Owen Davidson, fondly referred to as ‘Davo’, is being remembered for his Grand Slam-winning occupation following his passing in Melbourne at age 79.
Melbourne, Australia, 13 Might 2023 | Tennis Australia
Australian tennis is mourning the passing of Grand Slam champion Owen Davidson, who has passed on to the great beyond in Melbourne at age 79.
Identified merely as ‘Davo’ his occupation spanned the beginner and open eras of tennis, all through which he received 13 Grand Slam doubles titles and was once a member of 5 Davis Cup squads.
His most efficient partnership was once with Billie Jean King and in combination they received 8 combined doubles Grand Slam titles, together with 4 at Wimbledon.
It was once his correct volleys that King admired maximum, with the American legend as soon as commenting that “Owen appeared to make 99 in keeping with cent of his first volleys after serving.”
“I liked taking part in in a group, and I liked Owen Davidson on account of that, as a result of he was once my best possible spouse,” she stated.
These days, the tennis global mourns the lack of Owen “Davo” Davidson, a real Aussie legend of the game. Together with his tough left-handed recreation and memorable ability, the Tennis Corridor of Famer ruled doubles, successful the combined Grand Slam in 1967. My condolences to Owen’s circle of relatives, buddies. percent.twitter.com/bV7eM3cHc8
— Craig Tiley (@CraigTiley) Might 13, 2023
In 1967 Davidson finished the Grand Slam of combined doubles by way of successful the 4 primary titles in a single calendar 12 months.
He as soon as nominated his occupation spotlight as successful the 1973 US doubles crown along with his shut pal John Newcombe once they defeated Ken Rosewall and Rod Laver
“They had been our formative years idols and to overcome them was once very particular,” he stated.
Despite the fact that identified for his doubles, Davidson was once a a hit singles participant and reached the quarterfinals in any respect 4 majors.
In 1966 he made the semifinal at Wimbledon the place he misplaced 7-5 within the 5th set to eventual champion Manuel Santana.
Born in Melbourne, Davidson performed in an technology when Australian males’s tennis was once stuffed with champions.
The left-hander’s recreation was once based totally round accuracy and courtroom wisdom.
His shiny persona made him well-liked by different avid gamers who continuously teased him about his on occasion sloppy non-public conduct, which contrasted along with his neat play at the courtroom.
Davidson persisted to be concerned within the recreation he liked and its other folks, continuously visitor training at John Newcombe’s tennis camps.
He was once inducted into the each the Global and Australian Tennis Corridor of Fames.
Owen Davidson (a long way left) with fellow Global Tennis Corridor of Popularity inductees in 2018.
