Vincent Richards

Biography Born in Yonkers, New York, he attended the Jesuit Fordham Preparatory School, attended Fordham University and studied at the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1922. additionally collecting the silver medal in mixed doubles. He was also a semifinalist at the U.S. championships in 1922 (losing to Bill Johnston), 1924 (losing to Tilden), 1925 (where he beat René Lacoste, then lost to Tilden) and 1926 (losing to Jean Borotra). While there was no official ATP Tour in the 1920s, Richards was one of the pioneers in creating a version of a "world tennis tour", playing in the equivalent of all four grand slams during his career, additional major tournaments, and exhibition matches in front of emperors, presidents, and other heads of states. While Tilden may have overshadowed Richards, even in the Davis Cup, Richards held a perfect 5–0 record when he played for his country.

In April 1926, Richards and Tilden contested the final of the Mason & Dixon Tournament at The Greenbrier resort, with Richards winning in five sets.

Richards was one of the best singles players of the 1920s and played on several United States Davis Cup teams. In 1927 he was the first prominent male player to turn professional. In 1928, he was still generally considered to be one of the top 5 or 6 players in the world and played a brief tour at the end of the year against Czech player Karel Koželuh, another new professional. Richards only beat Koželuh five times in 20 matches. Richards won the United States Pro Championship in 1927, 1928, and 1930, beating Koželuh in the finals in both 1928 and 1930, and losing to him in the 1929 final. He lost the 1931 final to Tilden and won the U.S. Pro Championships for the last time in 1933, this time beating Frank Hunter in the final. He continued to play in the U.S. Pro championships in most years until 1946. Richards and Tilden won the doubles at the 1945 U.S. Pro championships.

Richards was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island in 1961.

Business career After retiring from tennis, Richards joined the Dunlop Tire and Rubber Company as general manager of the sporting goods division and became vice president.

Personal life In February 1924, he married Claremont Gushee in Greenwich, Connecticut, and they had three children. She died in 1950. On September 28, 1959, Richards died of a heart attack at Doctors Hospital in New York.

Major finals Grand Slam tournaments

Doubles: 9 (7 titles, 2 runners-up) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1918 U.S. National Championships Grass Bill Tilden Fred Alexander Beals Wright 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 2–6, 6–2Loss 1919 U.S. National Championships Grass Bill Tilden Norman Brookes Gerald Patterson 6–8, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 2–6Win 1921 U.S. National Championships Grass Bill Tilden Watson Washburn R. Norris Williams 13–11, 12–10, 6–1Win 1922 U.S. National Championships Grass Bill Tilden Pat O'Hara Wood Gerald Patterson 4–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–4Win 1924 Wimbledon Grass Frank Hunter Watson Washburn R. Norris Williams 6–3, 3–6, 8–10, 8–6, 6–3Win 1925 U.S. National Championships Grass R. Norris Williams John Hawkes Gerald Patterson 6–2, 8–10, 6–4, 11–9Win 1926 French Championships Clay Howard Kinsey Jacques Brugnon Henri Cochet 6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 6–4Loss 1926 Wimbledon Grass Howard Kinsey Jacques Brugnon Henri Cochet 5–7, 6–4, 3–6, 2–6Win 1926 U.S. National Championships Grass R. Norris Williams Alfred Chapin Bill Tilden 6–4, 6–8, 11–9, 6–3

Mixed doubles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1919 U.S. National Championships Grass Marion Zinderstein Florence Ballin Bill Tilden 2–6, 11–9, 6–2Win 1924 U.S. National Championships Grass Helen Wills Molla Bjurstedt Mallory Bill Tilden 6–8, 7–5, 6–0Loss 1925 U.S. National Championships Grass Ermyntrude Harvey Kitty McKane John Hawkes 2–6, 4–6

Pro Slam tournaments

Singles: 6 (4/2)

Singles performance timeline

Richards was banned from competing in the amateur Grand Slams when he joined the professional tennis circuit in 1927.