Tennis Player. Born John Albert Kramer in Las Vegas, Nevada and raised in Los Angeles, California, Kramer won the United States Men's Singles Championship (the forerunner to the current U.S. Open Championship) in both 1946 & 1947, as well as winning the Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship in 1947. He also won the U.S. Men's Doubles Championship four times and Wimbledon's Men's Doubles Championship twice. He represented the United States on the Davis Cup team in 1946 & 1947, which defeated Australia to win the championship. He was the number one ranked male tennis player in the world for much of the mid 1940's, before turning pro. He succeeded Bobby Riggs as the Men's Professional Champion after turning pro in 1947, and retained the championship by defeating Pancho Gonzales, Pancho Segura & Frank Sedgman. He retired from touring tennis in 1954 due to an arthritic back. He spent his later years promoting the professional men's tennis tour, expanding it to international venues. He also helped to found and served as the first executive director of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). In 1968, he was enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Tennis Player. Born John Albert Kramer in Las Vegas, Nevada and raised in Los Angeles, California, Kramer won the United States Men's Singles Championship (the forerunner to the current U.S. Open Championship) in both 1946 & 1947, as well as winning the Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship in 1947. He also won the U.S. Men's Doubles Championship four times and Wimbledon's Men's Doubles Championship twice. He represented the United States on the Davis Cup team in 1946 & 1947, which defeated Australia to win the championship. He was the number one ranked male tennis player in the world for much of the mid 1940's, before turning pro. He succeeded Bobby Riggs as the Men's Professional Champion after turning pro in 1947, and retained the championship by defeating Pancho Gonzales, Pancho Segura & Frank Sedgman. He retired from touring tennis in 1954 due to an arthritic back. He spent his later years promoting the professional men's tennis tour, expanding it to international venues. He also helped to found and served as the first executive director of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). In 1968, he was enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Bio by: Rick Kauffman
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