American tennis player and businessman who won two Grand Slam singles titles, including the 1951 Wimbledon Championship, and later became a successful investment banker.
Dick Savitt is renowned for his exceptional tennis career, which saw him win both the Australian and Wimbledon men's singles championships in 1951, earning him the world No. 1 ranking by The New York Times. This remarkable achievement, combined with his subsequent retirement to focus on business, made him a legend in the tennis world.
Born on March 4, 1927, in Bayonne, New Jersey, to a Jewish family, Savitt began playing tennis at the age of 14, remarkably teaching himself the game without ever taking a lesson. This self-taught prodigy made the finals of the New Jersey Boys Championship and the National Boys Tennis Tournament before moving to the junior ranks.
In 1944, Savitt's family relocated to El Paso, Texas, due to his mother's skin condition, which required a warmer climate. Initially, his passion lay in basketball, earning him an All-State forward position and co-captaincy of the basketball team at El Paso High School in 1944. However, he also excelled in tennis, winning the Texas University Interscholastic League boys singles championship in 1944-1945.
Following his high school career, Savitt entered the Navy in 1945, stationed at the Naval Air Station in Memphis, Tennessee. Upon his discharge, he attended Cornell University, where he became an outstanding tennis player. His exceptional skills earned him the 8th-ranked junior tennis player and 17th-ranked amateur overall in the nation.
The year 1951 marked the pinnacle of Savitt's tennis career, as he won both the Australian and Wimbledon men's singles championships, becoming one of the four American men to achieve this feat. His outstanding performance led The New York Times to declare him the world No. 1, despite being ranked world No. 2 behind Frank Sedgman.
Surprisingly, Savitt decided to retire from professional tennis in 1952, at the age of 25, to focus on his business career. This sudden retirement left many wondering what could have been, had he continued to play at the highest level.
Savitt's remarkable career has been recognized with numerous honors, including inductions into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, the USTA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He also won gold medals in both singles and men's doubles at the 1961 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
"I never had a tennis lesson in my life. I just went out and played," Savitt once said, reflecting on his self-taught journey to tennis stardom.
Throughout his life, Savitt remained humble and dedicated to his passions, inspiring generations of tennis players and enthusiasts alike.
87 Years Old
A tennis legend and 11-time Grand Slam champion, known for his dominant playing style and coaching prowess, leaving a lasting impact on the sport.
91 Years Old
A tennis legend who won 23 singles titles, including eight Grand Slam singles titles, and was one of the most successful players of the 1950s and 1960s. He's known for his exceptional volley and backhand.
91 Years Old
A dominant tennis player of the 1950s, winning 13 Grand Slam titles, including four Australian Open crowns, and renowned for his powerful serve and volley game.
98 Years Old
A tennis legend who dominated the sport in the 1940s and 1950s, winning 17 Grand Slam titles and known for his powerful serve and volley game. He was a pioneer for Mexican-American athletes and a tennis icon.
Born in 1923
A dominant tennis player of the 1950s, winning 15 Grand Slam titles, including two Wimbledon singles championships. Known for his powerful serve and volley game.
98 Years Old
Australian tennis legend who won 22 Grand Slam titles, including five singles crowns, and was ranked world No. 1 in 1951-1952.
96 Years Old
Australian tennis player who won 23 singles titles, including the 1954 Australian Open, and coached several top players, including Margaret Court and Billie Jean King.
96 Years Old
Australian tennis player who won the 1952 Wimbledon men's doubles title and was a key figure in the country's Davis Cup victories in the 1950s. He was also a talented singles player, reaching the quarterfinals of several Grand Slam tournaments.
