Brian Ivan Cobb Norton (10 October 1899 – 16 July 1956), nicknamed "Babe", was a South African tennis player.[2] He was born in Cape Colony and died in Santa Clara, California. At Wimbledon 1921, Norton beat Frank Hunter and Manuel Alonso Areizaga, before having two championship points in the Challenge Round against Bill Tilden but losing in five sets.[3] Norton is one of only two men to hold championship point in a Grand Slam men's singles final and yet not win a title (the other is Guillermo Coria at the 2004 French Open. Norton won the 1923 U.S. National Championships doubles, alongside Tilden. In the singles that year, Norton beat R. Norris Williams in a five-set quarterfinal, then lost to Tilden in the semifinals.[4]
 | |
| Full name | Brian Ivan Cobb Norton |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) | South Africa |
| Born | 10 October 1899 Robben Island, Cape Colony |
| Died | 16 July 1956 (aged 56) Santa Clara, California, United States |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 7 (1921, A. Wallis Myers)[1] |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | F (1921Ch) |
| US Open | SF (1923) |
| Other tournaments | |
| WHCC | 2R (1920, 1923) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | SF (1921, 1922) |
| US Open | W (1923) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | SF (1920) |
After Norton, the next South African citizen to reach the gentlemen's singles final at Wimbledon would be Kevin Anderson 97 years later in 2018. Although another South African-born tennis player, Kevin Curren, had reached the Wimbledon final in 1985 against Boris Becker (Germany), Curren played as a U.S. (American) citizen.
He competed in the singles and doubles events at the 1920 Summer Olympics.[5] Norton was ranked World No. 7 by A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph in 1921 and 1922.[1][6]
In 1921, he won the singles title at the South of England Championships after a five-set victory in the final against Mohammed Sleem.[7]
Grand Slam finals
editSingles (1 runner-up)
edit| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1921 | Wimbledon Championships | Grass |  Bill Tilden |
6–4, 6–2, 1–6, 0–6, 5–7 |
Doubles (1 title)
edit| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1923 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Bill Tilden
|
Richard Williams Watson Washburn
|
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 5–7, 6–2 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Tilden First on Tennis Star List", The Pittsburgh Press, 4 December 1921.
- ^ "Brian Norton". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "Wimbledon player profile – Brian Norton". AELTC.
- ^ Collins, Bud (2016). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (3rd ed.). New York: New Chapter Press. p. 486. ISBN 978-1-937559-38-0.
- ^ "Olympics – Players – Brian Norton". SportsReference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
- ^ "Half World's Best Racqueteers Yankees Says British Expert", The Deseret News, 12 April 1922.
- ^ "Curious Lawn Tennis Final". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. LVIII, no. 17, 490. South Australia. 17 November 1921. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
External links
edit- Brian Norton at the International Tennis Federation
- Brian Norton at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Brian Norton at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- Brian Norton at Olympics.com
- IO Media Guide at the Wayback Machine (archived 29 June 2011)
