Reed was rated #1 in the good old U.S.A. Quite an honour.
Greatest Canadian player ever
- Thread starter Dan Lobb
- Start date
Reed was rated #1 in the good old U.S.A. Quite an honour.
I should add Mervyn Rose, Dick Savitt, Ron Holmberg and others to the above list of Canadian champions.
A very strong list of champions, superior to some of the major championships.
Another great final was in 1971, when Newcombe defeated Okker on clay in the final, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6. This was a magnificently played final, with Newcombe showing his best ground strokes on the clay surface against a fired-up Okker.
chrischris
G.O.A.T.
Glen Michibata and Daniel Nestor 
The first big event was the O'Keefe Invitational International Championships held in 1956 in Toronto, with a strong list of well-known players, plus the top eight Canadians, none of whom won a match (the reigning Canadian champion, Bedard, lost to Hugh Stewart). Hoad defeated Davidson in the final in a four-set match.
This inaugural event proved to be the template for all future Canadian Opens, and beginning in 1957, important players were "persuaded" to participate.
This makes Bedards' wins in 1957 and 1958 all the more impressive, as he had to beat Krishnan and Reed to win the title.
Yes, he spends about 120 days per year with the junior programs in Canada, especially under-14, since about 2007.
He would have helped develop both Raonic and Peliwo and Bouchard, the last two this year's junior Wimbledon champions, and Peliwo also won the U.S. Open Junior championship.
It looks like he has contributed a lot.
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treblings
Hall of Fame
he is one coach i´d like to have in my program. serious, no nonsense with loads of experience at the highest level
Quebec has to decide (as they already have in several referenda) whether or not they want to pay the severe penalties of independence, including a fractured Quebec with new borders. So far, they have said NO.
Various independence movements have fared poorly in other countries as well, such as the USA.
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boredone3456
G.O.A.T.
True it looks bright but in Peliwo's case junior success does not always translate to
he adult tours, look at players like Young and Cara Black. Both excellent in junior singles..
Black did diddly as an adult and Young is a floundering fish. Lil early to call him great
Good point. But many junior #1's have been successful as adults.
This list must be revised in light of Canada's recent thrashing of Spain in the Davis Cup.
The great performance of Frank Dancevic (world rank #166) in outclassing the world #34 for Spain in a performance described by John McEnroe as "the greatest tennis I have ever seen", a truly hot performance, must put Dancevic in the top ten of Canadian players.
Next up: Italy in the quarter-finals.
Oh,yes, Frank Dancevic df. Marcel Granollers 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
That is, the #166 player demolished the #34 player.
Dancevic, age 28, has not had a coach in recent years, apart from his father.
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RoachTennis
New User
Best canadian is of course Matthew Perry!
pc1
G.O.A.T.
He was apparently considering a pro tennis career when he was young. I think he did okay however.
RoachTennis
New User
Correction! Bryan Adams!
Phoenix1983
G.O.A.T.
Every time Mac sees a decent match he proclaims it "the best ever" etc.
kiki
Banned
IN US? REALLY?
Dedans Penthouse
Legend
I miss those Quebec Nordiques - Montreal Canadian bloodbaths.
And that Quebec P.A. announcer: " .... Anton Staastnyy !!"
And that Quebec P.A. announcer: " .... Anton Staastnyy !!"
Remember the Civil War?
kiki
Banned
I meant in recent times...
jaggy
Talk Tennis Guru
Breakaway movements right now that I have read about in Hawaii, the southewest (aztlan), a black breakaway movement in the southern states (New Afrika), white groups in the northwest and Vermont has something also.
kiki
Banned
Puerto Rico?
Now you understand why Quebec will not leave Canada.
Raonic becomes the first player since Tony Trabert in 1953-55 to win San Jose three years in a row, beating Querry and Haas in the last two rounds, and not losing his serve in the entire tournament.
Raonic leads Murray 2 to 1 lifetime.
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The match with Querry might be a preliminary for the possible Davis Cup encounter between Canada and the USA in the semifinals.
I have found some more stats for Bob Bedard which support his stature as the greatest ever Canadian player.
For one, he defeated the number one player from 15 different countries, including the USA and Australia.
Here are some additional wins and matches against noted players.
1) 1954 University of Miami
df. Frank Froehling (Sr.) 6-4, 6-8, 6-4
2) 1954 Italian
df. Sven Davidson (who would beat Rosewall at Roland Garros that year)
4-6, 3-6, 11-9, 6-3, 6-2
(Bedard lost qf. to Drobny)
3) 1954 Stuttgart
lost final to Gottfried von Cramm 6-4, 6-8, 6-2
4) 1955 Italian
df. Orlando Sirola 2-6, 6-0, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
5) 1955 Queens Club
df. Nicola Pietrangeli 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
6) 1955 Cannes
df. Jackie Brichant 6-2, 9-11, 6-4
7) 1956 Dixie Championship
df. Bitsy Grant 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
8) 1957 Kent Championships
df. Roy Emerson 6-2, 6-4
9) 1957 O'Keefe (Toronto)
df. Kurt Nielsen 8-6, 1-6, 6-1
(lost semifinal to Davidson)
10) 1957 Sutton Hardcourt Championships (Britain)
df. Bob Howe in the final 6-2, 6-1 to win the championship
11) 1957 Canadian
df. Ramanathan Krishnan in the final 6-1, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 to win the championship
12) 1957 Wimbledon
df. Torben Ulrich 9-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
13) 1958 Canadian
df. Whitney Reed (ranked #1 in the USA) in the final 6-0, 6-3, 6-3 to defend his championship
14) 1958 USA Championship
df. Eugene Scott 7-5, 7-5, 6-4
lost to Giammalva 10-8, 3-6, 6-8, 7-5, 7-5
15) 1967 British Hard Court Championship
df. John Bartlett 6-4, 6-1, 9-7
In Davis Cup, his greatest win was over Rafael Osuna in 1961, in four sets.
This record is still the best of any Canadian player, and includes four international tournament victories.
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Yes, he played at Wimbledon in 1952, and apparently looked good at that time.
It is important to note that von Cramm was a political opponent of the Nazis.
kiki
Banned
I knew but what got to do with him playing like 20 yrs after his prime?
kiki, von Cramm was pretty tough in the 1950s in Davis Cup and tournament play as also Nüsslein was.
Von Cramm had contacts in the German underground during WWII, and was probably saved from the Gestapo death machine because of his close friendship with the King of Sweden. Hitler needed Swedish neutrality during the war.
http://www.bradenton.com/2013/02/22/4404171/bradenton-man-charged-with-trying.html#tennis
This Canadian pro is in hot water down here in FLA.
This Canadian pro is in hot water down here in FLA.
newmark401
Professional
Here's the entry from the 1915 editon of "Ayres' Lawn Tennis Almanack" on Robert B. Powell, probably the most successful Canadian lawn tennis player before World War One:
"Powell, Robert Branks. B. Victoria, British Columbia, April 2, 1881. (Private Secretary to Sir H. Joly de Lotbiniere, K.C.M.G., Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, 1900-1904; in charge of arrangements in connection with the visit of Prince and Princess of Wales to B.C., 1901, when he was attached to staff of Lord Minto, Governor-General of Canada; appointed to Government Service in Fiji, 1904; employed on Governor's Staff and on Western Pacific High Commission, 1905-1906; passed final examination for the English Bar, May 1909; Fellow of Royal Colonial Institute.)
"Learnt lawn tennis on father's courts at Victoria; was four times champion of British Columbia; won Champ. of Pacific N.W. States of America, 1901; Champ. of State of Oregon, 1904; founded North Pacific L.T.A. (embracing Western States of America and British Columbia clubs), and won Association's first Internat. Champ. at Victoria, 1904; Singles Champs. of Fiji, 1905-6; in semi-final All-Comers' Singles at Wimbledon, won Champ. of Scotland (singles and doubles), singles at Vienna (defeating M. Decugis), represented Canada in Olympic Games at Wimbledon, 1908; won Northern Champ. at Manchester, All England Plate at Wimbledon, Sussex Champ. at Brighton, Doubles at Eastbourne (with K. Powell), at Queen's Covered Courts (with M.J.G. Ritchie), and at Cannes (with F.G. Lowe), and in semi-final of Champ. Doubles at Wimbledon (with K. Powell), 1909; won Scottish Champ. and in final of Champ. Doubles (with K. Powell) and of mixed doubles with (with Mrs Sterry) at Wimbledon 1910; won Dawlish singles cup outright, 1913; member of English (Drive Club) team in South Africa, 1910-11; won mixed doubles at Dinard, singles at Dawlish, and represented London v. Paris at Auteuil, 1911; won doubles (with F.L. Riseley) at and mixed at Dinard and represented All England Club v. Germany at Wimbledon, 1912; captain of Canada v. South Africa at Queen's, v. Belgium at Folkestone, and v. America at Wimbledon (final round) in Davis Cup competition in 1913; represented Canada v. Australasia at Chicago, 1914.
"Is a keen horseman and has won amateur races on the flat in Canada and Fiji. Address: Victoria, B.C."
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When World War One broke out, Robert B. Powell enlisted in the Canadian infantry and served with the 48th Canadian Infantry Battalion. He saw a lot of action at the front in France, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. He was killed in action on April 28, 19197, during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. He was 36.
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The wikipedia entry on Robert B. Powell has some good links, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Powell_(tennis)
The above entry also features a photograph of the 1913 Canadian Davis Cup team of Powell, Bernard Schwengers, Henry G. Mayes and James F. Foulkes.
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A number of Robert B. Powell's singles results, including his complete Wimbledon singles record, can be found here: http://www.tennisarchives.com/coureurs.php
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"Powell, Robert Branks. B. Victoria, British Columbia, April 2, 1881. (Private Secretary to Sir H. Joly de Lotbiniere, K.C.M.G., Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, 1900-1904; in charge of arrangements in connection with the visit of Prince and Princess of Wales to B.C., 1901, when he was attached to staff of Lord Minto, Governor-General of Canada; appointed to Government Service in Fiji, 1904; employed on Governor's Staff and on Western Pacific High Commission, 1905-1906; passed final examination for the English Bar, May 1909; Fellow of Royal Colonial Institute.)
"Learnt lawn tennis on father's courts at Victoria; was four times champion of British Columbia; won Champ. of Pacific N.W. States of America, 1901; Champ. of State of Oregon, 1904; founded North Pacific L.T.A. (embracing Western States of America and British Columbia clubs), and won Association's first Internat. Champ. at Victoria, 1904; Singles Champs. of Fiji, 1905-6; in semi-final All-Comers' Singles at Wimbledon, won Champ. of Scotland (singles and doubles), singles at Vienna (defeating M. Decugis), represented Canada in Olympic Games at Wimbledon, 1908; won Northern Champ. at Manchester, All England Plate at Wimbledon, Sussex Champ. at Brighton, Doubles at Eastbourne (with K. Powell), at Queen's Covered Courts (with M.J.G. Ritchie), and at Cannes (with F.G. Lowe), and in semi-final of Champ. Doubles at Wimbledon (with K. Powell), 1909; won Scottish Champ. and in final of Champ. Doubles (with K. Powell) and of mixed doubles with (with Mrs Sterry) at Wimbledon 1910; won Dawlish singles cup outright, 1913; member of English (Drive Club) team in South Africa, 1910-11; won mixed doubles at Dinard, singles at Dawlish, and represented London v. Paris at Auteuil, 1911; won doubles (with F.L. Riseley) at and mixed at Dinard and represented All England Club v. Germany at Wimbledon, 1912; captain of Canada v. South Africa at Queen's, v. Belgium at Folkestone, and v. America at Wimbledon (final round) in Davis Cup competition in 1913; represented Canada v. Australasia at Chicago, 1914.
"Is a keen horseman and has won amateur races on the flat in Canada and Fiji. Address: Victoria, B.C."
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When World War One broke out, Robert B. Powell enlisted in the Canadian infantry and served with the 48th Canadian Infantry Battalion. He saw a lot of action at the front in France, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. He was killed in action on April 28, 19197, during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. He was 36.
--
The wikipedia entry on Robert B. Powell has some good links, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Powell_(tennis)
The above entry also features a photograph of the 1913 Canadian Davis Cup team of Powell, Bernard Schwengers, Henry G. Mayes and James F. Foulkes.
--
A number of Robert B. Powell's singles results, including his complete Wimbledon singles record, can be found here: http://www.tennisarchives.com/coureurs.php
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Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Pierre Trudeau
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When World War One broke out, Robert B. Powell enlisted in the Canadian infantry and served with the 48th Canadian Infantry Battalion. He saw a lot of action at the front in France, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. He was killed in action on April 28, 19197, during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. He was 36.
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Thanks for this. Quite a record and quite a life.
The Canadian Corps was the only army in WWI that never retreated and never failed to gain an objective.
When World War One broke out, Robert B. Powell enlisted in the Canadian infantry and served with the 48th Canadian Infantry Battalion. He saw a lot of action at the front in France, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. He was killed in action on April 28, 19197, during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. He was 36.
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Thanks for this. Quite a record and quite a life.
The Canadian Corps was the only army in WWI that never retreated and never failed to gain an objective.
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I have added the scores for the 1957 and 1958 Canadian finals.
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