born June 13, 1915, Oakland, Calif., U.S.
died Jan. 26, 2000, Scranton, Pa.
U.S. tennis player.
He won his very first tournament, the California Boys State Singles title (1930). In 1936 he became the first lawn-tennis player to win the grand-slam (the Australian, French, British, and U.S. singles championships). At Wimbledon in both 1937 and 1938, he won not only the singles but also the men's doubles and mixed doubles. Representing the U.S. four times in the Davis Cup competition (193538), he won 25 of 29 matches. He turned professional in 1939. He is noted for having developed the backhand into an offensive stroke.