The Wimbledon Final That Never Was . . .: And Other Tennis Tales from a By-Gone Era

The only time in the history of Wimbledon that the men’s singles final was not played is told in detail by the crowned champion in this illuminating tennis biography. Sidney Wood won the 1931 Wimbledon title by default over Frank Shields—his school buddy, doubles partner, roommate, and Davis Cup teammate—in one of the most curious episodes in sports history. Wood tells the tale of how Shields was ordered by the U.S. Tennis Association not to compete in the championship match so that he could rest his injured knee in preparation for an upcoming Davis Cup match. Three years later the story continues when he and Shields played a match at the Queen’s Club for the Wimbledon trophy. Also included are a compilation of short stories that deliver fascinating anecdotes of the 1930s and a signature document of the play and styles of 20th-century tennis legends. Copyright ......Page 4 Dedication ......Page 5 Contents ......Page 6 Introduction......Page 10 1 • Who Am I?......Page 14 2 • Early Years......Page 16 3 • The Wimbledon Final that Never was.........Page 33 4 • The Private Understanding Playoff......Page 48 5 • From Wimbledon to Wall Street......Page 54 6 • My Favorite Match......Page 58 7 • Doing Laundry with Don Budge and Arnold Palmer......Page 61 8 • Dave Selznick......Page 64 9 • Shooting it up with Gary Cooper......Page 66 10 • The Other Errol ......Page 69 11 • Scarecrow Server......Page 72 12 • Near Immortality at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre......Page 73 13 • Charlie Chaplin in Wonderland......Page 75 14 • Replay with Fay Wray......Page 78 15 • Groucho Gets Bagged......Page 80 16 • J. Donald Budge......Page 82 17 • Roof Top Tennis in Manhattan the Founding of Town Tennis Club......Page 84 18 • The Full Count......Page 86 19 • Days of Grace......Page 91 20 • The Case of Althea Gibson......Page 96 21 • Tennis with Bobby Fischer......Page 98 22 • The Shah and I......Page 102 23 • The First US Open Box Seats......Page 106 24 • Supreme Court......Page 108 25 • Once I was Gross at Roland Garros......Page 110 26 • Frequent Flier......Page 114 27 • Near Miss......Page 117 28 • Deputy Wood......Page 118 29 • The Hot Foot......Page 122 30 • Nuts to You, Mrs. Astor ......Page 123 31 • Practice Imperfect......Page 125 32 • T he “Double-Hit” that Cost Jean Borotra the 1927 Wimbledon Title......Page 128 33 • Henri Cochet - The French Connection......Page 130 34 • Foot Faults...Before and After......Page 133 35 • French Frustrations......Page 135 36 • Mark McCormack - The Ultimate Sports Mogul ......Page 138 37 • Adrenaline ......Page 142 38 • Analyzing the Greatest Players of All Time......Page 147 39 • The Greatest Strokes and Skill Sets of All Time......Page 160 40 • Friendships for a Lifetime......Page 186 EPILOGUE......Page 190 Index ......Page 191