Roscoe Tanner

Roscoe Tanner (born October 15, 1951) is a retired American tennis player, who turned professional in 1972[1] and reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 4 on July 30, 1979.

Roscoe Tanner
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceKiawah Island, South Carolina
Born (1951-10-15) October 15, 1951
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Turned pro1972 (amateur tour from 1969)
Retired1985
PlaysLeft-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$1,696,198
Singles
Career record590–293 (66.8%)
Career titles16
Highest rankingNo. 4 (July 30, 1979)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenW (1977Jan)
French Open4R (1978)
WimbledonF (1979)
US OpenSF (1974, 1979)
Other tournaments
Tour FinalsRR (1976, 1977, 1979, 1981)
WCT FinalsSF (1981)
Doubles
Career record272-182
Career titles13
Highest rankingNo. 14 (August 23, 1977)

Tanner was famous for his big left-handed serve, which was clocked at 153 mph at Palm Springs in 1978 during the final against Raúl Ramírez.[2][3][4] He is also known for winning the men's singles title at the first of two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Tanner won the tournament held in January, Vitas Gerulaitis won the December tournament. Tanner reached the Wimbledon final in 1979, losing to Björn Borg in five sets.

Tanner was in the news in the 2000s for legal problems that included stretches of imprisonment, arrests for missing child support payments, allegations of financial misdeeds, and bankruptcy.

Early life

Leonard Roscoe Tanner III[5] hailed from Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, graduated from Baylor School[6] in Chattanooga, and with teammate Sandy Mayer helped to lead Stanford University's rise to national prominence in collegiate tennis. Tanner played number one singles, with Mayer playing number two. In 1972, Tanner and Mayer won the NCAA doubles championship, and the Stanford team finished second in the NCAA tournament, behind Trinity (TX). The team also featured Chico Hagey, Rick Fisher, Jim Delaney, Gery Groslimond, Chip Fisher, Paul Sidone, and Tim Noonan.

Playing history

Tanner defeated Haroon Rahim 10–8 in the fifth set to win the 1970 United States Amateur Championships.

Tanner defeated Guillermo Vilas in three straight sets in the 1977 Australian Open (January) final, to win his first and only grand slam title. Tanner lost a five set match to Björn Borg in the 1979 Wimbledon final, which was the first Wimbledon final to be broadcast live in the United States as part of NBC's Breakfast at Wimbledon. Tanner avenged this loss to Borg by beating him in four sets in the US Open quarterfinals two months later, a match where Tanner's 140 mph serve brought the net down during the fourth set.[7] Tanner lost to Vitas Gerulaitis in the semifinals. Tanner described his 1979 US Open win over Borg and loss to Gerulaitis in his autobiography as "the highest of my highs and the lowest of my lows on a tennis court within two days of each other".[2]

Tanner's strong left-handed serve was thrown very low and struck with a lunge involving the whole body, earning him the nickname "The Rocket".[5] His booming 153 mph serve was the fastest ever recorded in tournament competition from February 1978[2][3][4] until Andy Roddick posted a 155 mph serve[8] in a Davis Cup semifinal in September 2004 against Vladimir Voltchkov.

He won the Davis Cup in 1981 playing with John McEnroe, Eliot Teltscher and Peter Fleming on a team captained by Arthur Ashe that defeated Argentina in the final, played at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati.

Grand Slam singles performance timeline
Tournament1969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984SRW–L
Australian Open1 A A A A A A A A W1R A A A 2R A 3R A 1 / 4 9–3
French Open A A A A A 1R 3R A A 4R A A A A A A 0 / 3 5–3
Wimbledon A A A 3R A 4R SF SF 1R 4R F QF 2R 4R QF A 0 / 11 36–11
US Open 1R 2R 3R QF 3R SF 3R 4R 4R 4R SF QF QF 2R 3R 1R 0 / 13 39–13
Win–Loss 0–1 0–1 2–1 6–2 2–1 8–3 9–3 8–2 9–3 9–3 11–2 8–2 6–3 4–2 8–3 0–1 1 / 34 88–30

1The Australian Open was played twice in 1977, in January and December.

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 2 (1–1)
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Win1977Australian Open (Jan.)Grass Guillermo Vilas6–3, 6–3, 6–3
Loss1979WimbledonGrass Björn Borg7–6(7–4), 1–6, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6

Career finals

Singles (16 titles, 25 runner-ups)
Result No. Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1. 1972 Albany, U.S. Hard (i) Jimmy Connors 2–6, 6–7
Loss 2. 1972 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard Stan Smith 4–6, 4–6
Loss 3. 1973 Milan WCT, Italy Carpet (i) Marty Riessen 6–7, 0–6, 6–7
Loss 4. 1974 Palm Desert WCT, U.S. Hard Rod Laver 4–6, 2–6
Win 1. 1974 Denver WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe 6–2, 6–4
Loss 5. 1974 Columbus, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez 6–3, 6–7, 4–6
Loss 6. 1974 Maui, U.S. Hard John Newcombe 6–7, 6–7
Win 2. 1974 Christchurch, New Zealand Carpet (i) Ray Ruffels 6–4, 6–2
Loss 7. 1975 St. Petersburg WCT, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez 0–6, 6–1, 2–6
Loss 8. 1975 St. Louis WCT, U.S. Clay Vitas Gerulaitis 6–2, 2–6, 3–6
Loss 9. 1975 Charlotte, U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez 6–3, 4–6, 3–6
Win 3. 1975 Las Vegas WCT, U.S. Hard Ross Case 5–7, 7–5, 7–6
Win 4. 1975 Chicago, U.S. Carpet (i) John Alexander 6–1, 6–7, 7–6
Loss 10. 1975 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard Arthur Ashe 6–3, 5–7, 3–6
Loss 11. 1976 Birmingham, U.S. Carpet (i) Jimmy Connors 4–6, 6–3, 1–6
Loss 12. 1976 Rancho Mirage, U.S. Hard Jimmy Connors 4–6, 4–6
Win 5. 1976 Cincinnati, U.S. Clay Eddie Dibbs 7–6, 6–3
Win 6. 1976 Columbus, U.S. Hard Stan Smith 6–4, 7–6
Loss 13. 1976 South Orange, U.S. Clay Ilie Năstase 4–6, 2–6
Win 7. 1976 San Francisco, U.S. Hard (i) Brian Gottfried 4–6, 7–5, 6–1
Win 8. 1976 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Clay Corrado Barazzutti 6–3, 6–2
Win 9. 1976 Beckenham, U.K Grass Jimmy Connors 6–3, 6–4
Loss 14. 1976 Wembley, U.K. Carpet (i) Jimmy Connors 6–3, 6–7, 4–6
Win 10. 1977 (Jan.) Australian Open, Melbourne Grass Guillermo Vilas 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
Loss 15. 1977 South Orange, U.S. Clay Guillermo Vilas 4–6, 1–6
Loss 16. 1977 WCT Challenge Cup, Las Vegas Carpet (i) Jimmy Connors 2–6, 6–5, 6–3, 2–6, 5–6
Win 11. 1977 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Grass Brian Teacher 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7, 6–4
Loss 17. 1978 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet (i) Jimmy Connors 2–6, 4–6, 3–6
Win 12. 1978 Rancho Mirage, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez 6–1, 7–6
Win 13. 1978 New Orleans, U.S. Carpet (i) Victor Amaya 6–3, 7–5
Win 14. 1979 Rancho Mirage, U.S. Hard Brian Gottfried 6–4, 6–2
Win 15. 1979 Washington Indoor, U.S. Carpet (i) Brian Gottfried 6–4, 6–4
Loss 18. 1979 New Orleans, U.S. Carpet (i) John McEnroe 4–6, 2–6
Loss 19. 1979 Wimbledon, U.K. Grass Björn Borg 7–6, 1–6, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Loss 20. 1979 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard Peter Fleming 4–6, 2–6
Loss 21. 1980 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) John McEnroe 1–6, 2–6
Win 16. 1981 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet (i) Wojtek Fibak 6–2, 7–6, 7–5
Loss 22. 1981 Memphis, U.S. Carpet (i) Gene Mayer 2–6, 4–6
Loss 23. 1981 Bristol, U.K. Grass Mark Edmondson 3–6, 7–5, 4–6
Loss 24. 1981 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard (i) John McEnroe 4–6, 5–7, 2–6
Loss 25. 1982 La Costa WCT, U.S. Hard Johan Kriek 0–6, 6–4, 0–6, 4–6

Doubles titles (13 titles, 17 runner-ups)
Result No. Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. 1971 Cincinnati, U.S. Clay Sandy Mayer Stan Smith
Erik van Dillen		 4–6, 4–6
Loss 2. 1971 Columbus, U.S. Hard Jimmy Connors Jim McManus
Jim Osborne		 6–4, 5–7, 2–6
Loss 3. 1973 London WCT, U.K. Hard (i) Arthur Ashe Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 3–6, 3–6
Loss 4. 1973 Washington WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 6–4, 6–7, 2–6
Loss 5. 1973 Houston WCT, U.S. Clay Arthur Ashe Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 5–7, 5–7
Win 1. 1973 Denver WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 3–6, 6–3, 7–6
Loss 6. 1973 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Arthur Ashe Juan Gisbert Sr.
Ilie Năstase		 2–6, 6–4, 5–7
Loss 7. 1974 Bologna Indoor, Italy Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Ove Bengtson
Björn Borg		 4–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–7, 2–6
Win 2. 1974 Barcelona WCT, Spain Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Tom Edlefsen
Tom Leonard		 6–3, 6–4
Loss 8. 1974 Houston, U.S. Clay Arthur Ashe Colin Dibley
Rod Laver		 6–4, 6–7, 4–6
Win 3. 1974 Denver WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Mark Cox
Jun Kamiwazumi		 6–3, 7–6
Win 4. 1974 Maui, U.S. Hard Dick Stockton Owen Davidson
John Newcombe		 6–3, 7–6
Win 5. 1974 Christchurch, New Zealand Carpet (i) Ismail El Shafei Syd Ball
Ray Ruffels		 w/o
Win 6. 1974 Jakarta, Indonesia Hard Ismail El Shafei Jürgen Fassbender
Hans-Jürgen Pohmann		 7–5, 6–3
Loss 9. 1975 St. Petersburg WCT, U.S. Hard Charlie Pasarell Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		 4–6, 4–6
Loss 10. 1975 La Costa WCT, U.S. Hard Charlie Pasarell Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		 5–7, 4–6
Win 7. 1975 Nottingham, U.K. Grass Charlie Pasarell Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 6–2, 6–3
Loss 11. 1975 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Charlie Pasarell Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Loss 12. 1976 Memphis WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Marty Riessen Anand Amritraj
Vijay Amritraj		 3–6, 4–6
Win 8. 1976 La Costa WCT, U.S. Hard Marty Riessen Peter Fleming
Gene Mayer		 7–6, 7–6
Win 9. 1976 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard Marty Riessen Frew McMillan
Tom Okker		 6–2, 7–5
Win 10. 1976 San Francisco, U.S. Hard (i) Dick Stockton Brian Gottfried
Bob Hewitt		 6–3, 6–4
Loss 13. 1976 Maui, U.S. Hard Dick Stockton Raymond Moore
Allan Stone		 7–6, 3–6, 4–6
Win 11. 1976 Perth, Australia Hard (i) Dick Stockton Bob Carmichael
Ismail El Shafei		 6–7, 6–1, 6–2
Win 12. 1976 Wembley, U.K. Carpet (i) Stan Smith Wojtek Fibak
Brian Gottfried		 7–6, 6–3
Loss 14. 1977 Palm Springs, U.S. Hard Marty Riessen Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 6–7, 6–7
Loss 15. 1977 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard Bob Hewitt John Alexander
Phil Dent		 3–6, 6–7
Loss 16. 1977 Hong Kong Hard Marty Riessen Syd Ball
Kim Warwick		 6–7, 3–6
Win 13. 1978 Palm Springs, U.S. Hard Raymond Moore Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 6–4, 6–4
Loss 17. 1980 Manchester, U.K. Grass Dennis Ralston John Sadri
Tim Wilkison		 3–6, 4–6

Personal life

Tanner has been married three times, first to Nancy, then Charlotte and last to Margaret. He has five children, all daughters.[5]

Tanner has coached Dennis Early, Frank Norman, Jesse Stirge, Adrienne Radakovic and a session with Kenzo Wong.

Criminal record

Tanner has an extensive record of conflicts with the law. He was first arrested in 1997 for failure to pay child support.[9] He was arrested again in June 2003 on a fugitive warrant on charges related to passing a bad check and to further nonpayment of child support.[3] He pleaded guilty and received an initial sentence of probation. Tanner violated his probation and served one year in prison in Florida, but was then jailed for Contempt of Court in California.[10]

In 2008, Tanner was again arrested for writing a bad check in Knoxville, Tennessee, but it was settled out of court.[11][12] After being evicted from his home, Tanner was arrested in January 2012 for writing another bad check.[13] In March 2013, Tanner was arrested in Florida for writing a bad check and Grand Theft, and in 2014 he served 10 days for driving with a suspended license.[14] In 2015, Tanner was arrested for Failure to Appear in court on a previous warrant.[14]

Tennis camps

Currently, Tanner has a successful venture in teaching tennis. He has taught at doubles tennis camps with other professionals,[15] and is the camp director at his own training camp.[16]

References
  1. "The Big Interview Roscoe Tanner". The Times. London. December 5, 2004.
  2. Yorkey, Mike; Roscoe Tanner (2005). Double Fault: My Rise And Fall, And My Road Back. Liguori, Mo: Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-779-0.
  3. L. Jon Wertheim (November 29, 2004). "Outside Looking In". Sports Illustrated.
  4. Wimbledon '99: Secrets of an express delivery, by Ronald Atkin, The Independent, June 20, 1999 Retrieved 12/9/09.
  5. Wigmore, Barry (August 8, 2003). "How the rocket crashed to earth". The Times. UK. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  6. "Baylor School: Leonard Roscoe Tanner, Jr. '69".
  7. "Powering up". St. Petersburg Times. August 27, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  8. "Serving up a tennis treat..." The Press. October 24, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  9. Greg Garber (June 24, 2006). "Jailed Tanner's losses: Game, set, match . . . family". sports.espn.go.com. ESPN.
  10. "Roscoe Tanner in Trouble With Law, Again". WTVC. May 29, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  11. Tanner accused of not returning vehicles after check bounced, Associated Press, May 28, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  12. "Theft Charges Dismissed Against Roscoe Tanner After Restitution Made". The Chattanoogan. August 14, 2008. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  13. "Leonard Roscoe Tanner Mugshot - Leonard Roscoe Tanner Arrest - Indian River County, FL".
  14. "Inmate Booking Details". Indian River County Sheriff's Office.
  15. "Tennis Camp with Roscoe Tanner". Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  16. "Roscoe Tanner tennis training". Retrieved July 25, 2018.
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