With the US Open set to close today with a dramatic showdown between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, the British Embassy takes a look back at some of the most epic tennis clashes between Brits and Americans.
Serve me up, Scotty
Tennis, or in Klingon "SuD baS moQ," is popular around the world and even in space. It is advisable to use a racquet rather than your head though.
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Ward, Whitman, and Davis vs. Black, Gore, and Ropert-Barrett—The First Davis Cup Match, 1900
By 1900, tennis had won popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. Dwight Davis, a recent Harvard graduate, seeing tennis’ potential to promote international relationships, organized the first International Lawn Tennis Challenge between the United States and the British Isles. The two teams competed in singles and doubles matches at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, competing for a trophy Davis bought with his own money. The Americans took the championship 3-0 in a stunning (and somewhat embarrassing) defeat for the Brits.
By 1904, the tournament had expanded to include other international men’s teams, and eventually became known as the Davis Cup, in honour of Davis’ trophy. The Davis Cup grew further to become the world’s largest annual international team competition in sport: in 2013, no fewer than 130 nations entered. Inspired by the Davis Cup, an international women’s tournament, called the Fed Cup, began in 1963.
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Perry vs. Budge—US Open, 1936
The 1936 US Open final pit together two tennis legends- Fred Perry from the UK and Don Budge from the US. Budge came from humble beginnings in Oakland, CA, as the son of a Scottish immigrant. Although he had already won the championships twice, Perry’s similarly modest upbringings were out of step with the rarefied atmosphere of the Wimbledon finals. In 1936, Perry defeated Budge to take his third title. Later that year at the US Open, the two had a rematch. Perry continued his winning streak by defeating Budge. It was the last time a British male won a singles Grand Slam title until Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013. Budge went on to win the 1937 Wimbledon title, becoming the only American male to win all four Grand Slam titles in a single year. Perry moved to the US in 1938, became a naturalized US citizen, served in the US Air Force, and started a clothing line. In 1940, the two rivals became doubles partners, playing against former US superstars Bill Tilden and Billy Richards.
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Gibson vs. Mortimer—French Championship & Wimbledon, 1956 & 1958
Althea Gibson and Angela Mortimer became rivals in 1956, when they faced off in the final of the French Championships. Following a tough match, Gibson beat Mortimer, the reigning champ, and became the first person of colour to win a Grand Slam title. Gibson went on to win the 1957 Women’s Wimbledon and US Open. Mortimer, who was partially deaf, came back to win the 1958 Australian Championships. The two champs faced off once more later that year at Wimbledon, where Gibson took the championship again. Mortimer finally won Wimbledon in 1961.
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