Owen Davidson facts for kids
Davidson in 1988
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| Country (sports) |  Australia |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 October 1943 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 12 May 2023 (aged 79) Conroe, Texas, U.S. |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Turned pro | 1969 (amateur from 1962) |
| Retired | 1974 |
| Plays | Left-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 2010 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 403-253 (61.4%) |
| Career titles | 7 |
| Highest ranking | No. 8 (1967, NY Times) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967) |
| French Open | QF (1967) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1966) |
| US Open | QF (1966, 1967) |
| Professional majors | |
| US Pro | SF (1967) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1972) |
| French Open | F (1967) |
| Wimbledon | F (1966) |
| US Open | W (1973) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1965, 1967) |
| French Open | W (1967) |
| Wimbledon | W (1967, 1971, 1973, 1974) |
| US Open | W (1966, 1967, 1971, 1973) |
Owen Keir Davidson (born 4 October 1943 – died 12 May 2023) was an Australian tennis player. He played professionally in the 1960s and 1970s.
Owen Davidson was especially famous for his success in mixed doubles. He won eight Grand Slam mixed doubles titles with his partner, Billie Jean King. A Grand Slam means winning the four biggest tennis tournaments. These are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
In 1967, Owen Davidson achieved a rare feat. He won a calendar year Grand Slam in mixed doubles. This means he won all four major tournaments in the same year. He won the Australian Championships with Lesley Turner Bowrey. He then won the French Championships, Wimbledon, and the US Championships with Billie Jean King.
Davidson also made history in 1968. He was the first player to win a match in the "Open Era" of tennis. This was when professional players were allowed to compete in major tournaments. He won his match at the British Hard Court Championships.
His best result in singles at a Grand Slam was reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1966. He also won men's doubles titles. He won the Australian Open in 1972 with Ken Rosewall. He won the US Open in 1973 with John Newcombe.
Owen Davidson was recognized for his amazing career. He was added to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010. He also joined the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2011. He passed away in Conroe, Texas, in 2023, at the age of 79.
Owen Davidson's Grand Slam Wins
Owen Davidson had a fantastic career, especially in doubles. He won many major titles.
Men's Doubles Success
Owen Davidson won two Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He won the Australian Open in 1972 with Ken Rosewall. They beat Ross Case and Geoff Masters. In 1973, he won the US Open with John Newcombe. They defeated Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall in the final.
He also reached the finals four other times in men's doubles. He was a finalist at Wimbledon in 1966. He also reached the finals of the Australian Championships and US Championships in 1967. In 1972, he was a finalist at the US Open again.
Mixed Doubles Triumphs
Owen Davidson was incredibly successful in mixed doubles. He won a total of 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. This is a very high number of wins!
- In 1965, he won the Australian Championships with Robyn Ebbern.
- In 1966, he won the US Championships with Donna Floyd.
- In 1967, he had an amazing year. He won the Australian Championships with Lesley Turner Bowrey. Then, he won the French Championships, Wimbledon, and the US Championships, all with Billie Jean King. This made him a calendar year Grand Slam winner in mixed doubles.
- He continued winning with Billie Jean King. They won Wimbledon again in 1971, 1973, and 1974.
- They also won the US Open together in 1971 and 1973.
He only lost one mixed doubles Grand Slam final. This was at the French Open in 1968, playing with Billie Jean King.
See also
In Spanish: Owen Davidson para niños
