 | |
| Full name | Brian Ivan Cobb Norton |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) | South Africa |
| Born | (1899-10-10)10 October 1899 Robben Island,Cape Colony |
| Died | 16 July 1956(1956-07-16) (aged 56) Santa Clara, California, United States |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 7 (1921,A. Wallis Myers)[1] |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | F (1921Ch) |
| US Open | SF (1923) |
| Other tournaments | |
| WHCC | 2R (1920,1923) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | SF (1921, 1922) |
| US Open | W (1923) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | SF (1920) |
Brian Ivan Cobb Norton (10 October 1899 – 16 July 1956), nicknamed "Babe", was a South Africantennis player.[2] He was born inCape Colony and died in Santa Clara, California. At Wimbledon 1921, Norton beatFrank Hunter andManuel Alonso Areizaga, before having two championship points in the Challenge Round againstBill Tilden but losing in five sets.[3] Norton is one of only two men to hold championship point in a Grand Slam men's singles final and yet not win a title (the other isGuillermo Coria at the 2004 French Open. Norton won the1923 U.S. National Championships doubles, alongside Tilden. In the singles that year, Norton beatR. Norris Williams in a five-set quarterfinal, then lost to Tilden in the semifinals.[4]
After Norton, the next South African citizen to reach the gentlemen's singles final at Wimbledon would be Kevin Anderson 97 years later in 2018. Although another South African-born tennis player, Kevin Curren, had reached the Wimbledon final in 1985 against Boris Becker (Germany), Curren played as a U.S. (American) citizen.
He competed in the singles and doubles events at the1920 Summer Olympics.[5] Norton was ranked World No. 7 byA. Wallis Myers ofThe Daily Telegraph in 1921 and 1922.[1][6]
In 1921, he won the singles title at theSouth of England Championships after a five-set victory in the final againstMohammed Sleem.[7]
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1921 | Wimbledon Championships | Grass |  Bill Tilden | 6–4, 6–2, 1–6, 0–6, 5–7 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1923 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Bill Tilden | Richard WilliamsWatson Washburn | 3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 5–7, 6–2 |
