Tom Brown (tennis player)
Encyclopedia
Thomas P. "Tom" Brown, Jr. (September 26, 1922 San Francisco, California
– October 27, 2011 Castro Valley, California
) was an American tennis
player. He died at the age of 89. In the 1940s he was one of the best amateur players in the world, losing to Jack Kramer in the finals of both the U.S. Open
in 1946 and Wimbledon
in 1947. In 1946 he was the Wimbledon mixed-doubles champion with Louise Brough
and the men's doubles champion with Jack Kramer.
Kramer wrote in his 1979 autobiography that Brown "was known as 'The Frisco Flailer' (we had nicknames like that in those days), and he was strong off the ground with an excellent running forehand, but he was always my pigeon. I played him seven times, all best of five, and I beat him twenty-one straight sets."
He won the October 1945 version of what is now the SAP Open
as Private First Class Tom Brown.
Brown also played in the Davis Cup
three times and was ranked as one of the 10 best American players eight times between 1946 and 1958, his highest ranking being No. 4 in 1946. He won numerous tournaments as a senior player.
1947 (French Open (tennis)) Semifinals lost to Joszef Asboth (HUN) Men's Singles Champion
1946 (French Open (tennis)) Semifinals lost to Jaroslav Drobny (CZE).
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
– October 27, 2011 Castro Valley, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) was an American tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player. He died at the age of 89. In the 1940s he was one of the best amateur players in the world, losing to Jack Kramer in the finals of both the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
in 1946 and Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
in 1947. In 1946 he was the Wimbledon mixed-doubles champion with Louise Brough
Louise Brough
Althea Louise Brough Clapp was a World No. 1 American female tennis player.-Biography:She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma but moved to Beverly Hills, California when she was four years old. She was taught by Dick Skeen and had a classic forehand and backhand and a paralyzing American twist...
and the men's doubles champion with Jack Kramer.
Kramer wrote in his 1979 autobiography that Brown "was known as 'The Frisco Flailer' (we had nicknames like that in those days), and he was strong off the ground with an excellent running forehand, but he was always my pigeon. I played him seven times, all best of five, and I beat him twenty-one straight sets."
He won the October 1945 version of what is now the SAP Open
SAP Open
The SAP Open is a men's tennis tournament held annually in San Jose, California. It is the second-oldest tennis tournament in the United States, which is still played. It is an ATP World Tour 250 series event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour...
as Private First Class Tom Brown.
Brown also played in the 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...
three times and was ranked as one of the 10 best American players eight times between 1946 and 1958, his highest ranking being No. 4 in 1946. He won numerous tournaments as a senior player.
Runner-ups (2)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1946 | U.S. Championships U.S. Open (tennis) The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881... |
Jack Kramer Jack Kramer (tennis player) John Albert Kramer was an American tennis player of the 1940s. A World Number 1 player for a number of years, he is a possible candidate for the title of the greatest tennis player of all time. He was considered the father and the leading promoter of the professional tennis tours... |
9–7, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1947 | Wimbledon Championships The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
Jack Kramer Jack Kramer (tennis player) John Albert Kramer was an American tennis player of the 1940s. A World Number 1 player for a number of years, he is a possible candidate for the title of the greatest tennis player of all time. He was considered the father and the leading promoter of the professional tennis tours... |
6–1, 6–3, 6–2 |
1946 (French Open (tennis)) Semifinals lost to Jaroslav Drobny (CZE).