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Rex Noel Hartwig (born 2 September 1929) is an Australian former tennis player.[2]

Early life

Rex Hartwig was born on 2 September 1929 in Culcairn, New South Wales. Both parents played tennis and at age 10 Hartwig played and won in a local tournament with his father. When he was 13 he began competing in afternoon competitions and took a job managing tennis courts in Albury. He formed a doubles team with Allan Kendall jr. and the team won the NSW, Victorian and Australian Junior titles.[3][4]

Tennis career

Hartwig was ranked World No. 5 in both 1954 and 1955 by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph.[1]

Wimbledon

He won the doubles in Wimbledon twice: In 1954 with Mervyn Rose and in 1955 with Lew Hoad.[5][6]

Australian championships

In 1953 he also won the doubles with Mervyn Rose and the mixed doubles with Julia Sampson Hayward.[7] In 1954 he again won the mixed doubles title in Melbourne, this time partnering Thelma Coyne Long.[8][9][10]

US championships

In 1953 he won the doubles title at the US Championships with Mervyn Rose, defeating Gardnar Mulloy and Bill Talbert in the final that lasted 77 minutes.[11][12]

Playing singles he made the final in 1954 but lost to Vic Seixas.[13]

Davis Cup

Hartwig was member of the Australian Davis Cup team in 1953, 1954 and 1955. In 1953 he played the doubles match with Lew Hoad in the Challenge Round against the USA and lost to Vic Seixas and Tony Trabert. This would turn out to be Hartwig's only Davis Cup defeat. In 1954 he defeated Seixas in the Challenge Round that Australia lost to the USA. In 1955 he made a significant contribution towards Australia's Cup win, playing 11 matches in six ties and winning all of them. He compiled a 12–1 win–loss record in the Davis Cup (6–0 singles, 6–1 doubles).[14][15][16]

Other tournaments

In November 1954 Hartwig won the singles title at the New South Wales Championships in Sydney. In the final he defeated countryman Mervyn Rose in three straight sets.[17]

Professional

In November 1955 Hartwig turned professional by signing a contract with tennis promoter Jack Kramer for a fixed amount of $30,000 plus a percentage of the gate receipts of the professional tour.[18][19]

Playing style

Hartwig was known for his well-timed groundstrokes and his crisp and accurate volleys. Australian tennis player and coach Harry Hopman characterized Hartwig as a great stylist.[20]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (2 runners-up)

Outcome Year Championship Opponent Score
Runner-up 1954 Australian Championships Australia Mervyn Rose 2–6, 6–0, 4–6, 2–6
Runner-up 1954 U.S. Championships United States Vic Seixas 6–3, 2–6, 4–6, 4–6

Doubles (4 titles – 1 runner-up)

Outcome Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1953 Wimbledon Championships Australia Mervyn Rose Australia Lew Hoad
Australia Ken Rosewall		 4–6, 5–7, 6–4, 5–7
Winner 1953 U.S. Championships Australia Mervyn Rose United States Gardnar Mulloy
United States Bill Talbert		 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Winner 1954 Australian Championships Australia Mervyn Rose Australia Neale Fraser
Australia Clive Wilderspin		 6–3, 6–4, 6–2
Winner 1954 Wimbledon Championships Australia Mervyn Rose United States Vic Seixas
United States Tony Trabert		 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Winner 1955 Wimbledon Championships Australia Mervyn Rose Australia Neale Fraser
Australia Ken Rosewall		 7–5, 6–4, 6–3

Mixed doubles (2 titles, 2 runners-up)

Outcome Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Winner 1953 Australian Championships United States Julia Sampson Hayward United States Maureen Connolly
United States Ham Richardson		 6–4, 6–3
Runner-up 1953 U.S. Championships United States Julia Sampson Hayward United States Doris Hart
United States Vic Seixas		 2–6, 6–4, 4–6
Winner 1954 Australian Championships Australia Thelma Coyne Long Australia Beryl Penrose
Australia John Bromwich		 4–6, 6–1, 6–2
Runner-up 1954 French Championships France Jacqueline Patorni United States Maureen Connolly
Australia Lew Hoad		 4–6, 3–6

References

  1. ^ a b United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 426.
  2. ^ Harper, Jack (23 November 1954). "N.S.W. Tennis Title To Rex Hartwig in Three Sets". The Age. Google News Archive. 
  3. ^ "Rex Hartwig". Australian Tennis History. 16 March 2011. 
  4. ^ Malcolm Brown. "Allan Kendall: Ace at tennis was smash on children's TV". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved January 31, 2014. 
  5. ^ "Men's Doubles Finals 1884–2008". Wimbledon Website. All England Lawn Tennis Club. 
  6. ^ "Rex Hartwig Inks Pro Tennis Pact". Sarasota Journal. Google News Archive. 9 November 1955. 
  7. ^ "Rose-Hartwig "Best In World Doubles"". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 30 January 1954. p. 11 – via National Library of Australia. 
  8. ^ "Men's Doubles Champions". Australian Open. Tennis Australia. 
  9. ^ "Mixed Doubles Champions". Australian Open. Tennis Australia. 
  10. ^ "Hoad Criticized For Tennis Play". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Google News Archive. 3 December 1954. 
  11. ^ "Rose, Hartwig Win U.S. Doubles Tennis Title." Goulburn Evening Post. NSW. 24 August 1953. p. 3 Edition: Daily and Evening – via National Library of Australia. 
  12. ^ "Champions – Men's Doubles Championships". US Open. United States Tennis Association. 
  13. ^ "Champions – Men's Singles Championships". US Open. United States Tennis Association. 
  14. ^ "Rex HARTWIG". Davis Cup Official Website. International Tennis Federation. 
  15. ^ Talbert, William F. (5 September 1955). "Wanted: At Least Three Young Men". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 19 March 2010. 
  16. ^ Talbert, William F. (20 September 1954). "No Year For Kings". Sports Illustrated. 
  17. ^ "N.S.W. Tennis Title To Rex Hartwig In Three Sets". The Age. Nov 23, 1954. 
  18. ^ "Rex Hartwig Inks Pro Tennis Pact". Sarasota Journal. Nov 9, 1955. p. 7. 
  19. ^ "Hopman Advised Me – Rex Hartwig". The Age. Nov 10, 1955. p. 12. 
  20. ^ "Player Profiles – Rex Hartwig". Tennis Australia. 

External links