Mark Cox (tennis)

Last updated

Mark Cox
Country (sports) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Born (1943-07-05) 5 July 1943 (age 81)
Leicester, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Turned pro1970 (amateur from 1958)
Retired1981
PlaysLeft-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record593–370 (61.5%) in pre Open-Era & Open Era [1]
Career titles24 [1] [2] [3]
Highest rankingNo. 12 (3 October 1977)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open QF (1967, 1971)
French Open 3R (1968)
Wimbledon 4R (1968, 1977, 1979)
US Open QF (1966)
Other tournaments
WCT Finals QF (1975)
Doubles
Career record142–157 (Open era)
Career titles3 (Open era)
Team competitions
Davis Cup F (1978)

Mark Cox (born 5 July 1943) is a former tennis player from England, who played professional and amateur tennis in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He was ranked as high as world No. 12 on the ATP rankings, achieving that ranking in October 1977.

Contents

Early life and education

Cox was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School in Leicester and Millfield School in Somerset. He obtained an economics undergraduate degree from Downing College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club. Upon graduating from Cambridge, Cox was employed by a stockbroking firm, and only turned professional in 1970. As he later admitted to sports writer James Buddell, "[I] never really thought of tennis as a career. There was no view of open tennis, so when I initially left university, playing felt like a gap year — great fun, and the expenses helped keep my head above water." [4]

Career

Cox played his first tournament on 3 November 1958 at the Torquay Indoor Championship. [5] During his career, he won twenty-four singles titles [5] [2] [3] and three doubles titles spanning both the pre-Open Era and Open Era, and reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. National Championships (in 1966) and the Australian Open (in 1971). He also played for Great Britain's Davis Cup team, and was on the team that reached the 1978 final against the United States. [6]

Following the establishment of the Open Era in men's tennis in 1968, Cox went down in history as the first amateur player to beat a professional when he defeated the American Pancho Gonzales in the second round of the British Hard Court Championships at Bournemouth, in a match that went to five sets and lasted two and a quarter hours. He followed this up for good measure by beating two times Wimbledon Champion Roy Emerson in the next round. [7] [8] It was after his victory over Emerson that Time magazine referred to Cox as a "giant killer", a reputation he strengthened further by achieving big upset wins over No. 1 seed Rod Laver at the 1971 Australian Open and over No. 2 seed Ken Rosewall at the 1972 US Open. [9] [10] [11] [12] During his career, Cox maintained positive head-to-head records over top players such as Guillermo Vilas (whom Cox defeated 6–1, 6–1 at the Memphis Open in 1977, a year when Vilas lost only 14 out of 154 matches), Manuel Orantes, Lew Hoad, Roscoe Tanner, Jan Kodes and Ivan Lendl. [13] [14]

Some of Cox's finest moments came late in his career; a notable triumph was at the 1976 Stockholm Open, when at the age of 33 he won the title after knocking out World No. 1 Jimmy Connors and Manuel Orantes (respectively the reigning and previous US Open champions) in succession. [15] He remarked afterwards that "At the big points I played the right shots, the first services were going in. It was like a fairy story." [16] Although able to win on all surfaces he was especially adept at playing on indoor carpet courts, and in 1975 he became the last British player to win back-to-back professional titles (at the Washington Indoor WCT and London WCT events) until Andy Murray repeated the feat in 2008. [17] These two tournament wins allowed him to qualify (as one of the top eight players on the World Championship Tennis circuit) for that year's WCT Finals, where he lost to the eventual champion, Arthur Ashe.

Cox retired from playing in 1981, losing to Yannick Noah in his last ever competitive match at the Paris Indoor Open. [18] To date, he is the last English-born male to win a top level UK tournament on grass (Eastbourne in 1973). After his final title in 1977 it would take another 17 years for a British player to win a top-level tour title (Jeremy Bates at Seoul in 1994). During his latter playing years and after his retirement, he worked as a coach and also as a television commentator for the BBC.

Personal life

Cox is a Patron of a charity "CRY" (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and an ambassador for the Win Tennis Academy at Bisham. He lives with his wife Susie in London.[ citation needed ]

Career finals

Singles: 42 (24 titles, 18 runner-ups)

Finals by surface
Hard (7–5)
Grass (4–4)
Clay (3–6)
Carpet (10–3)
ResultNo.YearTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss1.1962 Budleigh Salterton, EnglandGrass Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jaroslav Drobny 4–6, 6–0, 2–6 [2]
Loss2.1962 Eastbourne, EnglandGrass Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roger Becker 6–4, 2–6, 4–6 [2]
Loss3.1963 Manly, AustraliaGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Martin Mulligan 2–6, 2–6 [19]
Win1.1963 Eastbourne, EnglandGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warren Jacques 1–6, 7–5, 6–2 [3]
Loss4.1965 Chingford, EnglandClay Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bobby Wilson 2–6, 6–8 [2]
Win2.1966 Baltimore, U.S.Grass Flag of the United States.svg Jim McManus 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 [19]
Win3.1967 Hutt Valley, AustraliaHard Flag of New Zealand.svg Brian Fairlie 6–2, 6–4
Loss5.1967 East London, South AfricaClay Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker 7–9, 5–7 [19]
Win4.1968 San Juan, Puerto RicoHard Flag of the United States.svg Allen Fox 6–2, 6–1, 4–6, 2–6, 6–2 [19]
Open era
Loss6.1968 London, EnglandCarpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith 4–6, 4–6 [19]
Win5.1968 Eastbourne, EnglandGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Owen Davidson 6–4, 6–4 [19]
Win6.1968 Istanbul, TurkeyClay Flag of Chile.svg Patricio Rodríguez 6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 [19]
Win7.1968 Perth, ScotlandCarpet (i) Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bob Hewitt 6–3, 6–4 [19]
Win8.1969 Bloemfontein, South AfricaHard Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bob Maud 6–2, 7–5 [19]
Loss7.1968 Buffalo, New York, U.S.Hard (i) Flag of the United States.svg Clark Graebner 8–6, 9–7, 6–2 [19]
Loss8.1969 Macon, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Manuel Orantes 8–10, 5–7, 6–4, 7–9 [19]
Loss9.1969 Caracas, VenezuelaClay Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Thomaz Koch 6–8, 3–6, 6–2, 4–6 [19]
Loss10.1969 Willemstad, CuraçaoClay Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Richey 4–6, 3–6, 3–6 [19]
Win9.1969 Charlotte, U.S.Clay Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jan Kodeš 13–11, 6–2 [19] [20]
Win10.1969 Stalybridge, EnglandCarpet (i) Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bob Hewitt 6–4, 6–3 [19]
Win11.1969 Torquay, EnglandHard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Clifton 8–6, 6–3 [19]
Win12.1969 London, EnglandCarpet (i) Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bob Hewitt 4–6, 9–7, 6–2 [19]
Win13.1969 Perth, ScotlandCarpet (i) Flag of Egypt.svg Ismail El Shafei 3–6, 14–12, 6–1 [19]
Win14.1970 Bournemouth, EnglandClay Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bob Hewitt 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
Loss11.1971 Midland, U.S.Hard Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Nikola Pilić 6–7, 6–7, 3–6 [2]
Win15.1972 Macon WCT, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson 6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Loss12.1972 Louisville WCT, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe 4–6, 4–6
Win16.1972 Cleveland WCT, U.S.Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ray Ruffels 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss13.1973 London WCT, EnglandHard (i) Flag of New Zealand.svg Brian Fairlie 6–2, 2–6, 2–6, 6–7
Win17.1973 Denver WCT, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe 6–1, 6–1 [21]
Win18.1973 Eastbourne, EnglandGrass Flag of France.svg Patrice Dominguez 6–2, 2–6, 6–3
Win19.1973 Dublin, IrelandHard Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg John Yuill 7–5, 3–6, 11–9 [2]
Loss14.1974 Bologna WCT, ItalyCarpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe 4–6, 5–7
Loss15.1974 London WCT, EnglandHard (i) Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Borg 7–6, 6–7, 4–6
Win20.1975 Washington Indoor WCT, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Dick Stockton 6–2, 7–6
Win21.1975 London WCT, EnglandCarpet (i) Flag of New Zealand.svg Brian Fairlie 6–1, 7–5
Win22.1975 Atlanta WCT, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Alexander 6–3, 7–6
Win23.1976 Stockholm, SwedenHard (i) Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Manuel Orantes 4–6, 7–5, 7–6
Win24.1977 Helsinki, FinlandCarpet (i) Flag of Sweden.svg Kjell Johansson 6–3, 6–3
Loss16.1977 Queen's Club, EnglandGrass Flag of Mexico.svg Raúl Ramírez 7–9, 5–7
Loss17.1977 Cincinnati, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Harold Solomon 2–6, 3–6
Loss18.1980 Stuttgart, West GermanyHard (i) Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Tomáš Šmíd 1–6, 3–6, 7–5, 6–1, 4–6

Doubles: 11 (3 titles, 8 runner-ups)

ResultNo.YearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss1.1973 Copenhagen, DenmarkCarpet (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Stilwell Flag of the United States.svg Erik van Dillen
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gorman
4–6, 4–6
Win1.1973 Cologne, West GermanyCarpet (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Stilwell Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker
Flag of the United States.svg Marty Riessen
7–6, 6–3
Win2.1973London, EnglandCarpet (i) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Owen Davidson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gerald Battrick
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Stilwell
6–4, 8–6
Loss2.1974 Denver WCT, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of Japan.svg Jun Kamiwazumi Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe
Flag of the United States.svg Roscoe Tanner
3–6, 6–7
Loss3.1975 San Antonio WCT, U.S.Hard Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Alexander
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil Dent
6–7, 6–4, 4–6
Loss4.1975 Memphis, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale Flag of the United States.svg Erik van Dillen
Flag of the United States.svg Dick Stockton
6–1, 5–7, 4–6
Loss5.1975 Atlanta WCT, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale Flag of India.svg Anand Amritraj
Flag of India.svg Vijay Amritraj
3–6, 2–6
Loss6.1975 World Doubles WCT, MexicoCarpet (i) Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gottfried
Flag of Mexico.svg Raúl Ramírez
6–7, 7–6, 2–6, 6–7
Loss7.1976 Washington WCT, U.S.Carpet Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Dibbs
Flag of the United States.svg Harold Solomon
4–6, 5–7
Loss8.1977 London WCT, EnglandHard (i) Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Dibbs Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Ilie Năstase
Flag of Italy.svg Adriano Panatta
6–7, 7–6, 3–6
Win3.1977 Basel, SwitzerlandCarpet (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Buster Mottram Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Feaver
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John James
7–5, 6–4, 6–3

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Mark Cox [GBR] - Titles/Finals". tennisabstract.com. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Cox Rallies to Beat Australian". Liverpool Daily Post . 16 September 1963. p. 8.
  4. Buddell, James (22 April 2018). "Remembering The Start Of Open Tennis... 50 Years On". atptour.com. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Mark Cox: Tournament activity/results". thetennisbase.com. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  6. Wilmington Morning Star . "Davis Cup players named". 17 November 1978, p. 3-C. Retrieved on 15 July 2013.
  7. Spartanburg Herald-Journal . "Mark Cox Is Tennis Champ". 3 May 1970, p. B4. Retrieved on 15 July 2013.
  8. Montreal Gazette. "British Tennis Amateur Mark Cox Upsets U.S. Pro Pancho Gonzales". Associated Press, 25 April 1968, p. 14. Retrieved on 15 July 2013.
  9. He also defeated Jimmy Connors in the latter's debut match at the 1970 US Open.
  10. "Tennis: Mark the Giant Killer". time.com. 3 May 1968. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  11. Stone, Peter. "Laver leaves tired, beaten". The Age , 12 March 1971, p. 24. Retrieved on 15 July 2013.
  12. Times Daily (Florence, South Carolina). "The 'Giant Killer': Mark Cox Upsets Rosewall In U.S. Open Tennis Play". Associated Press, 3 September 1972, p. 16. Retrieved on 15 July 2013.
  13. "Guillermo Vilas: Numero Uno For 1977 – A World Tennis Magazine Throwback". worldtennismagazine.com. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  14. "Mark Cox: Matches". www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  15. "1976: No One Expected Cox". bnppnordicopen.com. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
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  17. "Mark Cox". atptour.com. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  18. "1981 Paris – Singles draw". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Mark Cox: Tournament results titles/finals". thetennisbase.com. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  20. "Britain's Cox Wins Charlotte Tennis Tourney". The Shreveport Journal . Shreveport, Louisiana: The Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com. 14 April 1969. p. 18. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  21. Sackmann, Jeff (29 April 2023). "April 29, 1973: Mark Cox's Consolation Prize". tennisabstract.com. Retrieved 11 December 2024.