Stylish tennis player in the vanguard of pro game
Andres Gimeno, who has died aged 82, was a stylish clay court specialist who won numerous titles.
Andres Gimeno Tolaguera was born in Barcelona on Aug. 3, 1937, and showed early promise when his father, Esteban, took him to play at the Royal Barcelona Club.
Esteban became his coach and insisted on hours of methodical practice on the slow clay courts each week, which helped the youngster develop his immaculate ground strokes and the athleticism and consistency which later made his name.
He won the Spanish under-18 at 16 and the Spanish senior doubles a year later, giving up his studies play on the international amateur tour. In 1960 he won a string of tournaments: at Barcelona, Monte Carlo and, most notably, West London.
Despite his success, money was tight. When Jack Kramer offered him a US$ 84,400 three-year contract plus win bonuses to join his band of touring professionals he accepted at once. This disqualified him from Grand Slams, or the Davis Cup, in which he and Manuel Santana had made Spain a force.
After All England Club chair Herman David lobbied for open tennis, disgusted by the hypocrisy of the “shamateur” system, in August 1967 the Club staged a “World Professional Championship of Tennis” at Wimbledon, screened around the world.
A packed crowd watched a stellar lineup in thrilling battles, Rod Laver beating Ken Rosewall in the singles final and the “glamour boys,” Gimeno and Pancho Gonzales edging out Laver and Fred Stolle in the doubles.
The success of the event, showcasing the box- office potential of the pro stars, led to open tennis, scrapping the distinctions between amateurs and pros.
Gimeno immediately made his mark on the Grand Slams, partnering Arthur Ashe to the 1968 U. S. Open doubles final but losing to Bob Lutz and Stan Smith.
He reached the Australian Open singles final the following year, before bowing out to Rod Laver, and in 1970 enjoyed his best run at Wimbledon, losing to John Newcombe in the semis. Two years later he won five-setters against the American, Clark Graebner, and Alex Metreveli of Russia, to reach the French Open final, in which he fought back from a set down against Patrick Proisy to take the last three sets.
He became the oldest first- time champion of the open era — and his fellow players celebrated his victory because of his sportsmanship and genial manner.
He is survived by his wife Cristina, whom he married in 1962, and by two sons. A daughter died in 2011.