Mike Davies (tennis) facts for kids
| Full name | Michael Grenfell Davies |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Great Britain |
| Residence | Sarasota, Florida |
| Born | 9 January 1936 Swansea, Wales |
| Died | 2 November 2015 (aged 79) Sarasota, Florida |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Turned pro | 1960 (amateur tour from 1953) |
| Retired | 1969 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 2012 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 302-199 (60.2%) |
| Career titles | 34 |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1954, 1957) |
| French Open | 3R (1956, 1957) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1954) |
| US Open | 2R (1957, 1958) |
| Professional majors | |
| US Pro | QF (1966, 1967) |
| Wembley Pro | SF (1966) |
| French Pro | QF (1962, 1966, 1967) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (1957) |
| Wimbledon | F (1960) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1954) |
Michael Grenfell "Mike" Davies was a talented tennis player from Wales. He was born on January 9, 1936, and passed away on November 2, 2015. Mike had an amazing 60-year career in tennis. He started as a player, becoming the top-ranked player in Great Britain. He also played for the British Davis Cup team. Later, he became a leader and innovator in the world of professional tennis.
Contents
Playing Tennis
Early Years and Training
Mike Davies was born in Swansea, Wales. He started playing tennis when he was 11 years old. Famous tennis players Fred Perry and Dan Maskell noticed his talent. Mike traveled to Australia three times to train with Harry Hopman. Hopman was the coach for the Australian Davis Cup team. Mike practiced with future tennis legends like Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall. This training helped him become a much better player.
Top British Player
From 1958 to 1960, Mike was ranked as the number one tennis player in Great Britain. He was a key member of the British Davis Cup team from 1956 to 1960. He won 15 matches and lost 8 during his time on the team. In 1960, Mike reached the men's doubles final at Wimbledon with his partner, Bobby Wilson. This was a big achievement. It was the last time a British man reached a Wimbledon men's singles or doubles final until 2012.
Turning Professional
After his success at Wimbledon in 1960, Mike was invited to become a professional tennis player. This was a big decision because, at that time, international tennis was mostly for amateurs. If you turned professional, you could not play in major tournaments like the Grand Slams or the Davis Cup. Mike joined a group of top players like Pancho Gonzales and Lew Hoad. They were considered the best in the world.
When Mike became a professional, the All-England Club at Wimbledon canceled his membership. This meant he could no longer play in the Grand Slams. Mike also became a leader in the first Players' Association. This group fought for professional tennis players to be allowed to play in all major tournaments. This group later became the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Mike helped promote professional tennis and worked to make the sport more open to all players.
Life as a Professional
In 1961, Mike wrote two books. One was a guide on how to play tennis. The other was his life story, called Tennis Rebel. Mike retired from playing tennis in 1967. This was just one year before Wimbledon finally allowed professional players to compete. He did come out of retirement to play in the first "Open" Wimbledon in 1968. During the ban, he missed 28 Grand Slam events.
Grand Slam Finals
Doubles (1 runner-up)
Mike Davies reached one Grand Slam final in his career.
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1960 | Wimbledon | Grass | Bobby Wilson |
 Dennis Ralston Rafael Osuna |
5–7, 3–6, 8–10 |
Changing the Game: Mike's Business Career
World Championship Tennis (WCT)
In 1967, Lamar Hunt started World Championship Tennis (WCT). He hired Mike Davies in 1968 to help build WCT into a major force. WCT signed eight top players, calling them "The Handsome Eight." These players included John Newcombe and Cliff Drysdale. WCT guaranteed them money for playing a certain number of weeks each year. Later, WCT signed more famous players like Rod Laver and Arthur Ashe.
In 1970, Mike planned the first "million-dollar tour." This tour had 20 tournaments around the world. It featured 32 players, each earning $50,000. The top eight players would compete in the WCT finals in Dallas. Mike led WCT for 13 years.
Innovations in Tennis
During his time with WCT, Mike Davies introduced many new ideas to tennis. These changes made the game more exciting and easier to watch:
- He brought in the "tie-breaker" to make matches shorter and more exciting.
- He insisted that players wear colored clothing, not just white.
- He introduced a colored tennis ball (first orange, then yellow) in 1972.
- He created the rules for 30 seconds between points and 90 seconds between games.
- He was the first to place chairs on the court for players during breaks.
- He made sure a player representative and a trainer traveled with players.
- He experimented with electronic line calling in 1972.
- He made the first TV deal for tennis with a major network, NBC.
- He also signed the first contract with ESPN before the network even started.
Leading the ATP
In 1981, Mike left WCT and joined the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He became its executive director in 1982. The ATP was almost out of money when he started. When he left three years later, it had over $1 million. He helped create more jobs for players. He also increased prize money and the number of tournaments.
Work with the ITF
In 1987, Mike joined the International Tennis Federation (ITF). He moved back to London as a general manager. In 1990, he became a full member of the All England Club at Wimbledon again. This was 30 years after his membership was taken away. Mike helped the ITF get much more money from sponsors and TV deals. He also created the Grand Slam Committee. This committee now oversees the four major Grand Slam events.
Grand Slam Cup
Mike Davies also created the Grand Slam Cup. This event started in Munich, Germany, in 1990. It brought together the 16 players who had the best results in the four Grand Slam events. The prize money was $6 million, with $2 million going to the winner. This was the highest prize money per player ever. In 1994, Mike helped arrange a huge TV deal for tennis. It was a five-year deal worth $200 million.
Retirement and Legacy
Mike Davies retired in 1995 and moved back to the United States. In 1997, he helped manage the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament in Connecticut.
In 2012, Mike was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This honor recognized his huge role in changing tennis into a worldwide sport. Mike Davies passed away in Sarasota, Florida, on November 2, 2015, at the age of 79.
