Bunny Austin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bunny Austin

Bunny Austin with his wife Phyllis Konstam in 1936
Full name	Henry Wilfred Austin
Country (sports)	Great Britain
Born	(1906-08-26)26 August 1906 London, England
Died	26 August 2000(2000-08-26) (aged 94) Coulsdon, London, England
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Turned pro	1926 (amateur tour)
Retired	1939
Plays	Right-handed (1-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF	1997 (member page)
Singles
Career record	455–108 (80.8%)
Career titles	30
Highest ranking	No. 2 (1931, A. Wallis Myers)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	QF (1929)
French Open	F (1937)
Wimbledon	F (1932, 1938)
US Open	QF (1929)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Wimbledon	SF (1926)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open	F (1931)
Wimbledon	F (1934)
US Open	F (1929)

Henry Wilfred "Bunny" Austin (born August 26, 1906 – died August 26, 2000) was a famous English tennis player. For 74 years, he was the last British man to reach the singles final at Wimbledon. This record stood until Andy Murray reached the final in 2012. Bunny Austin also made it to the final of the 1937 French Open and won a championship at Queen's Club.

He was a key player in the British team that won the Davis Cup three times in a row (1933–1935) with Fred Perry. Austin is also remembered for being the first tennis player to wear shorts during a match.

Early Life

Bunny Austin grew up in South Norwood, London. His father, Wilfred Austin, wanted him to be a great sportsman. Bunny joined the Norhurst Tennis Club when he was just six years old.

His school friends gave him the nickname "Bunny." He thought it came from a popular comic strip called Pip, Squeak and Wilfred, where Wilfred was a rabbit. Austin went to Repton School and later studied history at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Tennis Highlights

While still a student at Cambridge University, Bunny Austin reached the semi-finals of the men's doubles at Wimbledon in 1926. In 1931, a tennis expert named A. Wallis Myers ranked Austin as the World No. 2 player.

Austin played in his first Wimbledon men's singles final in 1932. He was beaten by Ellsworth Vines from the United States. He also reached the quarter-finals or better at Wimbledon ten times.

In 1937, Austin reached the French Championships final, but lost to Henner Henkel. In 1938, he played in another Wimbledon final. He lost to Don Budge, who was playing incredibly well and went on to win the Grand Slam that year. Bunny Austin was the last British man to reach the Wimbledon final until Andy Murray in 2012.

Breaking Barriers: Shorts and Racquets

In 1932, Bunny Austin felt that the traditional tennis clothes, which were long flannel trousers, were too heavy. He decided to try wearing shorts at a tournament in Forest Hills. After that, he became the first player to wear shorts at Wimbledon. This was a big change in tennis fashion!

Austin also helped make modern tennis racquets popular. He used and supported a special racquet called the 'Streamline'. This racquet had a unique design where the handle split into three parts. This made it more aerodynamic, meaning it moved through the air more easily.

Davis Cup Success

From 1933 to 1936, Bunny Austin and his teammate Fred Perry were a powerful duo. They helped Great Britain win the Davis Cup for four years in a row. This was a huge achievement for British tennis.

Life Beyond the Court

In 1931, Bunny Austin married actress Phyllis Konstam. They met on a ship in 1929 while he was traveling for the US Open. They became a famous couple of their time. Austin played tennis with movie star Charlie Chaplin and was friends with other famous people like Daphne du Maurier and Harold Lloyd. He even met Queen Mary and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Standing Up for What's Right

Bunny Austin was concerned about the possibility of another war in Europe. He became involved with a group that promoted peace and good values. In 1933, he and Fred Perry were the only tennis players to speak out against the Nazi ban on Jewish players joining the German Davis Cup team. They wrote a letter to The Times newspaper to show their support.

During World War II, Austin went to the United States for a speaking tour. Later, he was drafted into the US Army Air Force. However, he was diagnosed with a health condition that prevented him from serving in combat. This condition also explained why he sometimes felt very tired during matches.

After the war, there was a time when Austin's membership at the All-England Club was not renewed. This was due to a misunderstanding about his beliefs. However, his membership was restored in 1984.

Later Years and Legacy

Bunny Austin wrote his autobiography, A Mixed Double, with his wife in 1969.

He passed away in 2000 on his 94th birthday. Just before he died, Austin joined other Wimbledon champions on Centre Court for a special parade. In 1997, he was honored by being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

A book about Bunny Austin's life, called The Rabbit's Suffering Changes, was published in 2012. His sister, Joan Austin, was also a tennis player.

Grand Slam Finals

Bunny Austin reached several Grand Slam finals during his career. While he didn't win these particular finals, reaching them is a major achievement in tennis.

Singles Finals

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1932	Wimbledon Championships	Grass	Ellsworth Vines	4–6, 2–6, 0–6
Loss	1937	French Championships	Clay	Henner Henkel	1–6, 4–6, 3–6
Loss	1938	Wimbledon Championships	Grass	Don Budge	1–6, 0–6, 3–6

Mixed Doubles Finals

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1929	U.S. Championships	Grass	Phyllis Covell	Betty Nuthall George Lott	3–6, 3–6
Loss	1931	French Championships	Clay	Dorothy Shepherd-Barron	Betty Nuthall Patrick Spence	3–6, 7–5, 3–6
Loss	1934	Wimbledon	Grass	Dorothy Shepherd-Barron	Dorothy Round Tatsuyoshi Miki	6–3, 4–6, 0–6