Tony Trabert
|
|
Marion Anthony Trabert (born August 16, 1930 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a former star tennis player and longtime tennis author, TV commentator, instructor, and motivation speaker.
Trabert was a standout athlete, a starter on the basketball team and 1951 University Intercollegiate singles championship winner at the University of Cincinnati.
Trabert's 1955 was one the greatest years ever experienced by an American tennis player. He won the three most prestiage tournaments in tennis - the French, Wimbledon, and American championships - en route to being ranked World No. 1 for the year. Only Grand Slam winners Don Budge and Rod Laver have ever achieved the same feat. Trabert's own chance at a Grand Slam was stopped with a loss in the semi-finals at the Australian championships. Trabert won 18 tournaments in 1955, compiling a match record of 106 wins to 7 losses.
A right-hander, Trabert had also won the French singles in 1954 and the U.S. championship in 1953. He won the French doubles in 1950, 1954, and 1955. Trabert was an American Davis Cup team mainstay during the early 1950' during which time the Americans reached the finals 5 times, winning the cup in 1954. It was their only victory over the dominant Australian team during the decade.
Having reached the top amateur ranking in '55, Trabert turned professional in 1956.
Trabert was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1970.
External link
- Trabert's inductee page at the International Tennis Hall of Fame (http://www.tennisfame.com/enshrinees/tony_trabert.html)de:Tony Trabert