Ian Froman (born 6 May 1937) is a South African-born Israeli former tennis player and tennis patron. He is known for playing in the Wimbledon Championships in the 1950s, representing Israel in

Davis Cup The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format. It is described by the organis ...

competition in the 1960s and 1970s, and playing a primary role in the founding of the

Israel Tennis Centers Israel Tennis Centers ("ITC"; Hebrew: המרכז לטניס בישראל) is the largest social service agency for children in Israel, serving more than a half million children and their families since its first center opened in Ramat Hasharon in ...

in the 1970s and thereafter.

Early life

Froman, who is Jewish, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He became a dentist in Johannesburg, and then immigrated to Israel in 1964.

Tennis career

Froman played at Wimbledon in 1955, in the

Men's singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

. In the first two rounds he defeated Stefan Lazlo (9–11, 7–5, 6–4, 2–0, ret.), and Johannes (Hans) van Dalsum (3–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–1, 6–4), before losing in the third round to eventual finalist Kurt Nielsen (6–3, 6–1, 6–2). Over a decade later, he played for the Israel Davis Cup team in

competition in 1968, 1969, and 1971.

Israel Tennis Centers

In 1973, tennis in Israel was played primarily by tourists at beach hotels. That year, Froman conceived the idea for founding the

(ITCs), Israel's countrywide tennis program. By 1974, met four Americans—Rubin Josephs, Harold Landesberg, Dr. William Lippy, and Joe Shane—and English tennis star

Angela Buxton Angela Buxton (16 August 193414 August 2020) was a British tennis player. She won the women's doubles title at both the French Championships and Wimbledon in 1956 with her playing partner Althea Gibson. Early life Buxton was born in Liverpool o ...

, who agreed to launch the necessary fundraising efforts and obtain the necessary sites to build the centers. They built a 14-court National Tennis Center on an old strawberry patch in Ramat HaSharon that was given to the ITC by the Israeli government. It was the first of 12 centers built in Israel—with the others being in Arad,

Ashdod Ashdod ( he, ''ʾašdōḏ''; ar, أسدود or إسدود ''ʾisdūd'' or '' ʾasdūd'' ; Philistine: 𐤀𐤔𐤃𐤃 *''ʾašdūd'') is the sixth-largest city in Israel. Located in the country's Southern District, it lies on the Mediterran ...

, Ashkelon,

Beersheva Beersheba or Beer Sheva, officially Be'er-Sheva ( he, בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע, ''Bəʾēr Ševaʿ'', ; ar, بئر السبع, Biʾr as-Sabʿ, Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven), is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. ...

, Haifa,

Jaffa Jaffa, in Hebrew Yafo ( he, יָפוֹ, ) and in Arabic Yafa ( ar, يَافَا) and also called Japho or Joppa, the southern and oldest part of Tel Aviv-Yafo, is an ancient port city in Israel. Jaffa is known for its association with the b ...

, Jerusalem, Kiryat Shemona, Ofakim, and Tel Aviv, Tiberias. Froman served as director of the center, and then starting in 2004 as its chairman. In 2005, he announced that he would not seek re-election when his term ended in 2006.

Honors

Froman was awarded the

Israel Prize The Israel Prize ( he, פרס ישראל; ''pras israél'') is an award bestowed by the State of Israel, and regarded as the state's highest cultural honor. History The Israel Prize is awarded annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state cer ...

in 1989. In presenting it to him, Israeli President Chaim Herzog said: "You have created a virtual social revolution throughout Israel." He was also awarded the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Pillar of Achievement Award.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Froman, Ian 1937 births South African male tennis players Tennis players from Johannesburg Israeli male tennis players Jewish tennis players Israeli Jews South African Jews South African emigrants to Israel Tennis in Israel Living people Israel Prize in sport recipients Jewish South African sportspeople