Ellsworth Vines

Henry Ellsworth Vines Jr. (September 28, 1911 – March 17, 1994) was an American tennis champion of the 1930s, the World No. 1 player or the co-No.

He won three Grand Slam titles, the U.S. National Championships in 1931 and 1932 and the Wimbledon Championships in 1932.

Vines also was able to win Pro Slam titles on three different surfaces.

1 in 1932 as an amateur, and in 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937 as a professional.

He later became a professional golfer and reached the semifinals of the PGA Championship in 1951.

Vines attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and played on the freshman basketball team.

Many believe that Mercer Beasley started him on his tennis career at age 14 in Pasadena.

He was mentored by Perry T. Jones through the Los Angeles Tennis Club and the Southern California Tennis Association.

Vines, aged 15, reached the quarter-finals of the Pacific Northwest Championships in Tacoma in July, where he lost to Dick Stevens.

In September Vines lost in the last 16 of the California state championships to Bowie Dietrick.

"Vines had the first set, 5-3, on his own service, but was unable to sustain the pace against his able and more experienced opponent, and lost the first set, 8-10. He seemed pretty well tried out by that time, and Dietrick put the second set away at 6-2".

Vines reached the quarter-finals of the Pacific Southwest tournament in October, where he lost to Christian Boussus.

"Vines forced Boussus to the limit in their match. The young Pasadenan's service was far better than that of Boussus, but the Frenchman's marvelous placements and his steadiness brought him through victoriously. He usually was content to hit the ball back, without trying fancy shots, and forced Vines into errors in long rallies."

In July, Vines lost in the final of the Western Championships in Chicago to Keith Gledhill.

At the Wisconsin Championships in Milwaukee in August, Vines lost to Gledhill in the final.

In February, Vines beat Lester Stoefen in the final of the Los Angeles championships.

In May, Vines won the Southern California championships beating Gledhill in the final.

In June, Vines won the Pasadena championships, beating Stoefen in the final.

In July, Vines beat Frank Hunter in the final of the New York Metropolitan championships.

In September, Vines won the Pacific Southwest championships, beating Wilmer Allison in a long and close five sets in the quarters, Clifford Sutter in four sets in the semifinal and Gregory Mangin in the final.

Vines won his first title of the year in February, beating Stoefen in five sets to win the Los Angeles championships.

Vines won the River Oaks tournament in Houston in April beating Bruce Barnes in the final.

"Vines's service had so much pace that at times today it almost knocked the racquet from Barnes's hand."

Vines won the Ojai valley championships in April over Stoefen.

In May, Vines won the Southern Californian championships beating Alan Herrington in the final.

"The flashiness of Vines's playing is shown in the fact that he scored forty placement aces to Herrington's three during the four sets. Vines also led in practically every other department of the game."

Vines won the California State championships in June beating Ed Chandler in the final.

In July, Vines won the U. S. clay court championships in St. Louis beating Gledhill in the final.

and the same month won the Longwood Bowl in Brookline, Mass.

over John Doeg.

Then at the Seabright tournament, Vines came from two sets down to beat Doeg in the final.

"The turning point of the match came in the tenth game of the fourth set. At this stage Doeg was leading five to four in games and won the first two points from Vines' service in the tenth. Employing his powerful backhand stroke, the Pasadena youngster pulled the match out of the fire by winning the next four points to take the game."

In August, Vines beat Fred Perry in the final of the Newport Casino tournament.

Vines was still 19 when he won his first Grand Slam singles title, the U.S. Championships, beating George Lott in the final in four sets.

Vines played "erratically throughout the major part of match, but his brilliant placements and cannonball service were sufficient to overcome Lott's steadier volleying and effective service", according to The Daily News (New York).

Trailing 5–2 in the fourth set, Vines won five consecutive games to close out the match.

In September Vines beat Perry in the final of the Pacific Southwest championships in five sets.

"Vines served the almost unbelievable total of twenty-three double faults during the match. When he finally got going, he didn't score many aces, but he was getting his first ball in regularly, and although the Englishman, who battled furiously to the finish, usually managed to get his racket on the ball, he couldn't handle the serve at all. Perry covered the court brilliantly, making many seemingly impossible gets."

In October, Vines beat Perry again in the final of the Pacific coast championships.

Vines was ranked world No. 2 by Pierre Gillou and by Didier Poulain.