Roger Taylor (tennis)

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Roger Taylor (tennis) bigraphy, stories - British tennis player

Roger Taylor (tennis) : biography

14 October 1941 –

Roger Taylor (born 14 October 1941) is a British former tennis player. Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, he won 6 singles titles and 10 doubles titles during his career. He achieved success at several Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open in 1973, the semi-finals of Wimbledon during the same year and winning back to back US Open Men’s Doubles titles in 1971 and 1972. He also enjoyed particular success in 1970, again reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon, where he achieved a big upset win over defending champion Rod Laver en route, and the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Taylor also reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 1967. His career-high ATP singles ranking was World No. 11, though Taylor was ranked World No. 8 in 1970 before the ATP rankings began.

Tennis career

Taylor was the sole British member of the so-called Handsome Eight (he was noted particularly for his massive eyebrows) signed by Lamar Hunt to compete in his newly-created World Championship Tennis tour in 1968.

Notably, in a scene reminiscent of a bygone age of sportsmanship now all but absent in professional sport, Taylor endeared himself to millions of viewers during his 1973 Wimbledon quarter final match against the 17-year-old Wimbledon debutant Björn Borg. Having already been declared the match winner by the umpire following his match-point serve which was disputed by Borg, Taylor voluntarily offered to replay the point. The linesman then, questioned by the umpire as to whether he wished to reconsider his decision, changed his "in" call to "out" and the umpire requested that the point be replayed as a "let". Taylor subsequently went on to win the match.

He retired from professional tennis in 1980. He was Great Britain’s Davis Cup captain from February 2000 until January 2004. Taylor also captained the British ladies Wightman Cup team; steering them to their last victory in the competition in 1978.

Grand Slam mens doubles titles (2)

No. Year Championship Surface Partnering Opponent in final Score
1. 1971 US Open Grass AUS}} John Newcombe USA}} Stan Smith Erik Van Dillen 6–7, 6–3, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6
2. 1972 US Open Grass South Africa|1928}} Cliff Drysdale AUS}} Owen Davidson John Newcombe 6–4, 7–6, 6–3

Career titles

Singles (6)

No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
1. 1963 Surrey Grass Court Championships Grass IND}} Jaidip Mukerjea 10-8, 9-11, 10-8
2. 1967 Surrey Grass Court Championships Grass GBR}} Bobby Wilson 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. 18 April 1971 Palermo Clay FRA}} Pierre Barthes 6-3 4-6 7-6 6-2
4. 17 February 1973 Copenhagen Open Hard USA}} Marty Riessen 6-2 6-3 7-6
5. 2 February 1975 Roanoke International Tennis Tournament Indoor USA}} Vitas Gerulaitis 7-6 7-6
6. 2 March 1975 Fairfield Indoor Carpet USA}} Sandy Mayer 7-5 5-7 7-6

Doubles (8)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partnering Opponent in the final Score
1. 5 January 1969 Hobart Grass AUS}} Mal Anderson AUS}} Tony Roche Fred Stolle 7-5 6-3 4-6 1-6 6-4
2. 3 February 1969 Auckland Grass South Africa|1928}} Ray Moore AUS}} Mal Anderson Tomas Lejus 13-15 6-3 8-6 8-6
3. 1 August 1969 Hilversum Unknown NED}} Tom Okker TCH}} Jan Kodeš Jan Kukal 6-3 6-2 6-4
4. 10 July 1971 Newport Grass AUS}} Ken Rosewall GBR}} John Clifton John Paish 7-5 3-6 6-2
5. 12 September 1971 US Open Grass AUS}} John Newcombe USA}} Stan Smith Erik Van Dillen 6-7 6-3 7-6 4-6 7-6
6. 10 September 1972 US Open Grass South Africa|1928}} Cliff Drysdale AUS}} Owen Davidson John Newcombe 6-4 7-6 6-3
7. 1 April 1973 Vancouver Unknown FRA}} Pierre Barthes USA}} Tom Gorman Erik Van Dillen 5-7 6-3 7-6
8. 17 July 1977 Kitzbühel Clay GBR}} Christopher Mottram SUI}} Colin Dowdeswell Chris Kachel 7-6 6-4