Dennis Ralston

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Dennis Ralston bigraphy, stories - Tennis player

Dennis Ralston : biography

27 July 1942 –

Richard Dennis Ralston (born July 27, 1942 in Bakersfield, California) is an American former professional tennis player. He attended the University of Southern California (USC) and won NCAA championships under their coach, George Toley. He was coached in his earlier years by the tennis player Pancho Gonzales. He was the highest-ranked American player at the end of three consecutive years in the 1960s with his career-high singles ranking of World No. 3 in 1963 (as cited in newspaper Reading Eagle).

He lost in the Wimbledon 1966 Men’s Singles Championship Finals to Manuel Santana.

Ralston was a member of the Handsome Eight, the initial group of players signed to the professional World Championship Tennis tour. He won 27 national doubles and singles titles, including five grand-slam doubles crowns.

Grand Slam finals, 13 (5 titles, 8 runner-ups)

Singles, 1 final (1 runner-up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Runner-Up 1966 Wimbledon Championships Grass ESP|1928}} Manuel Santana 6–4, 11–9, 6–4

Doubles, 9 finals (5 titles, 4 runner-ups)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Winner 1960 Wimbledon Championships Grass MEX}} Rafael Osuna GBR}} Mike Davies Bobby Wilson 7–5, 6–3, 10–8
Winner 1961 US Championships Grass USA}} Chuck McKinley MEX}} Rafael Osuna Antonio Palafox 6–3, 6–4, 2–6, 13–11
Runner-Up 1962 US Championships Grass USA}} Chuck McKinley MEX}} Rafael Osuna Antonio Palafox 6–4, 10–12, 1–6, 9–7, 6–3
Winner 1963 US Championships (2) Grass USA}} Chuck McKinley MEX}} Rafael Osuna Antonio Palafox 9–7, 4–6, 5–7, 6–3, 11–9
Winner 1964 US Championships (3) Grass USA}} Chuck McKinley GBR}} Mike Sangster Graham Stilwell 6–3, 6–2, 6–4
Winner 1966 French Championships Clay USA}} Clark Graebner ROU}} Ilie Năstase Ion Ţiriac 6–3, 6–3, 6–0
Runner-Up 1966 US Championships (2) Grass USA}} Clark Graebner AUS}} Roy Emerson Fred Stolle 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
Runner-Up 1969 US Open (3) Grass USA}} Clark Graebner AUS}} Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle 2–6, 7–5, 13–11, 6–3
Runner-Up 1971 Wimbledon Championships Grass USA}} Arthur Ashe AUS}} Roy Emerson Rod Laver 4–6, 9–7, 6–8, 6–4, 6–4

Mixed Doubles, 3 finals (3 runner-ups)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-Up 1962 Wimbledon Championships Grass GBR}} Ann Haydon-Jones USA}} Margaret Osborne duPont Neale Fraser 2–6, 6–3, 13–11
Runner-Up 1966 Wimbledon Championships (2) Grass USA}} Billie Jean King AUS}} Margaret Court Ken Fletcher 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
Runner-Up 1969 US Open Grass FRA}} Françoise Dürr AUS}} Margaret Court Marty Riessen 6–4, 7–5