 Gerald Battrick holding the trophy at the 1971 Dutch Open | |
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Born | (1947-05-27)27 May 1947 |
| Died | 26 November 1998(1998-11-26) (aged 51)[1] |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Turned pro | 1972 (amateur from 1964)[1] |
| Retired | 1976 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 528–373 |
| Career titles | 27 |
| Highest ranking | No. 28 (27 March 1972)[2] |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (1970) |
| French Open | 4R (1968) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1971) |
| US Open | 2R (1969,1971,1974,1976) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 97–134 |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1970) |
| French Open | QF (1968, 1970) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1975) |
| US Open | 2R (1973) |
Gerald Battrick (27 May 1947[3] – 26 November 1998) was aWelshtennis player who reached as high as No. 3 in Britain (and world No. 28), winning at least 6 titles.
Gerald Battrick was born on 27 May 1947 in Bridgend, Glamorgan, where his father was the Medical Officer.[1] Like many other British tennis players of the time, includingMark Cox andPaul Hutchins, he attendedMillfield School in Somerset. As a boy, one of his tennis rivals (both in Bridgend and at school) wasJ. P. R. Williams, who won the 1966 British Junior Championships at Wimbledon before turning his attention torugby union.[1][4]
After retiring from tennis in 1976, Battrick lived and worked inHamburg before returning to Bridgend to open a tennis academy. He was diagnosed with abrain tumour in 1997, and died at thePrincess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, on 26 November 1998.[4]
Battrick won the junior titles of Great Britain, Belgium and France and represented Britain in theDavis Cup. In 1965, he won theFrench Open Boys' Singles.[3]
In 1971 he won the singles title at theDutch Open in Hilversum, defeating AustralianRoss Case in the final in three straight sets. He also won theBritish Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth, winning the final againstŽeljko Franulović in four sets. In doubles, Battrick reached the quarterfinals of theFrench Open in 1968 and 1970 and atWimbledon in 1975.
He played for theGreat Britain Davis Cup team in 1970 and 1971 compiling a record of two wins and three losses. In 1972 Battrick joinedLamar Hunt'sWorld Championship Tennis circuit.[1]
Battrick played for the co-edPittsburgh Triangles ofWorld TeamTennis in 1974 and 1975. He was part of the Triangles 1975 league championship team.
| Finals by surface |
|---|
| Hard (1–2) |
| Grass (0–0) |
| Clay (2–1) |
| Carpet (1–0) |
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Mar 1970 | Caracas, Venezuela | Hard |  Tom Gorman | 2–6, 4–6, 6–3, 4–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Mar 1970 | Willemstad, Curaçao | Hard |  Juan Gisbert Sr. | 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1–2 | Apr 1970 | Kingston, Jamaica | Hard |  Christian Kuhnke | 4–6, 0–6 |
| Win | 2–2 | May 1971 | Bournemouth, UK | Clay |  Željko Franulović | 6–3, 6–2, 5–7, 6–0 |
| Win | 3–2 | Aug 1971 | Hilversum, Netherlands | Clay |  Ross Case | 6–3, 6–4, 9–7 |
| Win | 4–2 | Nov 1971 | London, UK | Carpet (i) |  Bob Hewitt | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 4–3 | Apr 1973 | Clemmons, U.S. | Clay |  Jaime Fillol Sr. | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Aug 1968 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | Bobby Wilson | Wilhelm BungertJürgen Fassbender | 3–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Feb 1971 | Caracas, Venezuela | Clay | Peter Curtis |  Thomaz KochJosé Edison Mandarino | 4–6, 6–3, 7–6, 4–6, 6–7 |
| Win | 1–2 | Aug 1973 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | Graham Stilwell | Colin DibleyCharlie Pasarell | 6–4, 7–6 |
| Loss | 1–3 | Sep 1973 | Chicago, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Graham Stilwell | Owen DavidsonJohn Newcombe | 7–6, 6–7, 6–7 |
| Loss | 1–3 | Nov 1973 | London, UK | Carpet (i) | Graham Stilwell | Mark Cox Owen Davidson | 4–6, 6–8 |
