Wallace F. Johnson

Wallace Ford Johnson (July 13, 1889 – February 15, 1971) of Philadelphia was an American tennis player in the early 20th century.

Wallace F. Johnson

Full name	Wallace Ford Johnson
Country (sports)	United States
Born	(1889-07-13)July 13, 1889 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died	February 15, 1971(1971-02-15) (aged 81) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Turned pro	1929 (amateur tour from 1904)
Retired	1930
Plays	Right-handed (1-handed backhand)
College	University of Pennsylvania[1]
Singles
Highest ranking	No. 8 (1913, E.B. Dewhurst)[2]
Grand Slam singles results
Wimbledon	4R (1913)
US Open	F (1912, 1921)
Professional majors
US Pro	QF (1929)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US Open	W (1907, 1909, 1911, 1920)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	W (1913)
Last updated on: September 12, 2012.

Career

Johnson played collegiate tennis at the University of Pennsylvania, where in 1909 he won NCAA championships in both singles, against Melville H. Long, and doubles.

At the U.S. National Championships, Johnson reached the singles final in both 1912 and 1921 before falling to future International Tennis Hall of Famers Maurice McLoughlin and Bill Tilden.^[3][4] He also won U.S. mixed doubles championships in 1907, 1909, 1911, and 1920. All but his 1907 title came with Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman; the 1907 title was with May Sayers.^[5] Johnson was ranked the U.S. No. 4 in 1922 and World No. 8 in 1913 by Dr. E.B. Dewhurst.^[2][6]

He also played on the U.S. Davis Cup team in 1913 defeating the German Oskar Kreuzer in the semifinal round.^[7]

At the Cincinnati Open, Johnson paired with Richard H. Palmer to win the doubles title in 1910 and reach the doubles final in 1911, and was a singles finalist in 1910 and a singles semifinalist in 1911.

Johnson coached the University of Pennsylvania men's tennis team from 1929 until 1959. Johnson also served as Penn's men's squash coach for 30 years (1929–54, 56–59) and guided LeRoy Lewis to the National Squash Championship in 1937 and 1938.^[8]

In 1999, Johnson was posthumously enshrined into the ITA Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, and in 2008 he was enshrined into the USTA/Middle States Section Hall of Fame.

Grand Slam finals

Singles

Runners-up (2)

Year	Championship	Opponent	Score
1912	U.S. Championships	Maurice E. McLoughlin	6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 4–6, 2–6
1921	U.S. Championships	Bill Tilden	1–6, 3–6, 1–6

Mixed doubles

Titles (4)

Year	Championship	Partner	Opponent	Score
1907	U.S. Championships	May Sayers	Natalie Wildey Herbert M. Tilden	6–1, 7–5
1909	U.S. Championships	Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman	Louise Hammond Raymond Raymond Little	6–2, 6–0
1911	U.S. Championships	Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman	Edna Wildey Herbert M. Tilden	6–4, 6–4
1920	U.S. Championships	Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman	Molla Bjurstedt Mallory Craig Biddle	6–4, 6–3

References

1. Walker, Randy (2012). "The Most Spectacular Tournament Debut in Tennis History?", World Tennis Magazine, November 27, 2012.
2. "Dewhurst Picks Best of World's Tennis Players", Detroit Free Press, February 9, 1913.
3. "M'Loughlin Is New Tennis Champion" (PDF). The New York Times. August 27, 1912.
4. "Tilden Retains His National Net Title" (PDF). The New York Times. September 20, 1921.
5. Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 457, 481. ISBN 978-0942257700.
6. "Wallace Johnson Beaten By Rice", The New York Times, April 1, 1922.
7. "Davis Cup Players – Wallace Johnson". ITF. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
8. "Penn Tennis Hall of Fame" (PDF). Penn Athletics. p. 13. Retrieved June 27, 2012.

External links

• ITA Men’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame