Gordon Forbes facts for kids
| Country (sports) |  South Africa |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 February 1934 Burgersdorp, Cape Province, South Africa |
| Died | 9 December 2020 (aged 86) Plettenberg Bay, Cape Province, South Africa |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 342-217 (72%) |
| Career titles | 16 |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (1971) |
| French Open | 3R (1955, 1956, 1957, 1959) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1956) |
| US Open | QF (1962) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1962) |
| French Open | F (1963) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1963) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | W (1955) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1962) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | SFEu (1962, 1963) |
Gordon Forbes (born 21 February 1934 – died 9 December 2020) was a well-known South African professional tennis player and author. He was famous for winning the singles title at the South African Championships twice. He also reached the finals several other times.
Forbes was a strong player in the 1950s and 1960s. He often played doubles with his fellow South African, Abe Segal. They were thought to be one of the best doubles teams in the world.
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Tennis Career Highlights
Gordon Forbes started playing tennis as a child on his family's farm. When he was just 12 years old, he played in his first junior tournament in East London and won it!
He won the singles title at the South African Championships in 1959 and again in 1961. He also reached the finals of this tournament in 1955, 1962, 1963, and 1964.
In 1962, Forbes won the Tuscaloosa Grass Court Invitational. This was a big win because he beat the top-ranked American player, Whitney Reed, in a long semifinal match. Then, in the final, he defeated the world's number one player, Rod Laver, in a close four-set match.
Forbes also played for the South African Davis Cup team from 1955 to 1963. He played in 14 different matches and had a great record, winning 20 games and losing only 11.
Life After Tennis
After he stopped playing professional tennis, Gordon Forbes became a writer. He wrote three books about his time as a tennis player. These books shared his experiences, talked about other players from his era, and covered different tennis topics.
Gordon Forbes passed away on 9 December 2020, at the age of 86. He died due to illness during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.
Grand Slam Achievements
Gordon Forbes had some impressive results in Grand Slam tournaments, which are the biggest events in tennis.
Doubles Finals
He reached one Grand Slam final in men's doubles.
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1963 | French Championships | Clay | Abe Segal |
 Roy Emerson Manuel Santana |
2–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
- In 1963, he was a runner-up (meaning he reached the final but didn't win) in the men's doubles at the French Championships. He played with Abe Segal, but they lost to Roy Emerson and Manuel Santana.
Mixed Doubles Title
Gordon Forbes won one Grand Slam title in mixed doubles.
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1955 | French Championships | Clay |  Darlene Hard |
Jenny Staley Luis Ayala |
5–7, 6–1, 6–2 |
- In 1955, he won the mixed doubles title at the French Championships. He teamed up with Darlene Hard from the USA. They beat Jenny Staley and Luis Ayala in the final. This was a big achievement!
