Clarence Griffin

Maurice Evans McLoughlin (1890-1957), Henry Ward Dawson (1890-1963), William Marquitz Johnston (1894-1946), Clarence James Griffinon (1888-1973) on August 30, 1916 at the national men's doubles championship. Clarence James "Peck" Griffin (January 19, 1888 – March 28, 1973) was an American tennis player. His best major performance in singles was reaching the semi-finals of the 1916 U.S. National Championships (where he beat Wallace F. Johnson before losing to R. Norris Williams). He also reached the quarter-finals in 1914, 1915, 1917 and 1920.

Biography He was born on January 19, 1888, in San Francisco, California.

Griffin ranked in singles in the U.S. Top Ten three times: he was No. 7 in 1915 and No. 6 in both 1916 and 1920. In addition to his singles success, Griffin also made a mark in doubles with fellow Californian Bill Johnston.

In 1913 he won the singles title at the Niagara International Tennis Tournament defeating Edward H. Whitney in four sets. He successfully defended his title in the challenge round in the following year, 1914, against George Church, also in four sets.

Griffin, and doubles partner Johnston, won the U.S. doubles title three times (1915, 1916, and 1920), and Griffin also reached the 1913 doubles final with John Strachan. He and Strachan won the U.S. Clay Court title that year, and in 1914 Griffin reached his singles final in a comeback beating of Elia Fottrell, 3–6, 6–8, 8–6, 6–0, 6–2, for the Clay Court singles crown (held that year in Cincinnati).

In 1929, he married Mildred Talbot De Camp, daughter of T. James Talbot of Los Angeles.

He died on March 28, 1973.

Legacy He was a 5-foot-7 right-handed player and entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1970. His nephew was entertainer Merv Griffin.

Grand Slam finals

Doubles (3 titles, 1 runner-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 1913U.S. Championships Grass John Strachan Maurice E. McLoughlin Tom Bundy 4–6, 5–7, 1–6Win 1915U.S. Championships Grass Bill Johnston Maurice E. McLoughlin Tom Bundy 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3Win 1916U.S. Championships Grass Bill Johnston Maurice E. McLoughlin Ward Dawson 6–4, 6–3, 5–7, 6–3Win 1920U.S. Championships Grass Bill Johnston Roland Roberts Willis E. Davis 6–2, 6–2, 6–3