Gerald Patterson

Gerald Leighton Patterson MC (17 December 1895 – 13 June 1967) was an Australian tennis player.

Patterson was active in the decade following World War I. During his career he won three Grand Slam tournaments in the singles event as well as six titles in the doubles competition and one title in mixed doubles. He was born in Melbourne, educated at Scotch College and Trinity Grammar School and died in Melbourne on 13 June 1967. He was the co-World No. 1 player for 1919 along with Bill Johnston.

Playing career Tall and well-built, Patterson played a strong serve-and-volley game. At Wimbledon 1919, Patterson beat 41-year-old Norman Brookes, who was defending champion (Brookes' 1914 title was the last held before World War 1) in the Challenge Round. At Wimbledon 1922, the Challenge Round was abolished and Patterson won the title (the first to be held at the current site at Church Road) beating Randolph Lycett in the final. In 1927, Patterson was five championship points down in the Australian singles final against Jack Hawkes, but won in five sets.

Patterson was known as the "Human Catapult" for his powerful serve that many of the top players had trouble returning. He also enjoyed great success representing Australia in Davis Cup and amassed a 32–14 win–loss record (singles 21–10, doubles 11–4) and was part of the winning team in 1919. Patterson played Davis Cup in 1920, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1928 and finally as captain in 1946. He was a player ahead of his time, playing with a steel racquet strung with wire in 1925.

He was inducted into the Sport Australia Home of Fame in December 1986. This was followed by induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in August 1997.

Personal life Patterson was the nephew of Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and father of racing driver Bill Patterson.

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 7 (3 titles, 4 runners-up) ResultYearChampionship SurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 1914 Australasian Championships Grass Arthur O'Hara Wood 4–6, 3–6, 7–5, 1–6 Win 1919 Wimbledon Grass Norman Brookes 6–3, 7–5, 6–2 Loss 1920 Wimbledon Grass Bill Tilden 6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 4–6 Win 1919 U.S. National Championships Grass Norman Brookes Vincent Richards Bill Tilden 8–6, 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–2 Win 1922 Australasian Championships Grass John Hawkes James Anderson Norman Peach 8–10, 6–0, 6–0, 7–5 Loss 1922 U.S. National Championships Grass Pat O'Hara Wood Vincent Richards Bill Tilden 6–4, 1–6, 3–6, 4–6

Grand Slam singles performance timeline

Events with a challenge round: (WC) won; (CR) lost the challenge round; (FA) all comers' finalist

(OF) only for French players