| Frank Sedgman |
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In a four-year span from 1949 through 1952 Sedgman won 22 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, three fewer than John Newcombe and six fewer than Roy Emerson won over longer periods of time. He won the doubles Grand Slam in 1951 with his partner Ken McGregor and was the major force in the first three years of the Australian domination of the Davis Cup matches in which they won 15 victories in an 18-year span from 1950 through 1967 . Sedgman was an extremely fast, slim, 5'11" (1.80 m) right-hander known for his fitness. He was one of a number of Australian players who used the Continental grip in which the racquet is held the same way for both the forehand and the backhand. He was particularly known for his volleying and speed at the net. He was also extremely graceful in his footwork and strokes, with a severely classical style that was a model to other players for many years. Sedgman dominated amateur tennis in 1951 and 1952 when there still no Open tennis. There were no lengthy professional tours for those two years, however, and the best professionals played only a few tournaments among themselves. It is arguable, therefore, that Sedgman was the world's best player over that period. He turned professional in 1953 and became the first tennis player, except, perhaps, for Bill Tilden , to make more than $100,000 in a single year. He was, however, narrowly beaten that first year by the reigning king of professional tennis, Jack Kramer , 54 matches to 41. Sedgman was the winner of three Major Titles in professional tennis and was the runner-up four times more in the years before Open tennis. He continued to play professionally well into the 1960s. Sedgman was inducted into the International Tennis Hall Of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island , in 1979 . GRAND SLAM WINS Australian Championship
Wimbledon Championships
U.S. Championship
French Championship
PROFESSIONAL WORLD SINGLES TOURNAMENT WINS
NOTES SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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