Tom Okker facts for kids
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| Full name | Thomas Samuel Okker | ||||||||||||||||
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| Country (sports) |  Netherlands |
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| Residence | Hazerswoude-Dorp, Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 22 February 1944 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
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| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 1968 (amateur from 1964) | ||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1981 | ||||||||||||||||
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) | ||||||||||||||||
| Prize money | $1,257,200 | ||||||||||||||||
| Singles | |||||||||||||||||
| Career record | 798–335 (70.43%) in pre Open-Era & Open Era | ||||||||||||||||
| Career titles | 40 (35 listed by ATP) | ||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | No. 3 (2 March 1974) | ||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam singles results | |||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | SF (1971) | ||||||||||||||||
| French Open | SF (1969) | ||||||||||||||||
| Wimbledon | SF (1978) | ||||||||||||||||
| US Open | F (1968) | ||||||||||||||||
| Other tournaments | |||||||||||||||||
| Tour Finals | F (1973) | ||||||||||||||||
| WCT Finals | SF (1971) | ||||||||||||||||
| Doubles | |||||||||||||||||
| Career record | 550–152 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career titles | 68 | ||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (5 February 1979) | ||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam doubles results | |||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | F (1971) | ||||||||||||||||
| French Open | W (1973) | ||||||||||||||||
| Wimbledon | F (1969) | ||||||||||||||||
| US Open | W (1976) | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Thomas Samuel Okker (born 22 February 1944) is a famous Dutch former tennis player. People often called him "the Flying Dutchman" because of his speed on the court. He played tennis from the mid-1960s until 1980.
Tom Okker won some big tournaments during his career. He won the French Open in doubles in 1973 and the US Open in doubles in 1976. He also earned two gold medals at the 1965 Maccabiah Games in Israel. For seven years in a row, from 1968 to 1974, he was one of the top ten singles players in the world. His highest ranking was world No. 3 in 1974. He even became the world No. 1 in doubles in 1979!
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Tom Okker was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His father was Jewish, and Tom identifies as Jewish. During World War II, his father was held by the Nazis. However, he managed to escape by pretending to be someone else.
Tom Okker's Tennis Journey
Tom Okker started his tennis career in 1963 in West Germany. He quickly became a top player in his home country, winning the Dutch championship every year from 1964 to 1968.
Becoming a Professional Player
In 1968, Tom became a professional tennis player. This meant he could play for prize money. That same year, he won both singles and doubles titles at the Italian Open. His doubles partner was Marty Riessen.
At Wimbledon, one of the most famous tennis tournaments, Tom reached the quarterfinals in 1968 and the semifinals in 1978.
Grand Slam Success
Tom Okker's best result in a Grand Slam tournament was at the 1968 US Open. He made it all the way to the final! On his way, he beat tennis legends like Pancho Gonzales and Ken Rosewall. In the final match, he played against Arthur Ashe. It was a very close game, but Tom lost in five sets. Even though he lost, Tom Okker was awarded the first prize money at the 1968 US Open. This was because Arthur Ashe was still considered an amateur player at the time.
In 1969, Tom signed a four-year contract with Lamar Hunt's World Championship Tennis (WCT). This was a big step for professional tennis.
Singles and Doubles Achievements
Throughout his career, Tom Okker won 40 singles titles. He also reached the final in 37 other singles tournaments.
He was also incredibly successful in doubles. He won two Grand Slam doubles titles:
- The French Open in 1973 with John Newcombe.
- The US Open in 1976 with Marty Riessen.
In total, Tom Okker won 68 doubles events. This was a record that stood for a long time, until Todd Woodbridge broke it in 2005. Tom was one of the first tennis players to earn over $1 million in prize money. When he retired in 1980, his total earnings were $1,257,200.
Playing for His Country: Davis Cup
From 1964 to 1981, Tom Okker proudly represented the Netherlands in the Davis Cup. This is a major international team competition in men's tennis. He played in 13 matches for his country.
Maccabiah Games Medals
In 1965, Tom Okker competed in the 1965 Maccabiah Games in Israel. This event is open to Jewish athletes from all over the world. He won two gold medals there: one for singles and one for mixed doubles.
His Unique Playing Style
Tom Okker was one of the first players of his time to hit the ball with a lot of topspin. This made his shots bounce higher and faster, making it harder for his opponents to return them.
Recognitions and Awards
In 2003, Tom Okker was honored by being inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. This means his achievements in tennis are recognized as very important in Jewish sports history.
He was also considered for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2018, but he was not inducted that year.
Life After Tennis
Tom Okker is married to Anna-Marie, and they have three children. After retiring from tennis in the mid-1980s, Tom became involved in the art world. He was a founding partner in the Jaski art gallery in Amsterdam, which specializes in art from the CoBrA movement. In 2005, he started his own art gallery, Tom Okker Art bv, in Hazerswoude-Dorp, Netherlands, where he lives today.
Images for kids
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Tom Okker at the 1972 Rotterdam Indoors
See also
In Spanish: Tom Okker para niños
- List of select Jewish tennis players
