Wallace F. Johnson Explained

Wallace F. Johnson
Fullname:Wallace Ford Johnson
Birth Date:13 July 1889
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Death Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
College:University of Pennsylvania[1]
Turnedpro:1929 (amateur tour from 1904)
Retired:1930
Plays:Right-handed (1-handed backhand)
Highestsinglesranking:No. 8 (1913, E.B. Dewhurst)[2]
Wimbledonresult:4R (1913)
Usopenresult:F (1912, 1921)
Promajors:yes
Usproresult:QF (1929)
Usopenmixedresult:W (1907, 1909, 1911, 1920)
Team:yes
Daviscupresult:W (1913)
Updated: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 Open, 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)

YearChampionshipOpponentScore
1912 6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 4–6, 2–6
1921 1–6, 3–6, 1–6

Mixed doubles

Titles (4)

Yearwidth='200'Championshipwidth='210'Partnerwidth='210'Opponentwidth='160'Score
1907U.S. Championships May Sayers Natalie Wildey
Herbert M. Tilden
6–1, 7–5
1909U.S. Championships Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman Louise Hammond Raymond
Raymond Little
6–2, 6–0
1911U.S. Championships Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman Edna Wildey
Herbert M. Tilden
6–4, 6–4
1920U.S. Championships Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman Molla Bjurstedt Mallory
Craig Biddle
6–4, 6–3

External links

Notes and References

  1. Walker, Randy (2012). "The Most Spectacular Tournament Debut in Tennis History?", World Tennis Magazine, November 27, 2012.
  2. "Dewhurst Picks Best of World's Tennis Players", Detroit Free Press, February 9, 1913.
  3. News: M'Loughlin Is New Tennis Champion. The New York Times. August 27, 1912. PDF.
  4. News: Tilden Retains His National Net Title. The New York Times. September 20, 1921. PDF.
  5. Book: Collins, Bud. The Bud Collins History of Tennis. 2010. New Chapter Press. [New York]. 978-0942257700. 2nd. 457, 481.
  6. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/04/01/99006370.pdf "Wallace Johnson Beaten By Rice"
  7. Web site: Davis Cup Players – Wallace Johnson. ITF. June 12, 2012.
  8. Web site: Penn Tennis Hall of Fame. Penn Athletics. June 27, 2012. 13. PDF.