Fred Alexander
Frederick Beasley Alexander (August 14, 1880 – March 3, 1969) was an American tennis player in the early 20th century. He won the singles title at the 1908 Australasian Championships and six double titles at Grand Slam events.
 Alexander playing a low forehand volley | |
| Full name | Frederick Beasley Alexander |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  |
| Born | August 14, 1880 Sea Bright NJ, U.S. |
| Died | March 3, 1969 (aged 88) Beverly Hills, CA, U.S. |
| Turned pro | 1899 (amateur tour) |
| Retired | 1920 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| College | Princeton University |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1991 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 29–11 |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1908) |
| US Open | F (1908) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 0–0 |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1908) |
| US Open | W (1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1917) |
| Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
| US Open | F (1918) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | F (1908Ch) |
Career
The right-handed Alexander in 1908 became the first foreigner to win the singles title at the Australasian/Australian Championships, the amateur precursor to the Australian Open. He then teamed with the man he defeated in the final, Alfred Dunlop, to win the doubles.
Alexander attended Princeton University and won the Intercollegiate doubles championship in 1900 and the singles in 1901. Between 1904 and 1918, he was a U.S. top ten player at year's end six times. He was a finalist in doubles at the U.S. Championships, precursor to the US Open, seven straight times beginning in 1905. He and partner Harold Hackett won the U.S. doubles each year from 1907 to 1910. At age 37, Alexander won again in 1917, partnering with Harold Throckmorton. In the singles, Alexander reached the all comers final in 1908, beating William Clothier before losing to Beals Wright in straight sets.[1]
He competed in the USA Davis Cup team in 1908 which lost the final against Australia at the Albert Ground, Melbourne. Alexander lost both his singles matches against Norman Brookes and Anthony Wilding as well as the doubles match against these two together with his partner Beals Wright.[2]
In 1915 he authored How to Play Lawn Tennis, part of the Spalding's athletic library series.[3]
Alexander was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1961.[4]
U.S. Indoor Championships
- Men's Doubles champion: 1906, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1917
Grand Slam finals
Singles (1 title)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1908 | Australasian Championships | Grass |  | 3–6, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2, 6–3 |
Doubles (6 titles, 5 runner-ups)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1900 | US Championships | Grass | .svg.png){kind=small} | | 4–6, 7–9, 10–12 |
| Loss | 1905 | US Championships | Grass | | | 4–6, 4–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 1906 | US Championships | Grass | | | 3–6, 6–3, 3-, 3–6 |
| Win | 1907 | US Championships | Grass | | | 6–2, 6–1, 6–1 |
| Win | 1908 | Australasian Championships | Grass | | | 6–3, 6–2, 6–1 |
| Win | 1908 | US Championships | Grass | .svg.png){kind=small} | | 6–1, 7–5, 6–2 |
| Win | 1909 | US Championships | Grass | | | 6–4, 6–4, 6–0 |
| Win | 1910 | US Championships | Grass | | | 6–1, 8–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1911 | US Championships | Grass | | | 5–7, 15–13, 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1917 | US Championships | Grass | .svg.png){kind=small} | | 11–9, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1918 | US Championships | Grass | | | 3–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 2–6 |
References
- Talbert, Bill (1967). Tennis Observed. Boston: Barre Publishers. pp. 80, 81. OCLC 172306.
- "Davis Cup – Player Profile Fred Alexander". International Tennis Federation (ITF). Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- "How to play lawn tennis". Open Library.
- "Hall of Famers – Fred Alexander". International Tennis Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
