Felicisimo Ampon
Encyclopedia
Felicisimo Ampon was a tennis player from the Philippines
. He is considered to be the greatest Filipino tennis player in history, and at only five feet tall, was once considered the best tennis player in the world, pound for pound.
He represented the country in several Davis Cup
competitions for almost 30 years, and holds the Philippine all-time record for the most singles (34-26) and total wins (40-35) in Davis Cup history. He was known for winning the 1934 Far Eastern Games
tennis gold medal, the 1937 Davis Cup singles title, the 1950 Pan American Games
tennis singles gold medal, the 1958 Asian Games
tennis doubles gold medal, and 1968 Chinese Recreational Club Open Tennis doubles title.
Ampon made a good start of his career in the Far Eastern Games, winning the tennis singles gold medal in the 1934 edition. He twice played in the Philippines Amateur Tennis Championships and was beaten in the play-offs on both occasion. In 1936, he loss to eventual finalist Juanito Gavia (6-3 6-4 6-3) in the quarterfinals. In 1937, he defeated Sam Ang and Alfredo Diy, and made it to the finals of the Philippines Championship but loss to Leonardo Gavia Jr. (6-3 7-5 2-6 6-3).
After a disappointing Philippines Championships campaign, Ampon bounced back by winning the 1937 Davis Cup Singles title, becoming the first and only Filipino player ever to win a title in Davis Cup competition. He went on to lead the country dominated the Davis Cup Eastern Zone for two decades and made a prolific partnerships with other Filipino tennis legends Reymundo Deyro, Johnny Jose and Cesar Carmona.
After the war, Ampon participated in the 1950 Pan American Games in Mexico City
and won the singles gold medal, his finest career title. Defeating Davis Cup legend Bill Talbert
(USA
) in the semi-finals and two-time Grand Slam finalist Tom Brown (USA) in the finals. That victory, earned Ampon the first ever Philippines Sportswriters Association (PSA) Athlete of the Year award.
In 1952, Ampon made it the quarter-finals of the French Open at Roland Garros
but unfortunately, he narrowly loss to world number one Frank Sedgman
(AUS
). In 1953, he return to Roland Garros and made impact, defeating Budge Patty
(USA) in the fourth round (6-4 6-2 6-4) before losing to eventual champion Ken Rosewall
(AUS) in the quarter-finals (6-2 6-1 6-1). Both quarter-finals was the highest finished by a Filipino in Grand Slam tennis. In the 1953 Wimbledon Open, Ampon made history by winning the Wimbledon Plate Championship, a trophy for the players who made an early exit in the first and second rounds. He also becomes the shortest player ever to play in Wimbledon history and won over 30 European trophies throughout his career. The same year, saw a historic all-Filipino finals in Oslo
, Norway
, where Ampon loss to his compatriot Reymundo Deyro, arguably his greatest rival and partner in Philippine tennis history.
In 1958 Asian Games
, he was defeated again by Deyro in the finals of men's singles tennis
and finished with a silver medal. He then partnered with Deyro to captured the men's doubles gold medal and with his sister Desideria Ampon captured the mixed doubles bronze medal.
He went on to play for another ten years, mostly in Davis Cup and represented the country for the last time in 1968. He ended his Davis Cup career holding the Philippine record for the most singles (34-26) and total wins (40-35) in history. He also won his last title, teaming up with Hong Kong
's Kenneth Tsui to capture the Chinese Recreational Club (CRC) Open men's double title.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He is considered to be the greatest Filipino tennis player in history, and at only five feet tall, was once considered the best tennis player in the world, pound for pound.
He represented the country in several 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...
competitions for almost 30 years, and holds the Philippine all-time record for the most singles (34-26) and total wins (40-35) in Davis Cup history. He was known for winning the 1934 Far Eastern Games
1934 Far Eastern Games
The 10th Far Eastern Games were held in May 1934 in Manila, Philippines.This was the last Far Eastern Championship Games. The 11th Far Eastern Championship Games was scheduled to be held in 1938 in Osaka, Japan, but was cancelled after the 1937 outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War....
tennis gold medal, the 1937 Davis Cup singles title, the 1950 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
tennis singles gold medal, the 1958 Asian Games
1958 Asian Games
The 3rd Asian Games were held from May 24 to June 1, 1958 in Tokyo, Japan. A total number of 1,820 athletes, coming from 16 countries, competed in thirteen events at this Asiad. Debuting sports were field hockey, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball. Tokyo would go on to host the 1964 Summer...
tennis doubles gold medal, and 1968 Chinese Recreational Club Open Tennis doubles title.
Career
Felicisimo Ampon was the son of former tennis player Felix Ampon and the brother of Desideria Ampon, who at her time dominate women's tennis in Asia.Ampon made a good start of his career in the Far Eastern Games, winning the tennis singles gold medal in the 1934 edition. He twice played in the Philippines Amateur Tennis Championships and was beaten in the play-offs on both occasion. In 1936, he loss to eventual finalist Juanito Gavia (6-3 6-4 6-3) in the quarterfinals. In 1937, he defeated Sam Ang and Alfredo Diy, and made it to the finals of the Philippines Championship but loss to Leonardo Gavia Jr. (6-3 7-5 2-6 6-3).
After a disappointing Philippines Championships campaign, Ampon bounced back by winning the 1937 Davis Cup Singles title, becoming the first and only Filipino player ever to win a title in Davis Cup competition. He went on to lead the country dominated the Davis Cup Eastern Zone for two decades and made a prolific partnerships with other Filipino tennis legends Reymundo Deyro, Johnny Jose and Cesar Carmona.
After the war, Ampon participated in the 1950 Pan American Games in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and won the singles gold medal, his finest career title. Defeating Davis Cup legend Bill Talbert
Bill Talbert
William Franklin "Billy" Talbert was an American tennis player and administrator.He was ranked in the U.S. Top 10 13 times between 1941 & 1954. He won nine Grand Slam doubles titles, and also reached the men’s doubles finals of the U.S. National Championship nine times. mainly with favorite...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) in the semi-finals and two-time Grand Slam finalist Tom Brown (USA) in the finals. That victory, earned Ampon the first ever Philippines Sportswriters Association (PSA) Athlete of the Year award.
In 1952, Ampon made it the quarter-finals of the French Open at Roland Garros
Stade Roland Garros
Le Stade de Roland Garros is a tennis venue located in Paris, France. It hosts the French Open tennis tournament , a Grand Slam event played annually in May and June. The facility was constructed in 1928 to host France's first defense of the Davis Cup...
but unfortunately, he narrowly loss to world number one 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...
(AUS
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 1953, he return to Roland Garros and made impact, defeating Budge Patty
Budge Patty
John "Budge" Edward Patty was an American male tennis player. He was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States.1950 Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles...
(USA) in the fourth round (6-4 6-2 6-4) before losing to eventual champion Ken Rosewall
Ken Rosewall
Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam...
(AUS) in the quarter-finals (6-2 6-1 6-1). Both quarter-finals was the highest finished by a Filipino in Grand Slam tennis. In the 1953 Wimbledon Open, Ampon made history by winning the Wimbledon Plate Championship, a trophy for the players who made an early exit in the first and second rounds. He also becomes the shortest player ever to play in Wimbledon history and won over 30 European trophies throughout his career. The same year, saw a historic all-Filipino finals in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, where Ampon loss to his compatriot Reymundo Deyro, arguably his greatest rival and partner in Philippine tennis history.
In 1958 Asian Games
1958 Asian Games
The 3rd Asian Games were held from May 24 to June 1, 1958 in Tokyo, Japan. A total number of 1,820 athletes, coming from 16 countries, competed in thirteen events at this Asiad. Debuting sports were field hockey, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball. Tokyo would go on to host the 1964 Summer...
, he was defeated again by Deyro in the finals of men's singles tennis
Tennis at the Asian Games
Tennis is part of the Asian Games program. It has been played at each edition of the games since 1958, with the exception of 1970. Men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles have been contested each time...
and finished with a silver medal. He then partnered with Deyro to captured the men's doubles gold medal and with his sister Desideria Ampon captured the mixed doubles bronze medal.
He went on to play for another ten years, mostly in Davis Cup and represented the country for the last time in 1968. He ended his Davis Cup career holding the Philippine record for the most singles (34-26) and total wins (40-35) in history. He also won his last title, teaming up with Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's Kenneth Tsui to capture the Chinese Recreational Club (CRC) Open men's double title.
Singles Events
- 1934 Far Eastern Games champion (gold)
- 1936 Philippines Amateur Tennis Championship, quarter-finalist
- 1937 Philippines Amateur Tennis Championship, finalist
- 1937 Davis Cup singles champion
- 1950 Pan American Games champion (gold)
- 1952 French Open, quarter-finalist
- 1953 French Open, quarter-finalist
- 1953 Wimbledon Plate champion
- 1958 Asian Games men's singles, 2nd place (silver)
Team Events
- 1957 Davis Cup Eastern Zone champion
- 1958 Davis Cup Eastern Zone champion
- 1960 Davis Cup Eastern Zone champion
- 1964 Davis Cup Eastern Zone champion
External links
- http://www.daviscup.com/en/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=10003023
- http://www.philtennis.com/ampon.php
- http://www.itftennis.com/mens/players/player.asp?player=10003023