Roger Taylor (tennis)

Roger Taylor MBE (born 14 October 1941) is a British former tennis player. Born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, he won 6 singles titles and 10 doubles titles during his career.[2] He achieved success at several Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open in 1973, the semi-finals of Wimbledon during the same year and winning back to back US Open Men's Doubles titles in 1971 and 1972. He also enjoyed particular success in 1970, again reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon, where he achieved a big upset win over defending champion Rod Laver en route, and the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Taylor also reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 1967. His career-high ATP singles ranking was World No. 11, though Taylor was ranked World No. 8 in 1970 before the ATP rankings began.[1]

For other people with the same name, see Roger Taylor.

Roger Taylor
MBE
Roger Taylor at the 1969 Dutch Open
Country (sports) United Kingdom
ResidenceWimbledon, London, England
Born (1941-10-14) 14 October 1941
Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro1967 (amateur tour from 1960)
Retired1980
PlaysLeft-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record274–214 (56.10%)
Career titles6
Highest rankingNo. 8 (1970, Lance Tingay)[1]
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenSF (1970)
French OpenQF (1973)
WimbledonSF (1967, 1970, 1973)
US OpenQF (1964)
Other tournaments
WCT FinalsQF (1973)
Doubles
Career record189–140
Career titles10
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenQF (1962)
French Open3R (1963)
WimbledonQF (1968, 1969, 1973)
US OpenW (1971, 1972)

Also, he was ranked number one in the UK in both 1973 and 1974. Additionally, Taylor scored 29 wins and 11 losses at the Great Britain Davis Cup team. He is a member of the AELTC.

Tennis career

Taylor was the sole British member of the so-called Handsome Eight (he was noted particularly for his massive eyebrows) signed by Lamar Hunt to compete in his newly created World Championship Tennis tour in 1968. He was shown how to play tennis by his mother, Lilian, and he used to play in the various parks across Sheffield, such as Weston Park. He often practiced by hitting a tennis ball against a wall.

Taylor endeared himself to millions of viewers during his 1973 Wimbledon quarterfinal match against the 17-year-old Wimbledon debutant Björn Borg. Having already been declared the match winner by the umpire following his match-point serve which was disputed by Borg, Taylor voluntarily offered to replay the point. The linesman then, questioned by the umpire as to whether he wished to reconsider his decision, changed his "in" call to "out" and the umpire requested that the point be replayed as a "let". Taylor subsequently went on to win the match, but lost to eventual champion Jan Kodeš in the semifinals.

He retired from professional tennis in 1980 and following his retirement he operated tennis holidays. He was Great Britain's Davis Cup captain from February 2000 until January 2004. Taylor also captained the British ladies Wightman Cup team; steering them to their last victory in the competition in 1978. He was awarded an MBE in the 1977 Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours.

He is currently active on the ITF Seniors Tour and has a singles ranking of 54 as at 2020 in the over 75’s category. He won the 70+ title at Woking’s Veterans Open Tournament in 2012. In 2019, he teamed up with Australia's Gordon Waygood to win the Men's 75 Doubles title at the British Open Seniors Clay Court Championships.

Grand Slam finals

Doubles (2 titles)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1971 US Open Grass John Newcombe Stan Smith
Erik van Dillen		 6–7, 6–3, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6
Win 1972 US Open Grass Cliff Drysdale Owen Davidson
John Newcombe		 6–4, 7–6, 6–3

Career titles

Singles (6)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
1. 1963 Surrey Grass Court Championships Grass Jaidip Mukerjea 10–8, 9–11, 10–8
2. 1967 Surrey Grass Court Championships Grass Bobby Wilson 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
3. 18 April 1971 Palermo Clay Pierre Barthes 6–3, 4–6, 7–6, 6–2
4. 17 February 1973 Copenhagen Open Hard Marty Riessen 6–2, 6–3, 7–6
5. 2 February 1975 Roanoke International Tennis Tournament Indoor Vitas Gerulaitis 7–6, 7–6
6. 2 March 1975 Fairfield Carpet (i) Sandy Mayer 7–5, 5–7, 7–6

Doubles (8)
No. Date Tournament Surface Partnering Opponent Score
1. 5 January 1969 Hobart Grass Mal Anderson Tony Roche
Fred Stolle		 7–5, 6–3, 4–6, 1–6, 6–4
2. 3 February 1969 Auckland Grass Ray Moore Mal Anderson
Toomas Leius		 13–15, 6–3, 8–6, 8–6
3. 1 August 1969 Hilversum Unknown Tom Okker Jan Kodeš
Jan Kukal		 6–3, 6–2, 6–4
4. 10 July 1971 Newport Grass Ken Rosewall John Clifton
John Paish		 7–5, 3–6, 6–2
5. 12 September 1971 US Open Grass John Newcombe Stan Smith
Erik van Dillen		 6–7, 6–3, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6
6. 10 September 1972 US Open Grass Cliff Drysdale Owen Davidson
John Newcombe		 6–4, 7–6, 6–3
7. 1 April 1973 Vancouver Unknown Pierre Barthes Tom Gorman
Erik van Dillen		 5–7, 6–3, 7–6
8. 17 July 1977 Kitzbühel Clay Christopher Mottram Colin Dowdeswell
Chris Kachel		 7–6, 6–4

References
  1. United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 428.
  2. "Roger Taylor". ATP World Tour. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
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