Eric Sturgess
Eric William Sturgess (10 May 1920 – 14 January 2004) was a South African male tennis player and winner of six Grand Slam doubles titles. He also reached the singles final of a Grand Slam tournament three times but never won. Sturgess was ranked World No. 6 by John Olliff of The Daily Telegraph in both 1948 and 1949.[1][2]
Full name | Eric William Sturgess |
---|---|
Country (sports) | ![]() |
Born | Johannesburg, South Africa | 10 May 1920
Died | 14 January 2004 83) Sunninghill, South Africa | (aged
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Singles | |
Career record | 292–55 (84.15%) |
Highest ranking | No. 6 (1948, John Olliff)[1] |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1950) |
French Open | F (1947, 1951) |
Wimbledon | SF (1951) |
US Open | F (1948) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 0–1 |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | F (1950) |
French Open | W (1947) |
Wimbledon | F (1951, 1952) |
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
Australian Open | F (1950) |
French Open | W (1947, 1949) |
Wimbledon | W (1949, 1950) |
US Open | W (1949) |
Biography
Eric Sturgess was born in Johannesburg, where he attended Parktown Boys' High School.[3] Sturgess joined the South African Air Force on the outbreak of World War II and became an instructor with No 4 Spitfire Squadron, SAAF. In October 1944 he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, captured on landing and sent to the air force officers' prison camp, Stalag Luft III, in eastern Germany. In January 1945 he was transported to Stalag IIIA at Luckenwalde which was liberated two months later by the advancing Russian forces.[3]
He reached the singles final of the 1947 and 1951 French Championships but lost to Hungarian József Asbóth (6–8, 5–7, 4–6) and Jaroslav Drobný (6–3, 6–3, 6–3) respectively. In 1947 he won the doubles competition with countryman Eustace Fannin. In 1948 he reached the singles final at the U.S. National Championships but lost to American Pancho Gonzales.[4]
In 1947 and 1948 he won the British Hard Court Championships played in Bournemouth. He won the first three Swedish Open tournaments (1948, 1949, 1950), played in Båstad. Sturgess won a record 11 singles titles at the South African Championships between 1939 and 1957.
By the end of his career Sturgess had reached fifteen Grand Slam finals (three in singles, six in doubles and six in mixed doubles). He won four titles (the 1947 French Championships doubles title, the 1949 French Championships mixed doubles title and the 1949 and 1950 Wimbledon mixed doubles title).[4]
He represented South Africa in the Davis Cup competition in six ties, compiling a 13–5 record in singles and doubles.[5]
Grand Slam finals
Singles (3 runner-ups)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1947 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() | 6–8, 5–7, 4–6 |
Loss | 1948 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | ![]() | 2–6, 3–6, 12–14 |
Loss | 1951 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() | 3–6, 3–6, 3–6 |
Doubles (1 title, 5 runner-ups)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1947 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Loss | 1949 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–8, 7–5, 3–6 |
Loss | 1950 | Australian Championships | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–8 |
Loss | 1950 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 6–1, 8–10, 2–6 |
Loss | 1951 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Loss | 1952 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 5–7, 4–6 |
Mixed doubles (5 titles, 2 runner-ups)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1947 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–0, 6–0 |
Win | 1949 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 6–1 |
Win | 1949 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 9–7, 9–11, 7–5 |
Win | 1949 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
Loss | 1950 | Australian Championships | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–8, 4–6 |
Win | 1950 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 11–9, 1–6, 6–4 |
Loss | 1952 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 8–6, 3–6, 3–6 |
References
- United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 426.
- "Richard Gonzalez World's No. 1: Amateur Lawn Tennis Rankings", The Sunday Indian Express, 18 November 1949.
- "Obituaries – Eric Sturgess". The Telegraph. 5 February 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 373, 387, 400, 436, 460. ISBN 978-0942257700.
- "Davis Cup – Player Profile". International Tennis Federation (ITF).