Bill Johnston was born November 2, 1894, in San Francisco, the son of Robert Johnston, an electrical plant mechanic and Margaret Burns, of Irish origin. Johnston started to play tennis in early 1906, aged 11, on the public asphalt courts in Golden Gate Park. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the schools were closed, and he spent much of his spare time practicing on the tennis courts. He achieved his first tournament victory at the 1910 Bay Counties junior singles competition.[3]
In 1916, Johnston won the Cincinnati Open (now Cincinnati Masters) after Clarence Griffin defaulted in the challenge round. Johnston won the Longwood Challenge Cup, played on the Longwood Courts at Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts in 1913, 1916, 1919, 1920 and 1921.[4]
During World War I, Johnston served in the U.S. Navy.[5]
Until "Big Bill" Tilden began to defeat him regularly in 1920, Johnston had been the best American player for a number of years and was ranked No. 1 by the United States Lawn Tennis Association in 1915 and 1919.[7] In July 1919, Johnston defeated Tilden in the final of the U.S. Clay Court Championships.[8] A month later, Johnston beat Tilden in three straight sets in the final of the 1919 US Championships, then Tilden overtook him in 1920. Johnston remained competitive with Tilden for the next seven or eight years, but was never able to beat Tilden in an important match again. For instance, in 1922 Johnston defeated Tilden three times out of four occasions but Tilden beat Johnston in the final of the U.S. Championships in five sets.[9] In 1923, despite Johnston winning both the World Hard Court Championships and Wimbledon, he failed to beat Tilden at the US Championships, losing in three one-sided sets. Johnston threatened to get closer to beating Tilden on the big stage in following years, but memorably lost the 1925 US Championships final in five sets to Tilden. Johnston was runner-up a record six times in the US Championships, and this is still a record today. Together Johnston and Tilden won seven consecutive Davis Cup trophies, from 1920 to 1926, a record that still stands.[10] In September 1927, Johnston announced his retirement after the U.S. Davis Cup loss to the French team consisting of the 'Four Musketeers' and confirmed his decision in mid-1928.[11] He turned down an offer to become professional.[12]
Johnston was renowned for the power and deadliness of his forehand drive, which he hit shoulder-high with a Western grip and which was considered the best forehand of his time.[5][13][14]
After his tennis career, Johnston was active in the brokerage industry. He died of tuberculosis on May 1, 1946 at the age of 51.[15]
^ ab"Bill Johnston: Career match record". thetennisbase.com. Tennis Base. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
^United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 422.
^Ohnsorg, Roger W. (February 2011). Robert Lindley Murray: The Reluctant U.S. Tennis Champion; includes "The First Forty Years of American Tennis". Victoria, BC: Trafford On Demand Pub. pp. 39, 40, 295–298. ISBN9781426945144.
^Irving C. Wright, ed. (1921). 1921 Wright & Ditson Official Lawn Tennis Guide. Wright & Ditson. pp. 39, 40.
^ abGrasso, John (2011). Historical Dictionary of Tennis. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 153. ISBN978-0810872370.
^"Johnston is Again Supreme in Tennis" (PDF). The New York Times. December 21, 1919.
^"Johnston Officially Rated Best Tennis Star" (PDF). Sporting Life, Volume 66 Number 15. December 11, 1915. p. 22.
^"W.M. Johnston Wins Two Tennis Titles". The Toronto World. Chicago. July 21, 1919. p. 8.
^Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 457, 458. ISBN978-0942257700.
^"Davis Cup Player Profile – Bill Johnston". ITF. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
^"Tilden and Johnston Almost Without Equal". The Milwaukee Journal. AP. June 6, 1928. p. Journal Final, p.2.
bill, johnston, tennis, william, marquitz, little, bill, johnston, november, 1894, 1946, american, world, tennis, player, bill, johnstonjohnston, 1916, match, against, richard, dick, norris, williams, iifull, namewilliam, marquitz, johnstoncountry, sports, uni. William Marquitz Little Bill Johnston November 2 1894 May 1 1946 was an American world No 1 tennis player Bill JohnstonJohnston in 1916 in his match against Richard Dick Norris Williams IIFull nameWilliam Marquitz JohnstonCountry sports United StatesBorn 1894 11 02 November 2 1894San Francisco California U S DiedMay 1 1946 1946 05 01 aged 51 San Francisco California U S Height1 73 m 5 ft 8 in Turned pro1913 amateur tour Retired1928PlaysRight handed 1 handed backhand Int Tennis HoF1958 member page SinglesCareer record350 51 87 3 1 Career titles42 1 Highest rankingNo 1 1919 A Wallis Myers 2 Grand Slam singles resultsWimbledonW 1923 US OpenW 1915 1919 Other tournamentsWHCCW 1923 DoublesGrand Slam doubles resultsWimbledonSF 1921 US OpenW 1915 1916 1920 Mixed doublesGrand Slam mixed doubles resultsWimbledon2R 1923 US OpenW 1921 Team competitionsDavis CupW 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 Maurice McLoughlin 1890 1957 Henry Ward Dawson 1890 1963 William Johnston 1894 1946 Clarence Griffin on 1888 1973 on August 30 1916 at the national men s doubles championship Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Grand Slam finals 3 1 Singles 9 3 titles 6 runners up 3 2 Doubles 3 titles 3 3 Mixed doubles 1 title 4 Performance timeline 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditBill Johnston was born November 2 1894 in San Francisco the son of Robert Johnston an electrical plant mechanic and Margaret Burns of Irish origin Johnston started to play tennis in early 1906 aged 11 on the public asphalt courts in Golden Gate Park After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake the schools were closed and he spent much of his spare time practicing on the tennis courts He achieved his first tournament victory at the 1910 Bay Counties junior singles competition 3 In 1916 Johnston won the Cincinnati Open now Cincinnati Masters after Clarence Griffin defaulted in the challenge round Johnston won the Longwood Challenge Cup played on the Longwood Courts at Chestnut Hill Massachusetts in 1913 1916 1919 1920 and 1921 4 During World War I Johnston served in the U S Navy 5 Johnston was the co World No 1 player in 1919 and in 1922 respectively along with Gerald Patterson and Bill Tilden He won the US Championships in 1915 and 1919 as well as the World Hard Court Championships clay and Wimbledon in 1923 6 Until Big Bill Tilden began to defeat him regularly in 1920 Johnston had been the best American player for a number of years and was ranked No 1 by the United States Lawn Tennis Association in 1915 and 1919 7 In July 1919 Johnston defeated Tilden in the final of the U S Clay Court Championships 8 A month later Johnston beat Tilden in three straight sets in the final of the 1919 US Championships then Tilden overtook him in 1920 Johnston remained competitive with Tilden for the next seven or eight years but was never able to beat Tilden in an important match again For instance in 1922 Johnston defeated Tilden three times out of four occasions but Tilden beat Johnston in the final of the U S Championships in five sets 9 In 1923 despite Johnston winning both the World Hard Court Championships and Wimbledon he failed to beat Tilden at the US Championships losing in three one sided sets Johnston threatened to get closer to beating Tilden on the big stage in following years but memorably lost the 1925 US Championships final in five sets to Tilden Johnston was runner up a record six times in the US Championships and this is still a record today Together Johnston and Tilden won seven consecutive Davis Cup trophies from 1920 to 1926 a record that still stands 10 In September 1927 Johnston announced his retirement after the U S Davis Cup loss to the French team consisting of the Four Musketeers and confirmed his decision in mid 1928 11 He turned down an offer to become professional 12 Johnston was renowned for the power and deadliness of his forehand drive which he hit shoulder high with a Western grip and which was considered the best forehand of his time 5 13 14 After his tennis career Johnston was active in the brokerage industry He died of tuberculosis on May 1 1946 at the age of 51 15 Legacy EditBill Johnston was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1958 Grand Slam finals EditSingles 9 3 titles 6 runners up Edit Result Year Championship Surface Opponent ScoreWin 1915 U S Championships Grass Maurice McLoughlin 1 6 6 0 7 5 10 8Loss 1916 U S Championships Grass R Norris Williams 6 4 4 6 6 0 2 6 4 6Win 1919 U S Championships Grass Bill Tilden 6 4 6 4 6 3Loss 1920 U S Championships Grass Bill Tilden 1 6 6 1 5 7 7 5 3 6Loss 1922 U S Championships Grass Bill Tilden 6 4 6 3 2 6 3 6 4 6Win 1923 Wimbledon Grass Frank Hunter 6 0 6 3 6 1Loss 1923 U S Championships Grass Bill Tilden 4 6 1 6 4 6Loss 1924 U S Championships Grass Bill Tilden 1 6 7 9 2 6Loss 1925 U S Championships Grass Bill Tilden 6 4 9 11 3 6 6 4 3 6Doubles 3 titles Edit Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents ScoreWin 1915 U S Championships Grass Clarence Griffin Maurice E McLoughlin Tom Bundy 2 6 6 3 6 4 3 6 6 3Win 1916 U S Championships Grass Clarence Griffin Maurice E McLoughlin Henry Ward Dawson 6 4 6 3 5 7 6 3Win 1920 U S Championships Grass Clarence Griffin Roland Roberts Willis E Davis 6 2 6 2 6 3Mixed doubles 1 title Edit Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents ScoreWin 1921 U S Championships Grass Mary Browne Molla Bjurstedt Mallory Bill Tilden 3 6 6 4 6 3Performance timeline EditKey W F SF QF R RR Q DNQ A NH W winner F finalist SF semifinalist QF quarterfinalist R rounds 4 3 2 1 RR round robin stage Q qualification round DNQ did not qualify A absent NH not held SR strike rate events won competed W L win loss record Events with a challenge round WC won CR lost the challenge round FA all comers finalist OF only for French players 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 SR W L Win Grand Slam tournaments 3 15 67 12 84 8French OF not held OF A A A 0 0 0 0 Wimbledon A A not held A 2R A A W A A A A 1 2 8 1 88 9U S 3R 2R W F A A W F 4R F F F F QF SF 2 13 59 11 84 3Australian A A A not held A A A A A A A A A 0 0 0 0 Win loss 2 1 1 1 7 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 7 2 3 1 5 1 12 1 6 1 5 1 2 1 4 1References Edit a b Bill Johnston Career match record thetennisbase com Tennis Base Retrieved November 3 2017 United States Lawn Tennis Association 1972 Official Encyclopedia of Tennis First Edition p 422 Ohnsorg Roger W February 2011 Robert Lindley Murray The Reluctant U S Tennis Champion includes The First Forty Years of American Tennis Victoria BC Trafford On Demand Pub pp 39 40 295 298 ISBN 9781426945144 Irving C Wright ed 1921 1921 Wright amp Ditson Official Lawn Tennis Guide Wright amp Ditson pp 39 40 a b Grasso John 2011 Historical Dictionary of Tennis Lanham Md Scarecrow Press p 153 ISBN 978 0810872370 Johnston is Again Supreme in Tennis PDF The New York Times December 21 1919 Johnston Officially Rated Best Tennis Star PDF Sporting Life Volume 66 Number 15 December 11 1915 p 22 W M Johnston Wins Two Tennis Titles The Toronto World Chicago July 21 1919 p 8 Collins Bud 2010 The Bud Collins History of Tennis 2nd ed New York New Chapter Press pp 457 458 ISBN 978 0942257700 Davis Cup Player Profile Bill Johnston ITF Retrieved June 14 2012 Tilden and Johnston Almost Without Equal The Milwaukee Journal AP June 6 1928 p Journal Final p 2 Little Bill Retires The Milwaukee Journal AP June 5 1928 p 5 The sports immortals Bill Tilden The Free Lance Star AP April 7 1973 p 9 Hall of Famers Bill Johnston www tennisfame com International Tennis Hall of Fame Retrieved December 11 2014 Bill Johnston Dies Long a Tennis Star The Milwaukee Journal May 2 1946 p 8 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bill Johnston Bill Johnston at the International Tennis Hall of Fame Bill Johnston at the Association of Tennis Professionals Bill Johnston at the International Tennis Federation Bill Johnston at the Davis Cup Portal Tennis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Johnston tennis amp oldid 1125448609, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
