Bobby Wilson (tennis) facts for kids
| Full name | Robert Keith Wilson |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom |
| Residence | Finchley, Middlesex, England |
| Born | 22 November 1935 Hendon, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 21 September 2020 (aged 84) |
| Turned pro | 1952 (amateur) |
| Retired | 1975 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 670–257 (72.2%) |
| Career titles | 56 |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (1968) |
| French Open | QF (1963) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1958, 1959, 1961, 1963) |
| US Open | QF (1960, 1963) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | F (1960) |
Robert Keith Wilson (born November 22, 1935 – died September 21, 2020), known as Bobby Wilson, was a famous English tennis player. He was known for reaching the quarterfinals (the round before the semifinals) at major tournaments like Wimbledon four times. He also reached the quarterfinals twice at the US Open and once at the French Open. Bobby Wilson was also an important member of the Great Britain Davis Cup team.
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Bobby Wilson's Grand Slam Journey
Bobby Wilson was a very talented junior tennis player. In 1951, when he was just 15, he won the British Junior Championship. He also came in second place in the next two years. He even won the doubles championship with his partner, Billy Knight.
Even as a junior, Bobby Wilson played in the senior Wimbledon tournament in 1952. He won his first match but then lost to Jaroslav Drobný, who ended up being the runner-up that year. The next year, he made it to the third round.
Wimbledon Success
In 1958, Bobby Wilson reached his first major quarterfinal at Wimbledon. He wasn't expected to do so well, but he got to the quarterfinals without losing a single set. There, he played against the top player, Ashley Cooper. Even though Cooper won, Bobby Wilson put up a great fight, taking the match to five sets.
The next year, in 1959, Bobby Wilson was seeded (ranked) fourth at Wimbledon. He reached the quarterfinals again but lost to Roy Emerson.
US Open and More Wimbledon
In 1960, Bobby Wilson, seeded eighth, reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Nationals. He faced Rod Laver, another tennis legend, and lost in three sets.
The following year, 1961, he made it to the Wimbledon quarterfinals once more. He had a very tough first-round match, coming back from two sets down to win. Later, he achieved one of his biggest wins by beating the top-seeded player, Neale Fraser. However, he lost in the next round to Chuck McKinley.
Best Year: 1963
The year 1963 was Bobby Wilson's most successful. He reached the quarterfinals at three major tournaments: the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
- In Paris (French Open), he played very well, including a win over Bob Hewitt. But he lost in the quarterfinals to French champion Pierre Darmon.
- A month later, at Wimbledon, he again reached the quarterfinals. He was beaten by Chuck McKinley.
- At the US Open, he was seeded sixth and reached the quarterfinals. He played against Frank Froehling and was close to reaching his first major semifinal. He won the first two sets, but Froehling came back to win the next three, saving a match point against Wilson.
Bobby Wilson continued to play at Wimbledon even later in his career, often in doubles. He played his last Wimbledon match in 1977, at 41 years old. Overall, he played 124 matches at Wimbledon, winning 77 of them.
Other Tournament Wins
Bobby Wilson won many other tennis tournaments throughout his career. He won the Palace Hotel Covered Courts Championships six times and the Cumberland Hard Court Championships six times. He also won the British Covered Court Championships four times and the German International Covered Court Championships three times. These wins show how consistently good he was.
Playing for His Country: Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is a big international team tennis competition. Bobby Wilson played for the British team between 1955 and 1968. He played in 34 matches (called "ties") for his country. He won 40 matches and lost 20. He was especially good in doubles, winning 25 matches and losing only 8. His best year with the British team was 1963. That year, the British team won the Europe Zone and reached the semifinals against the United States.
Grand Slam Finals
Doubles (1 runner-up)
Bobby Wilson reached one Grand Slam final in doubles.
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1960 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Mike Davies |
 Dennis Ralston Rafael Osuna |
5–7, 3–6, 8–10 |
Junior Grand Slam Titles
Singles: 1
Bobby Wilson won one junior Grand Slam title in singles.
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1952 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Trevor Fancutt |
6–3, 6–3 |
Life After Playing Tennis
After his professional tennis career, Bobby Wilson became a tennis coach. He continued to coach locally in his hometown. He was still coaching in 2018, even at 82 years old!
Personal Life
Bobby Wilson was a strong supporter of fairness and equality. In 1958, he was one of many people who signed a letter to The Times newspaper. This letter spoke out against "apartheid," which was a system of racial separation in sports, and supported the idea of "racial equality."
In 1964, Bobby Wilson wrote a book about his tennis experiences called My Side of the Net. He lived in Finchley, north London, which was also where he grew up.
