Lew Hoad-A discussion on his career

Dan Lobb

G.O.A.T.
Hoad really was the man! If not for injuring himself by lifting into a back problem, he might well have shown that potential! He owned Laver for people in the know! At one point Hoad led 8-0! He was one match away from his own CYGS in '56! :unsure::rolleyes:;)
Yes, there seems to be a consensus among the great players that Hoad's best was the best best, and recently discovered stats show an unknown consistency in the major tours.....hard to pick anyone else.
 

Dan Lobb

G.O.A.T.
New discovery. This is probably from 1958-59 (possibly 1957, before Hoad turned pro) prior to Wimbledon of 1959, because Hopman does not mention Laver as a prominent Aussie player.

Fascinating instructional recording for young learning players.

 

Dan Lobb

G.O.A.T.
A new posting of rare footage of that classic 1953 Davis Cup match between Hoad and Trabert. Still thrilling today.

Many shots here not seen before.

 

Drob

Hall of Fame
Hoad was a great jazz fan, a friend of Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz. Hoad would have enjoyed the jazz sections in the Ravel G major concerto above with Yuja Wang. Hoad himself could have picked up an instrument and joined into this jam session with Yuja Wang,



Dear Dan:

These Australian tournaments of 1958-59 which you like to push (with some reason, I agree), what surface were they played on, respectively:

Melbourne 1958
Australian Pro 1958 (Sydney)
Vic Pro 1959 (Melbourne)
West Aus. 1959 (Perth)
Queensland Pro 1959 (Brisbane)
Sydney 1959
South Aus 1959 (Adelaide)

Many thanks.
 

Drob

Hall of Fame
Gonzales was a skilled pugilist...according to Arthur Ashe, he could knock out a "heavy" with one punch.
Hoad allegedly picked up a chair with an obnoxious heckler by the front legs, warned him to "Shut the*******up" and then dropped the chair.
Also, Hoad apparently had a physical confrontation with Gonzales in a locker room...


The Hoad bar (or restaurant) incident has a little more to it according to the story. It was a restaurant in Europe but for some reason some drunk joker was denigrating Black people. After tolerating this was a few minutes, Hoad decided "enough", went over to the guy and picked him up in his chair and held the chair above his head for a several seconds, then let it down gently enough. And as I heard the story, his declaration was more understated, like "what do say? No more of that, then, eh."
 
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