Australia
Born: 23 November 1934
Died: 3 July 1994
Career: 1950-72
Played: Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Peak rank: 1 (1953)
Major singles titles: 4
Total singles titles: 52

Tennis player Lewis Alan Hoad (23 November 1934 – 3 July 1994) Australian won four Major singles championships, including two Wimbledons, as an amateur from 1950 to 1957.  In 1957, he became professional and won the Kooyong and Forest Hills Tournaments of Champions. Hoad retired in 1973 for back difficulties. He died in 1994 after running a Spanish tennis resort.

Lewis Hoad left an indelible mark on the sport of tennis. His career, spanning from the early 1950s to the early 1970s, was characterized by extraordinary power, natural talent, and a charismatic presence that captivated audiences worldwide. Hoad’s impact on tennis was profound, influencing playing styles and setting new standards for the sport.

Early Life and Rise to Prominence

Hoad’s journey in tennis began at the tender age of five when he received his first racket. His natural aptitude for the sport was evident early on, as he would wake up at 5 a.m. to practice against walls and garage doors. By age 10, he was competing in tournaments against older players.Hoad’s rise in tennis was closely intertwined with that of Ken Rosewall, another Australian prodigy. Together, they were dubbed the “Sydney twins,” despite their contrasting physiques and playing styles. Hoad’s powerful build and aggressive style stood in stark contrast to Rosewall’s more tactical approach.

Major Achievements and Playing Style

Hoad’s career was marked by numerous achievements. He won four Grand Slam singles titles as an amateur: the Australian Championships (1956), the French Championships (1956), and Wimbledon (1956, 1957). He was also a key member of the Australian Davis Cup team that dominated the competition in the 1950s.Hoad’s playing style was characterized by explosive power and aggressive tactics. He was known for his formidable serve, powerful groundstrokes, and a fearless approach to the game. His ability to hit winners from any position on the court left spectators and opponents in awe. Jack Kramer, a contemporary tennis great, described Hoad’s game as having “absolutely no pattern” and noted his unique ability to “stand six or seven feet behind the baseline and snap the ball back hard, crosscourt.”

Key Matches and Rivalries

One of Hoad’s most memorable performances came in the 1953 Davis Cup Challenge Round against Tony Trabert. At just 19 years old, Hoad delivered a thrilling five-set victory that helped secure the Cup for Australia. This match is often cited as one of the greatest in Davis Cup history.Hoad’s rivalry with Pancho Gonzales in the professional ranks was particularly notable. Their head-to-head tour in 1958 was one of the most anticipated events in tennis history. Although Gonzales ultimately won the series, Hoad’s performances, especially early in the tour, showcased his incredible potential

After winning his second consecutive Wimbledon title in 1957, Hoad turned professional, signing a lucrative contract with Jack Kramer’s professional tour.

But it was to be Hoad’s last tournament as an amateur… following his victory he turned professional by signing a two-year contract for a record “guarantee” of US$125,000, which included a $25,000 bonus for winning the Wimbledon crown.

His decision to turn professional robbed Hoad of 10 years of Grand Slam competition, with his next appearance at Wimbledon coming at the start of the open era when he returned from retirement, brought about through back problems, to reach the third round in 1968, appearing again in 1970 and 1972 when he went out in the second and first rounds respectively. His only other Grand Slam appearance after his return came at the 1970 French Open when he reached the fourth round.

He won several major professional tournaments, including the Tournament of Champions at Forest Hills in 1959. His battles with fellow professionals like Gonzales, Rosewall, and later Rod Laver, were highlights of the pro tour.

Hoad’s impact on tennis extended beyond his on-court achievements. His powerful playing style influenced future generations of players, setting a new standard for aggressive baseline play. His charisma and good looks also helped elevate the popularity of tennis, attracting new fans to the sport.Many of Hoad’s contemporaries regarded him as one of the greatest talents in tennis history. Pancho Gonzales, one of his fiercest rivals, stated that Hoad was “the only guy who, if I was playing my best tennis, could still beat me.” Rod Laver, another tennis legend, considered Hoad the best player he ever faced when Hoad was at his peak.

Opinions of Other Players

The esteem in which Hoad was held by his peers is evident in their comments:

• Fred Perry ranked Hoad alongside Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzales, and Ellsworth Vines as one of the greatest players.
• Don Budge famously said, “If Lew Hoad was on, you may as well just go home or have tea, because you weren’t going to beat him.”
• Pancho Gonzales, despite their rivalry, had immense respect for Hoad, stating, “I think his game was the best game ever. Better than mine.”
• Ken Rosewall, in 1963, judged Gonzales to be slightly above Hoad but stated that Hoad “is the greatest of all time when he is ‘on’.”

Challenges and Later Career

Despite his immense talent, Hoad’s career was hampered by persistent back problems, which began to affect him seriously in the late 1950s. These issues, possibly exacerbated by a weight-lifting exercise he devised in 1954, eventually forced his retirement from regular competitive play in 1967.However, the advent of the Open Era in 1968 enticed Hoad to make sporadic tournament appearances. He reached the fourth round of the French Open in 1970 and won his final tournament title in 1971 at the age of 36, demonstrating his enduring skill and competitiveness

After announcing his retirement in 1967 due to persistent back problems, Hoad moved to Spain where he and his wife owned and operated a tennis resort, although following the open era he returned to action briefly. In September 1978 his back problem was successfully treated with spinal fusion surgery to repair two ruptured discs and a herniation. The doctor asked one of Hoad’s friends, “How on earth did this man walk, let alone play tennis?”

Hoad was diagnosed with leukemia in January 1994 and passed away on 3 July at the age of 59.

In a 1975 issue of Sports Illustrated another former Wimbledon champion, Arthur Ashe, was quoted as relating a remark which Pancho Gonzales, a two-time US Open winner and Hoad’s great rival on the professional tour before the dawn of the open era, had said to him: “If there was ever a Universe Davis Cup, and I had to pick one man to represent Planet Earth, I would pick Lew Hoad in his prime.”