Fritz Mercur (June 23, 1903 – September 1961) was an American

tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...

player. He was an insurance salesman. In a twenty-year career, Mercur was an inconsistent performer, but at his best had a victory over

Bill Tilden William Tatem Tilden II (February 10, 1893 – June 5, 1953), nicknamed "Big Bill", was an American tennis player. He was the world No. 1 amateur for six consecutive years, from 1920 to 1925, and was ranked as the world No. 1 professional by Ra ...

(at a tournament at Rye in 1928) to his name. Mercur made his debut at the U. S. Championships in 1921 and lost in round one to that year's finalist Wallace F. Johnson. Mercur lost early at the U. S. championships in 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927 and 1928. In 1929, Mercur beat

Wilmer Allison Wilmer Lawson Allison Jr. (December 8, 1904 – April 20, 1977) was an American amateur World No 4 ranked tennis champion of the 1930s. Allison was both a fine singles player and, along with his frequent partner, John Van Ryn, a great doubles ...

before losing to Frank Hunter in the semi-finals. In beating Allison (the champion in 1935), Mercur came to the net and beat Allison at his own game. Mercur lost early in 1930, 1932, 1935, 1936 and 1937. Mercur won the

New York State Championships The New York State Championships was a men's and women's international tennis tournament founded in 1891. The championships were held in various locations in New York, United States until 1978. History The New York State Championships were founde ...

in 1928 defeating

in the final in three straight sets. The following season he won the Southampton Invitation on Long Island N.Y. for 1929 defeating

John Doeg John Thomas Godfray Hope Doeg (December 7, 1908 – April 27, 1978) was a male tennis player from the United States. In August 1929 Doeg won the singles title at the Seabright Invitational defeating Richard Norris Williams in three straight sets ...

in the final in three straight sets. Also in 1929, Mercur won the Florida East Coast Championships defeating Allison in the final in a close five set match.

References

1903 births 1961 deaths American male tennis players Tennis players from Pennsylvania Sportspeople from Williamsport, Pennsylvania {{US-tennis-bio-stub