James Anderson (tennis)

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James Anderson
James Anderson at the 1922 Davis Cup.jpg
Anderson during the 1922 Davis Cup
Full nameJames Outram Anderson
Country (sports)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Born(1894-09-17)17 September 1894
Enfield, Australia
Died22 December 1973(1973-12-22) (aged 79)
Gosford, Australia
Turned pro1926
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF 2013 (member page)
Singles
Career record159–35 (81.9%) [1]
Career titles15 [1]
Highest rankingNo. 3 (1923, A. Wallis Myers ) [2]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open W (1922, 1924, 1925)
Wimbledon SF (1922, 1925)
US Open SF (1921)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open W (1924)
Wimbledon W (1922)
Team competitions
Davis Cup W (1919)

James Outram Anderson (17 September 1894 – 22 December 1973), commonly known as J.O. Anderson, was an Australian tennis player.

Contents

Personal life

Anderson was the eighth child of James Outram Anderson and his wife Patience (née Laycock). He was educated at Camden Grammar School.

He married Maud Irene Whitfield (died 1955) on 24 March 1917. They had five children. He married a widow, Mabel Little, on 18 November 1957. Anderson died on 22 December 1973 at Gosford. He was survived by his second wife, as well as the son and four daughters of his first marriage. [3]

In 2013, Anderson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. [4]

Career

Anderson is best remembered for his three victories at his home tournament: the Australasian Championships in 1922, 1924 and 1925. [5] Anderson also won the doubles tournament at the 1922 Wimbledon Championships and 1924 Australian Championships. [6] He was celebrated in Australia for his mascot, a large toy kangaroo which he brought on court. [7]

Between 1919 and 1925 Anderson played in 15 ties for the Australian Davis Cup team and compiled a record of 28 wins and 8 losses. [8]

From 1929 to 1934, Anderson had an endorsement deal with the Alexander Patent Racket Company in Launceston, Tasmania, to produce a range of 'J.O. Anderson' tennis racquets. [9] [10]

Playing Style

Anderson's best shot was his forehand drive, which he hit with very little topspin. He mastered this shot to compensate for his weak backhand shot. Anderson was nicknamed 'The Greyhound' for his quickness on the tennis court. [7]

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 3 titles

ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1922 Australasian Championships Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerald Patterson 6–0, 3–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
Win1924Australasian ChampionshipsGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Richard Schlesinger 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 5–7, 6–3
Win1925Australasian ChampionshipsGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerald Patterson 11–9, 2–6, 6–2, 6–3

Doubles: 6 (2 titles, 4 runners-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss1919 Australasian Championships Grass Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Arthur Lowe Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat O'Hara Wood
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ronald Thomas
5–7, 1–6, 9–7, 6–3, 3–6
Loss1922 Australasian Championships Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Norman Peach Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Hawkes
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerald Patterson
10–8, 0–6, 0–6, 5–7
Win1922 Wimbledon Grass Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Randolph Lycett Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat O'Hara Wood
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerald Patterson
3–6, 7–9, 6–4, 6–3, 11–9
Win1924 Australasian Championships Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Norman Brookes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat O'Hara Wood
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerald Patterson
6–2, 6–4, 6–3
Loss1925 Australasian Championships Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Kalms Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat O'Hara Wood
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerald Patterson
4–6, 6–8, 5–7
Loss1926 Australasian Championships Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat O'Hara Wood Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Hawkes
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerald Patterson
1–6, 4–6, 2–6

References

  1. 1 2 "James Outram Anderson: Career match record". thetennisbase.com. Tennismem SAL. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  2. United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 424.
  3. O'Farrell, Virginia, "Anderson, James Outram (1894–1973)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 9 November 2021
  4. "Congratulations to the Class of 2013!". International Tennis Hall of Fame.
  5. "Australian Open results archive – James Anderson". Tennis Australia.
  6. "Wimbledon player archive – James Anderson". AELTC.
  7. 1 2 "International Tennis Hall of Fame". www.tennisfame.com. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  8. "Davis Cup player archive". International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  9. Green, Christopher (2011). What a racket! : the illustrated story of the Alexander Patent Racket Co. Ltd., Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1925-1961. Launceston, Tas.: Bokprint Pty. Ltd. ISBN   978-0-9871085-0-0. OCLC   733310743.
  10. "Advertising". Mercury. 28 September 1929. Retrieved 9 November 2021.