John Edward Bromwich (14 November 1918 – 21 October 1999)[3] was an Australian tennis player who, along with fellow countryman Vivian McGrath, was one of the first great players to use a two-handed backhand. He was a natural left-hander, though hit his serve with his right hand.[4] Bromwich twice won the Australian Championships singles title, in 1939 (over Adrian Quist in a straight sets final) and in 1946 (a thrilling 5-set final victory over Dinny Pails). He was ranked World No. 3 by A. Wallis Myers in 1938 and again by Harry Hopman in 1947.[2][5]
Although a fine singles player, Bromwich was primarily known as being a brilliant doubles player, winning 13 men's doubles titles and 4 mixed doubles titles in the majors. Tennis great (and near contemporary) Jack Kramer writes in his 1979 autobiography that if "Earth were playing in the all-time Universe Davis Cup, I'd play Budge and Vines in my singles, and Budge and Bromwich in the doubles. That's what I think of Johnny as a doubles player."
In the 1939 Davis Cup final, just as World War II was starting, Bromwich played arguably the match of his life in beating the American, Frank Parker, in straight sets, to clinch the Cup for Australia. Australia had trailed 0–2 after the first day, and came back to win the tie, 3–2. This remains the only time in Davis Cup history where the winning team has won a Davis Cup final after trailing 0–2.[6]
In 1948, Bromwich played the American Bob Falkenburg in the Wimbledon final, and had a championship point at 5–3 in the fifth set. He came to the net for a volley but decided that Falkenburg's ball would go long and let it go by. It landed on the baseline and Falkenburg fought his way back into the match. Bromwich later had another two championship points, but was unable to take those either, and Falkenburg came back to win the championship, taking the last four games to win the fifth set, 7–5.[7] Kramer later wrote that "...it never seemed to me that he was the same player after that. He doubted himself. He was a precision player to start with – he used a terribly light racket weighing less than twelve ounces, and it was strung loosely. He could put a ball on a dime, and I suppose after he misjudged that one shot, the most important in his life, he never possessed the confidence he needed." Bromwich also had a championship point in losing the 1947 Australian Championships singles final to Dinny Pails.[8]
John Bromwich in a 1944 exhibition match against Dinny Pails
Bromwich gained some revenge against Falkenburg in the 1949 Wimbledon quarterfinals, coming back from two sets down to win in five sets. Bromwich then lost to Jaroslav Drobný in the semifinals.
Writing about Bromwich, Kramer says, "Bromwich was like McMillan today because as a kid John hit from both sides two-handed, and while he eventually had given up the two-handed forehand, he still hit backhand two-handed and could anything back from the baseline. He had strokes very much like Connors."
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John Edward Bromwich 14 November 1918 21 October 1999 3 was an Australian tennis player who along with fellow countryman Vivian McGrath was one of the first great players to use a two handed backhand He was a natural left hander though hit his serve with his right hand 4 Bromwich twice won the Australian Championships singles title in 1939 over Adrian Quist in a straight sets final and in 1946 a thrilling 5 set final victory over Dinny Pails He was ranked World No 3 by A Wallis Myers in 1938 and again by Harry Hopman in 1947 2 5 John BromwichBromwich in the 1930sFull nameJohn Edward BromwichCountry sports AustraliaBorn 1918 11 14 14 November 1918Sydney New South Wales AustraliaDied21 October 1999 1999 10 21 aged 80 Geelong Victoria AustraliaHeight1 78 m 5 ft 10 in Turned pro1934 amateur tour Retired1954PlaysLeft handed two handed backhand right handed serve Int Tennis HoF1984 member page SinglesCareer record480 90 84 2 1 Career titles54 1 Highest rankingNo 3 1938 A Wallis Myers 2 Grand Slam singles resultsAustralian OpenW 1939 1946 French OpenQF 1950 WimbledonF 1948 US OpenSF 1938 1939 1947 DoublesGrand Slam doubles resultsAustralian OpenW 1938 1939 1940 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 WimbledonW 1948 1950 US OpenW 1939 1949 1950 Grand Slam mixed doubles resultsAustralian OpenW 1938 WimbledonW 1947 1948 US OpenW 1947 Contents 1 Tennis career 2 Grand Slam finals 2 1 Singles 2 wins 6 losses 2 2 Doubles 13 wins 3 losses 2 3 Mixed Doubles 11 4 wins 7 losses 3 References 3 1 Sources 4 External linksTennis career EditAlthough a fine singles player Bromwich was primarily known as being a brilliant doubles player winning 13 men s doubles titles and 4 mixed doubles titles in the majors Tennis great and near contemporary Jack Kramer writes in his 1979 autobiography that if Earth were playing in the all time Universe Davis Cup I d play Budge and Vines in my singles and Budge and Bromwich in the doubles That s what I think of Johnny as a doubles player In the 1939 Davis Cup final just as World War II was starting Bromwich played arguably the match of his life in beating the American Frank Parker in straight sets to clinch the Cup for Australia Australia had trailed 0 2 after the first day and came back to win the tie 3 2 This remains the only time in Davis Cup history where the winning team has won a Davis Cup final after trailing 0 2 6 In 1948 Bromwich played the American Bob Falkenburg in the Wimbledon final and had a championship point at 5 3 in the fifth set He came to the net for a volley but decided that Falkenburg s ball would go long and let it go by It landed on the baseline and Falkenburg fought his way back into the match Bromwich later had another two championship points but was unable to take those either and Falkenburg came back to win the championship taking the last four games to win the fifth set 7 5 7 Kramer later wrote that it never seemed to me that he was the same player after that He doubted himself He was a precision player to start with he used a terribly light racket weighing less than twelve ounces and it was strung loosely He could put a ball on a dime and I suppose after he misjudged that one shot the most important in his life he never possessed the confidence he needed Bromwich also had a championship point in losing the 1947 Australian Championships singles final to Dinny Pails 8 John Bromwich in a 1944 exhibition match against Dinny Pails Bromwich gained some revenge against Falkenburg in the 1949 Wimbledon quarterfinals coming back from two sets down to win in five sets Bromwich then lost to Jaroslav Drobny in the semifinals Writing about Bromwich Kramer says Bromwich was like McMillan today because as a kid John hit from both sides two handed and while he eventually had given up the two handed forehand he still hit backhand two handed and could anything back from the baseline He had strokes very much like Connors Bromwich was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport Rhode Island in 1984 4 He received a posthumous Davis Cup commitment award in 2017 which was presented to his wife by the ITF and Tennis Australia 9 Grand Slam finals EditSingles 2 wins 6 losses Edit Result Year Championship Surface Opponent ScoreLoss 1937 Australian Championships Grass Vivian McGrath 3 6 6 1 0 6 6 2 1 6Loss 1938 Australian Championships Grass Don Budge 4 6 2 6 1 6Win 1939 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist 6 4 6 1 6 3Win 1946 Australian Championships Grass Dinny Pails 5 7 6 3 7 5 3 6 6 2Loss 1947 Australian Championships Grass Dinny Pails 6 4 4 6 6 3 5 7 6 8Loss 1948 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist 4 6 6 3 3 6 6 2 3 6Loss 1948 Wimbledon Grass Bob Falkenburg 5 7 6 0 2 6 6 3 5 7Loss 1949 Australian Championships Grass Frank Sedgman 3 6 2 6 2 6Doubles 13 wins 3 losses Edit Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents ScoreLoss 1937 Australian Championships Grass Jack Harper Adrian Quist Don Turnbull 2 6 7 9 6 1 8 6 4 6Win 1938 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist Gottfried von Cramm Henner Henkel 7 5 6 4 6 0Loss 1938 U S Championships Grass Adrian Quist Don Budge Gene Mako 3 6 2 6 1 6Win 1939 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist Colin Long Don Turnbull 6 4 7 5 6 2Win 1939 U S Championships Grass Adrian Quist Jack Crawford Harry Hopman 8 6 6 1 6 4Win 1940 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist Jack Crawford Vivian McGrath 6 3 7 5 6 1Win 1946 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist Max Newcombe Leonard Schwartz 6 3 6 1 9 7Win 1947 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist Frank Sedgman George Worthington 6 1 6 3 6 1Win 1948 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist Frank Sedgman Colin Long 1 6 6 8 9 7 6 3 8 6Win 1948 Wimbledon Grass Frank Sedgman Tom Brown Gardnar Mulloy 5 7 7 5 7 5 9 7Win 1949 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist Geoffrey Brown Bill Sidwell 1 6 7 5 6 2 6 3Win 1949 US National Championships Grass Bill Sidwell Frank Sedgman George Worthington 6 4 6 0 6 1Win 1950 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist Jaroslav Drobny Eric Sturgess 6 3 5 7 4 6 6 3 8 6Win 1950 Wimbledon Championships Grass Adrian Quist Geoff Brown Bill Sidwell 7 5 3 6 6 3 3 6 6 2Win 1950 U S Championships Grass Frank Sedgman Gardnar Mulloy Bill Talbert 7 5 8 6 3 6 6 1Loss 1951 Australian Championships Grass Adrian Quist Frank Sedgman Ken McGregor 9 11 6 2 3 6 6 4 3 6Mixed Doubles 11 4 wins 7 losses Edit Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents ScoreWin 1938 Australian Championships Grass Margaret Wilson Nancye Wynne Bolton Colin Long 6 3 6 2Loss 1938 U S Championships Grass Thelma Coyne Long Alice Marble Don Budge 1 6 2 6Loss 1939 Australian Championships Grass Margaret Wilson Nell Hall Hopman Harry Hopman 8 6 2 6 3 6Loss 1946 Australian Championships Grass Joyce Fitch Nancye Wynne Bolton Colin Long 0 6 4 6Loss 1947 Australian Championships Grass Joyce Fitch Nancye Wynne Bolton Colin Long 3 6 3 6Win 1947 Wimbledon Grass Louise Brough Nancye Wynne Bolton Colin Long 1 6 6 4 6 2Win 1947 U S Championships Grass Louise Brough Gussy Moran Pancho Segura 6 3 6 1Win 1948 Wimbledon Grass Louise Brough Doris Hart Frank Sedgman 6 2 3 6 6 3Loss 1949 Australian Championships Grass Joyce Fitch Doris Hart Frank Sedgman 1 6 7 5 10 12Loss 1949 Wimbledon Grass Louise Brough Sheila Piercey Summers Eric Sturgess 7 9 11 9 5 7Loss 1954 Australian Championships Grass Beryl Penrose Thelma Coyne Long Rex Hartwig 6 4 1 6 2 6References Edit a b John Bromwich Career match record thetennisbase com Tennis Base Retrieved 3 November 2017 a b Bromwich placed third The Sydney Morning Herald 5 October 1938 p 19 via Google News Archive Jack Bromwich 80 Australian Tennis Star PDF The New York Times 23 October 1999 a b Hall of Famers John Bromwich International Tennis Hall of Fame Archived from the original on 30 March 2010 World s best 10 in tennis The Courier mail No 3181 Queensland Australia 3 February 1947 p 6 via National Library of Australia Australia Triumphs Auckland Star Volume LXX Issue 209 5 September 1939 p 14 via PapersPast Bromwhich Beaten in Fifth Set The Sydney Morning Herald 3 July 1948 via Google News Archive Dinny Pails Beats Bromwich In Singles Final Daily Examiner 28 January 1947 p 4 via Trove Davis Cup Commitment Award for Bromwich www tennis com au Tennis Australia 6 February 2017 Sources Edit The Game My 40 Years in Tennis 1979 Jack Kramer with Frank Deford ISBN 0 399 12336 9 External links EditJohn Bromwich at the Association of Tennis Professionals John Bromwich at the International Tennis Hall of Fame John Bromwich at the International Tennis Federation John Bromwich at the Davis Cup John Bromwich at Tennis Australia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Bromwich amp oldid 1149139226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
