1954 pro tour of Asia (Sedgman, Gonzalez, Segura, Kramer)

[krosero]

Below are my results for this tour of Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Hong Kong.

Sept. 25 in Tokyo
Denen Coliseum (probably on clay)
Sedgman d. Gonzalez 7-5, 6-4
Segura d. Kramer 9-7, 6-2
Kramer/Segura defeated Sedgman/Gonzalez 8-6, 3-6, 6-3


Sept. 27 in Tokyo
Denen Coliseum (probably on clay)
Kramer d. Gonzalez 2-6, 6-3, 8-6
Segura d. Sedgman 6-3, 6-8, 7-5
Sedgman/Segura defeated Kramer/Gonzalez 6-2, 6-1


Sept. 29 in Osaka Pref. Gym
(first day in this city)
Unknown results


Sept. 30 in Osaka Pref. Gym
(second day in this city)
Gonzalez d. Kramer 6-4, 6-3
Sedgman d. Segura 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Gonzalez/Kramer defeated Sedgman/Segura 4-6, 6-3, 10-8


October 4 in Seoul
8th Army courts (clay)
Segura d. Kramer 8-4
Gonzalez d. Sedgman 8-5
Sedgman/Segura defeated Kramer/Gonzalez 8-5
Gonzalez/Segura defeated Sedgman/Golden, Grant (Pfc), “Far East service champion,” 8-5


October 5 in Seoul
8th Army courts (clay)
Kramer d. Sedgman 6-4
Segura d. Gonzalez 8-6
Gonzalez/Golden defeated Segura/Sedgman 10-8

(Gonzalez defeated Golden 7-5 “before all-Korean audience at Seoul City Stadium” earlier in the day)


Three weeks followed in Japan

October 11 in Yokohama
Fryar Gym
Sedgman d. Kramer 6-4, 7-5
Gonzalez d. Segura 6-3, 6-4
Sedgman/Segura defeated Kramer/Gonzalez 6-4, 6-0


October 16 in Tokyo
Denen Coliseum (probably clay)
Segura d. Gonzalez 7-5, 7-5
Kramer d. Sedgman 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
Kramer/Gonzalez defeated Sedgman/Segura 6-2, 7-5


October 17 in Tokyo
Denen Coliseum (probably clay)
Sedgman d. Gonzalez 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Segura d. Kramer 6-3, 6-3
Sedgman/Segura defeated Kramer/Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4


October 20 in Manila
Indoors in Rizal Coliseum on clay
Gonzalez d. Kramer 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Segura d. Sedgman 11-9, 1-6, 6-2 (13 aces by Sedgman)
Kramer/Sedgman defeated Segura/Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2

These three matches were reported as “their 12th, 13th, and 14th in their current tour of the Far East.” Per the AP, “All players suffered from the heat as 12,000 persons packed Rizal Coliseum”.

Manila Times:

For Gonzales, it was actually his smashing service that nailed down Kramer and forced the 32-year-old recognized world tennis king into the defensive.​

October 22 in Manila
Indoors in Rizal Coliseum on clay
Gonzalez d. Segura 6-3, 6-2
Sedgman d. Kramer 9-7, 3-6, 6-2
Gonzalez/Kramer defeated Sedgman/Segura 6-4, 6-1


October 24 in Manila
Indoors in Rizal Coliseum on clay
Segura d. Kramer 6-2, 6-2
Sedgman d. Gonzalez 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Gonzalez/Sedgman defeated Kramer/Segura 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

So each man finished 2-1 in Manila singles, except Kramer who finished 0-3.


October 26 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Cricket Club Centre Court (probably grass, described as “comparatively slow”)
Sedgman d. Segura 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
Gonzalez d. Kramer 6-2, 6-4
Gonzalez/Segura defeated Kramer/Sedgman 6-3, 6-2


October 27 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Cricket Club (probably grass)
Segura d. Kramer 9-7, 6-4
Gonzalez d. Sedgman 6-4, 6-2
Gonzalez/Kramer defeated Segura/Sedgman 11-9, 4-4, called off due to failing light


I got the other results as usual from newspaper archives.

 

[krosero]

Before the arrival in Manila, the Manila Times gave this summary of the Japan portion of the tour (not including the brief interlude in South Korea):

Firing back at reporters, thin-haired six-foot Kramer officially recognized as the world’s professional champion, bruited that he “can beat any of the hottest amateur’s today.”

It was a frank conjecture, though it slightly conflicted with his record in their Japanese tour where he lost six of 11 matches, won four and tied one with Sedgman.

Sedgman posted the best record, winning seven matches and losing three and tying one. Thirty-two-year-old Segura and 27-year-old Los-Angeles-born Mexican Gonzales, owner of the strongest service in tennis today, tied with five matches won and six lost.

Although Sedgman proved to be the most consistent, however, Segura stirred a lot of excitement by winning his closing matches to pull into his tie with Gonzales.

But the big match in the Manila series, as speculations go, appears to be Sedgman’s brawl with Gonzales—in the final set Sunday.

Some of the zest in their “big game” may probably be taken away by the condition of the local court which Kramer said is “slow.”​

So going by this report, the final results in Japan were:

Sedgman 7-3-1 (plus 0-2 in Seoul, 2-1 in Manila and 1-1 in HK would make 10-7-1)
Gonzalez 5-6 (plus 1-1 in Seoul, 2-1 in Manila and 2-0 in HK would make 10-8)
Segura 5-6 (plus 2-0 in Seoul, 2-1 in Manila and 1-1 in HK would make 10-8)
Kramer 4-6-1 (plus 1-1 in Seoul, 0-3 in Manila and 0-2 in HK would make 5-12-1)

Sedgman, then, would appear to have won this tour, though by a very slim margin.

 

[Dan Lobb]

That

Before the arrival in Manila, the Manila Times gave this summary of the Japan portion of the tour (not including the brief interlude in South Korea):

Firing back at reporters, thin-haired six-foot Kramer officially recognized as the world’s professional champion, bruited that he “can beat any of the hottest amateur’s today.”

It was a frank conjecture, though it slightly conflicted with his record in their Japanese tour where he lost six of 11 matches, won four and tied one with Sedgman.

Sedgman posted the best record, winning seven matches and losing three and tying one. Thirty-two-year-old Segura and 27-year-old Los-Angeles-born Mexican Gonzales, owner of the strongest service in tennis today, tied with five matches won and six lost.

Although Sedgman proved to be the most consistent, however, Segura stirred a lot of excitement by winning his closing matches to pull into his tie with Gonzales.

But the big match in the Manila series, as speculations go, appears to be Sedgman’s brawl with Gonzales—in the final set Sunday.

Some of the zest in their “big game” may probably be taken away by the condition of the local court which Kramer said is “slow.”​

So going by this report, the final results in Japan were:

Sedgman 7-3-1 (plus 0-2 in Seoul, 2-1 in Manila and 1-1 in HK would make 10-7-1)
Gonzalez 5-6 (plus 1-1 in Seoul, 2-1 in Manila and 2-0 in HK would make 10-8)
Segura 5-6 (plus 2-0 in Seoul, 2-1 in Manila and 1-1 in HK would make 10-8)
Kramer 4-6-1 (plus 1-1 in Seoul, 0-3 in Manila and 0-2 in HK would make 5-12-1)

Sedgman, then, would appear to have won this tour, though by a very slim margin.

That was one great tour.

 

[BobbyOne]

Below are my results for this tour of Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Hong Kong.

Sept. 25 in Tokyo
Denen Coliseum (probably on clay)
Sedgman d. Gonzalez 7-5, 6-4
Segura d. Kramer 9-7, 6-2
Kramer/Segura defeated Sedgman/Gonzalez 8-6, 3-6, 6-3


Sept. 27 in Tokyo
Denen Coliseum (probably on clay)
Kramer d. Gonzalez 2-6, 6-3, 8-6
Segura d. Sedgman 6-3, 6-8, 7-5
Sedgman/Segura defeated Kramer/Gonzalez 6-2, 6-1


Sept. 29 in Osaka Pref. Gym
(first day in this city)
Unknown results


Sept. 30 in Osaka Pref. Gym
(second day in this city)
Gonzalez d. Kramer 6-4, 6-3
Sedgman d. Segura 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Gonzalez/Kramer defeated Sedgman/Segura 4-6, 6-3, 10-8


October 4 in Seoul
8th Army courts (clay)
Segura d. Kramer 8-4
Gonzalez d. Sedgman 8-5
Sedgman/Segura defeated Kramer/Gonzalez 8-5
Gonzalez/Segura defeated Sedgman/Golden, Grant (Pfc), “Far East service champion,” 8-5


October 5 in Seoul
8th Army courts (clay)
Kramer d. Sedgman 6-4
Segura d. Gonzalez 8-6
Gonzalez/Golden defeated Segura/Sedgman 10-8

(Gonzalez defeated Golden 7-5 “before all-Korean audience at Seoul City Stadium” earlier in the day)


Three weeks followed in Japan

October 10 in Yokohama
Segura d. Kramer 7-5, 6-2
Gonzalez d. Sedgman 6-4, 6-4


October 11 in Yokohama
Fryar Gym
Sedgman d. Kramer 6-4, 7-5
Gonzalez d. Segura 6-3, 6-4
Sedgman/Segura defeated Kramer/Gonzalez 6-4, 6-0


October 16 in Tokyo
Denen Coliseum (probably clay)
Segura d. Kramer 6-3, 8-6
Sedgman d. Gonzalez 9-7, 2-6, 10-8


October 17 in Tokyo
Denen Coliseum (probably clay)
Sedgman d. Segura 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Gonzalez d. Kramer 6-3, 6-3
Sedgman/Segura defeated Kramer/Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4


October 20 in Manila
Indoors in Rizal Coliseum on clay
Gonzalez d. Kramer 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Segura d. Sedgman 11-9, 1-6, 6-2 (13 aces by Sedgman)
Kramer/Sedgman defeated Segura/Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2

These three matches were reported as “their 12th, 13th, and 14th in their current tour of the Far East.” Per the AP, “All players suffered from the heat as 12,000 persons packed Rizal Coliseum”.

Manila Times:

For Gonzales, it was actually his smashing service that nailed down Kramer and forced the 32-year-old recognized world tennis king into the defensive.​

October 22 in Manila
Indoors in Rizal Coliseum on clay
Gonzalez d. Segura 6-3, 6-2
Sedgman d. Kramer 9-7, 3-6, 6-2
Gonzalez/Kramer defeated Sedgman/Segura 6-4, 6-1


October 24 in Manila
Indoors in Rizal Coliseum on clay
Segura d. Kramer 6-2, 6-2
Sedgman d. Gonzalez 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Gonzalez/Sedgman defeated Kramer/Segura 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

So each man finished 2-1 in Manila singles, except Kramer who finished 0-3.


October 26 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Cricket Club Centre Court (probably grass, described as “comparatively slow”)
Sedgman d. Segura 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
Gonzalez d. Kramer 6-2, 6-4
Gonzalez/Segura defeated Kramer/Sedgman 6-3, 6-2


October 27 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Cricket Club (probably grass)
Segura d. Kramer 9-7, 6-4
Gonzalez d. Sedgman 6-4, 6-2
Gonzalez/Kramer defeated Segura/Sedgman 11-9, 4-4, called off due to failing light



There are still some missing results, but the list is close to complete thanks to the results for Oct. 10 and Oct. 16 which I found at the Tennis Base website.

I got the other results as usual from newspaper archives.

krosero, Great finding!

It's interesting that Grant Golden participated a bit in that tour who was an amateur.

 

[TennisLineal]

Hello,

Does anyone have the results of the 1954-55 Australian Tour Sedgman took a part of. Whats the best resource to get those results?

I am trying to trace a Men's Lineal Tennis Champion from 1913 to today. I got stuck on Sedgman because he went on tour with various Pro Players and then we was out with injury. I am trying to determine who came out of the tour with title.