Buster Mottram
Christopher "Buster" Mottram (born 25 April 1955 in Kingston upon Thames) is a former English tennis player and UK number 1 who achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 15 in February 1983.
Country (sports) | United Kingdom |
---|---|
Residence | Kingston upon Thames, England |
Born | Kingston upon Thames, England | 25 April 1955
Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Singles | |
Career record | 285–171 |
Career titles | 2 |
Highest ranking | No. 15 (7 February 1983) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
French Open | 4R (1977) |
Wimbledon | 4R (1982) |
US Open | 4R (1980) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 111–118 |
Career titles | 5 |
Highest ranking | No. 164 (3 January 1983) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Wimbledon | 3R (1981, 1983) |
US Open | 3R (1973) |
Mottram represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup eight times, scoring 31 wins and 10 losses. His parents, Tony Mottram and Joy Gannon, were leading British tennis players in the 1950s.
Career titles
Singles (2)
Result | No | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | Apr 1975 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Tom Okker | 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 2. | Apr 1976 | Palma, Majorca | Clay | Jun Kuki | 7–5, 6–3, 6–3 |
Doubles (5)
Result | No | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | Apr 1974 | Charlotte, U.S. | Unknown | Raúl Ramírez | Owen Davidson John Newcombe |
6–3, 1–6, 6–3 |
Win | 2. | Jul 1977 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | Roger Taylor | Colin Dowdeswell Chris Kachel |
7–6, 6–4 |
Win | 3. | Oct 1977 | Basle, Switzerland | Carpet | Mark Cox | John Feaver John James |
7–5, 6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 4. | Mar 1981 | Stuttgart, West Germany | Carpet | Nick Saviano | Craig Edwards Eddie Edwards |
3–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
Win | 5. | Apr 1982 | Bournemouth, UK | Clay | Paul McNamee | Henri Leconte Ilie Năstase |
3–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
Politics
While Mottram was still playing professionally, he became known for his right-wing views. He expressed support for the National Front, supported the policies of Enoch Powell,[1] and applied unsuccessfully for the Conservative parliamentary candidacy in several constituencies.[1] He subsequently formed a songwriting partnership with the black entertainer Kenny Lynch writing the song "Average Man".[2]
In November 2008, he was expelled from the UK Independence Party (UKIP) after attempting to broker an electoral pact with the British National Party. UKIP leader Nigel Farage called Mottram's offer "astonishing", declaring the party to be non-racist.[3]
References
- "Tennis: Whatever happened to Buster Mottram?" The Independent, 18 May 2002
- http://www.discogs.com/Kenny-Lynch-Half-The-Days-Gone-And-We-Havent-Earned-A-Penny/release/1016406
- UKIP rejects BNP electoral offer, BBC News, 3 November 2008.