Dennis Ralston : biography
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 |