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]

Eric Sturgess
Full nameEric William Sturgess
Country (sports) South Africa
Born(1920-05-10)10 May 1920
Johannesburg, South Africa
Died14 January 2004(2004-01-14) (aged 83)
Sunninghill, South Africa
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record292–55 (84.15%)
Highest rankingNo. 6 (1948, John Olliff)[1]
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenSF (1950)
French OpenF (1947, 1951)
WimbledonSF (1951)
US OpenF (1948)
Doubles
Career record0–1
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenF (1950)
French OpenW (1947)
WimbledonF (1951, 1952)
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian OpenF (1950)
French OpenW (1947, 1949)
WimbledonW (1949, 1950)
US OpenW (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
Loss1947French ChampionshipsClay József Asbóth6–8, 5–7, 4–6
Loss1948U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Pancho Gonzales2–6, 3–6, 12–14
Loss1951French ChampionshipsClay Jaroslav Drobný3–6, 3–6, 3–6

Doubles (1 title, 5 runner-ups)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win1947French ChampionshipsClay Eustace Fannin Tom Brown
Bill Sidwell		6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss1949French ChampionshipsClay Eustace Fannin Pancho Gonzales
Frank Parker		3–6, 6–8, 7–5, 3–6
Loss1950Australian ChampionshipsGrass Jaroslav Drobný John Bromwich
Adrian Quist		3–6, 7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–8
Loss1950French ChampionshipsClay Jaroslav Drobný Bill Talbert
Tony Trabert		2–6, 6–1, 8–10, 2–6
Loss1951WimbledonGrass Jaroslav Drobný Ken McGregor
Frank Sedgman		6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6
Loss1952WimbledonGrass Vic Seixas Ken McGregor
Frank Sedgman		3–6, 5–7, 4–6

Mixed doubles (5 titles, 2 runner-ups)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win1947French ChampionshipsClay Sheila Piercey Summers Jadwiga Jędrzejowska
Christian Caralulis		6–0, 6–0
Win1949French ChampionshipsClay Sheila Piercey Summers Jean Quertier
Gerry Oakley		6–1, 6–1
Win1949WimbledonGrass Sheila Piercey Summers Louise Brough
John Bromwich		9–7, 9–11, 7–5
Win1949U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Louise Brough Margaret Osborne duPont
Bill Talbert		4–6, 6–3, 7–5
Loss1950Australian ChampionshipsGrass Joyce Fitch Doris Hart
Frank Sedgman		6–8, 4–6
Win1950WimbledonGrass Louise Brough Pat Canning Todd
Geoff Brown		11–9, 1–6, 6–4
Loss1952French ChampionshipsClay Shirley Fry Doris Hart
Frank Sedgman		8–6, 3–6, 3–6

References
  1. United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 426.
  2. "Richard Gonzalez World's No. 1: Amateur Lawn Tennis Rankings", The Sunday Indian Express, 18 November 1949.
  3. "Obituaries – Eric Sturgess". The Telegraph. 5 February 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  4. 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.
  5. "Davis Cup – Player Profile". International Tennis Federation (ITF).
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