred Podesta
Fred Podesta (Executive. Born, Hoboken, NJ, Mar. 3, 1914; died, New York, NY, Nov. 15, 1999.) Distinguished as the Knicks’ first official general manager, Frederick Joseph Podesta was also a pioneer in the promotion of tennis with the coming of the Open Era in 1968. After 11 years as traveling secretary and a business manager […]
Pancho Gonzales
Pancho Gonzales (Tennis. Born, Los Angeles, CA, May 9, 1928; died, Las Vegas, NV, July 3, 1995.) Among the most tenacious of the great tennis champions, Richard Alonzo (Pancho) Gonzales was also one of the best. He rose from relative obscurity to become a two-time U.S. national champion and then became the most dominant player […]
Althea Gibson
Althea Gibson (Tennis. Born, Sumpter, NY, Aug. 25, 1927; died, East Orange, NJ, Sept. 28, 2003.) Perhaps the phrase “breaking down the barriers” is thrown around a bit too loosely. When it comes to being a true pioneer and surviving in the face of prejudice to become a champion, however, Althea Gibson (later Mrs. Darden) […]
Neale Fraser
Neale Fraser (Tennis. Born, St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, Oct. 3, 1933.) Among the first of the great Australian champions turned out by coach Harry Hopman, Neale Andrew Fraser was twice the U.S. national champion in singles. Fraser signaled his emergence with doubles titles in Australia (1957-58) and a U.S. mixed doubles title (with Mrs. Margaret […]
Chris Evert
Chris Evert (Tennis. Born, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Dec. 21, 1954.) Like most professional tennis players, Christine Marie Evert has played around the world. Indeed, she won all four “Grand Slam” events, including seven French Opens. But most fans identify her with the U.S. Open, which she made her own almost from the first moment in […]
