Smash hits at Wimbeldon DICK SAVITT
We salute some of the past Jewish stars who made an impact on court
Self-taught American player who won both the Wimbledon and Australian titles in 1951. He retired from the sport at 25, allegedly after being snubbed by the US Davis Cup team coach. In
1981, he and son Robert won the US father-son doubles title
ANGELA BUXTON
Born in Liverpool in 1934 — her grandparents had emigrated from
Russia — she started playing at a young age and took the gold medal in the women’s singles at the Maccabiah Games. In 1956, she was a losing finalist in the singles at Wimbledon but won the women’s doubles in partnership with American Althea Gibson. The pair also won the French Open title. A serious hand injury forced her retirement at the age of 22
ANDY RAM
Forged a successful doubles partnership with fellow Israeli Jonathan Erlich — they won the Australian title in 2008. Two years previously, Ram became the first Israeli to win a senior Grand Slam event — the mixed doubles at Wimbledon, in partnership with Russian Vera Zvonareva
BRAD GILBERT
A singles quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 1990, the Californian was also a bronze medallist at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. His pugnacious approach was exemplified by the title of his book, Winning Ugly. Gilbert went on to coach some of the game’s leading players, among them Andy Murray, Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi
OTHER NOTABLE PLAYERS
Tom Okker,a Dutchman whose Jewish father was imprisoned by the Nazis, reached the singles semi-finals at Wimbledon in 1978 and won 40 singles titles during his career
Israeli Shahar Peer’s best Wimbledon singles performance was reaching the fourth round in 2008. She was also twice a doubles quarter-finalist at the championships and achieved a singles ranking high of 11 in 2011