Wallace F. Johnson
Full nameWallace Ford Johnson
Country (sports) United States
Born(1889-07-13)July 13, 1889
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedFebruary 15, 1971(1971-02-15) (aged 81)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Turned pro1929 (amateur tour from 1904)
Retired1930
PlaysRight-handed (1-handed backhand)
CollegeUniversity of Pennsylvania[1]
Singles
Highest rankingNo. 8 (1913, E.B. Dewhurst)[2]
Grand Slam singles results
Wimbledon4R (1913)
US OpenF (1912, 1921)
Professional majors
US ProQF (1929)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US OpenW (1907, 1909, 1911, 1920)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1913)
Last updated on: September 12, 2012.

Wallace Ford Johnson (July 13, 1889 – February 15, 1971) of Philadelphia was an American tennis player in the early 20th century.

Career

Johnson played collegiate tennis at the University of Pennsylvania, where in 1909 he won NCAA championships in both singles, against Melville H. Long, and doubles.

At the U.S. National Championships, Johnson reached the singles final in both 1912 and 1921 before falling to future International Tennis Hall of Famers Maurice McLoughlin and Bill Tilden.[3][4] He also won U.S. mixed doubles championships in 1907, 1909, 1911, and 1920. All but his 1907 title came with Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman; the 1907 title was with May Sayers.[5] Johnson was ranked the U.S. No. 4 in 1922 and World No. 8 in 1913 by Dr. E.B. Dewhurst.[2][6]

He also played on the U.S. Davis Cup team in 1913 defeating the German Oskar Kreuzer in the semifinal round.[7]

At the Cincinnati tournament, Johnson paired with Richard H. Palmer to win the doubles title in 1910 and reach the doubles final in 1911, and was a singles finalist in 1910 and a singles semifinalist in 1911.

Johnson coached the University of Pennsylvania men's tennis team from 1929 until 1959. Johnson also served as Penn's men's squash coach for 30 years (1929–54, 56–59) and guided LeRoy Lewis to the National Squash Championship in 1937 and 1938.[8]

In 1999, Johnson was posthumously enshrined into the ITA Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, and in 2008 he was enshrined into the USTA/Middle States Section Hall of Fame.

Grand Slam finals

Singles

Runners-up (2)

Year Championship Opponent Score
1912 U.S. Championships United States Maurice E. McLoughlin 6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 4–6, 2–6
1921 U.S. Championships United States Bill Tilden 1–6, 3–6, 1–6

Mixed doubles

Titles (4)

Year Championship Partner Opponent Score
1907 U.S. Championships United States May Sayers United States Natalie Wildey
United States Herbert M. Tilden 		6–1, 7–5
1909 U.S. Championships United States Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman United States Louise Hammond Raymond
United States Raymond Little 		6–2, 6–0
1911 U.S. Championships United States Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman United States Edna Wildey
United States Herbert M. Tilden 		6–4, 6–4
1920 U.S. Championships United States Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman United States Molla Bjurstedt Mallory
United States Craig Biddle 		6–4, 6–3

References

  1. ^ Walker, Randy (2012). "The Most Spectacular Tournament Debut in Tennis History?", World Tennis Magazine, November 27, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Dewhurst Picks Best of World's Tennis Players", Detroit Free Press, February 9, 1913.
  3. ^ "M'Loughlin Is New Tennis Champion" (PDF). The New York Times. August 27, 1912.
  4. ^ "Tilden Retains His National Net Title" (PDF). The New York Times. September 20, 1921.
  5. ^ Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 457, 481. ISBN 978-0942257700.
  6. ^ "Wallace Johnson Beaten By Rice", The New York Times, April 1, 1922.
  7. ^ "Davis Cup Players – Wallace Johnson". ITF. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  8. ^ "Penn Tennis Hall of Fame" (PDF). Penn Athletics. p. 13. Retrieved June 27, 2012.

External links

US Open mixed doubles champions
Categories