 1929 portrait by Reynolds | |
| Full name | Arthur James Willard |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) | Australia |
| Born | (1893-04-22)22 April 1893 Tambaroora, New South Wales |
| Died | 10 June 1968(1968-06-10) (aged 75) |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1926) |
| French Open | 3R (1930) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1924) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 3R (1924) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1928) |
| French Open | F (1930) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1930) |
| Olympic Games | 2R (1924) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1924, 1925) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1930) |
Arthur James Willard (22 April 1893 – 10 June 1968), better known asJim Willard, was an Australiantennis player.
Willard won twomixed doubles titles alongsideDaphne Akhurst at theAustralasian Championships, the futureAustralian Open, in1924 and1925. Willard also finished singles runner-up toJohn Hawkes in1926 and reached the semifinals in 1927 and 1930. He was the mixed doubles runner-up in Australia in 1926 and1927, and doubles runner-up at the Australian Championships in1928 and at theFrench Championships in1930. He participated in the1924 Wimbledon Championships, losing in the second round of the singles event. He returned at the1930 Championships where he lost in the first round of the singles event, reached the quarterfinal of the doubles withHarry Hopman and made it to the third round of the mixed doubles partneringLolette Payot.[1]
Willard competed in thesingles anddoubles event at the1924 Summer Olympics.[2] In the singles he made it to the third round before being defeated bySydney Jacob. In the doubles event he teamed up withJames Bayley and reached the second round in which they lost to eventual Olympic championsVincent Richards andFrank Hunter.[3][4]
Willard won the Sydney metropolitan championships in October 1929 after a victory in the final againstJack Crawford.[5]
He became a professional player in February 1933.[6]
From 1933 to 1941, Willard had an endorsement deal with theAlexander Patent Racket Company inLaunceston, Tasmania, to produce a range of 'Jim Willard' tennis racquets.[7][8]
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1926 | Australasian Championships | Grass |  John Hawkes | 6–1, 6–3, 6–1 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1928 | Australian Championships | Grass | Edgar Moon |  Jean BorotraJacques Brugnon | 2–6, 6–4, 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1930 | French Championships | Clay | Harry Hopman | Henri CochetJacques Brugnon | 3–6, 7–9, 3–6 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1924 | Australasian Championships | Grass | Daphne Akhurst | Esna Boyd RobertsonGar Hone | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 1925 | Australasian Championships | Grass | Daphne Akhurst | Sylvia Lance HarperRobert Schlesinger | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1926 | Australasian Championships | Grass | Daphne Akhurst | Esna Boyd RobertsonJohn Hawkes | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1927 | Australian Championships | Grass | Youtha Anthony | Esna Boyd RobertsonJohn Hawkes | 1–6, 3–6 |
