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{{Short description|American tennis player}}
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: ] (left) and Wilmer Allison in 1932]] -->
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox tennis biography
| name = Wilmer Allison
| image = Wilmer Allison july 1929.jpg
| caption =
| fullname = Wilmer Lawson Allison Jr.
| country = {{USA}}
| residence =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1904|12|8}}
| birth_place = ], ], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1977|4|20|1904|12|8}}
| death_place = ], ], U.S.
| height = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| college =
| turnedpro = 1927 (amateur tour)
| retired = 1941
| plays = Right-handed (1-handed backhand)
| careerprizemoney =
| tennishofyear = 1963
| tennishofid = wilmer-allison
| website =
| singlesrecord = 179-67
| singlestitles = 28
| highestsinglesranking = No. 4 (1935, ])<ref name="ReadingEagle1935">, ''Reading Eagle'', 17 October 1935.</ref>
| AustralianOpenresult = SF (])
| AustralianOpenjuniorresult =
| AustralianOpenseniorresult =
| FrenchOpenresult =
| FrenchOpenjuniorresult =
| FrenchOpenseniorresult =
| Wimbledonresult = F (])
| Wimbledonjuniorresult =
| Wimbledonseniorresult =
| USOpenresult = '''W''' (])
| USOpenjuniorresult =
| USOpenseniorresult =
| Othertournaments = <!-- adds a "Major tournaments" title -->
| doublesrecord =
| doublestitles =
| highestdoublesranking =
| AustralianOpenDoublesresult =
| FrenchOpenDoublesresult =
| WimbledonDoublesresult = '''W''' (1929, 1930)
| USOpenDoublesresult = '''W''' (1931, 1935)
| OthertournamentsDoubles = <!-- adds a "Major doubles tournaments" title -->
| OlympicsDoublesresult =
| Mixed = yes
| mixedtitles =
| mixedrecord =
| AustralianOpenMixedresult =
| FrenchOpenMixedresult =
| WimbledonMixedresult =
| USOpenMixedresult = '''W''' (1930)
}}


'''Wilmer Lawson Allison, Jr.''' (], ] in ], ] – ], ] in ]) was an American amateur ] champion of the 1930s. Allison's career was somewhat overshadowed by the arrival of ], but he was both a fine singles player and, along with his frequent partner, ], a great doubles player. '''Wilmer Lawson Allison Jr.''' (December 8, 1904 – April 20, 1977) was an American amateur ] champion of the 1930s. Allison was both a fine singles player and, along with his frequent partner, ], a great doubles player. He won the 1935 ] in singles and was ranked US No. 1 in 1934 and 1935.


At the ], Allison was the ] champion in 1927. One of Allison's earliest tournament wins was the 1928 ], where he won the final over doubles partner Van Ryn.
Right-handed, Allison's greatest triumph was winning the 1935 ] singles, defeating ] in the semi-finals 7–5, 6–3, 6–3 and ] in the finals 6–2, 6–2, 6–3. He had previously lost to Perry 8–6 in the fifth set in the 1934 finals. He was ranked U.S. No. 1 both years and World No. 4 in 1932 and 1935. At ], Allison lost the 1930 title to ]. As a doubles player with partner ], Allison won the 1929 and 1930 Wimbledon and 1935 U.S. doubles championships. Allison's last major tournament was a 1936 quarter-final loss to ].


==Career==
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: ] -->
Right-handed, Allison's greatest triumph was winning the 1935 ] singles, defeating ] in the semifinals (Perry fell and suffered an injury during the match) and ] in the finals, both in three sets. He had previously lost to Perry 8–6 in the fifth set in the 1934 finals. This would be his final appearance at the US Open tournament.


At the ] his best results in singles came in 1930 when he finished runner-up to ], losing the final in straight sets.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wimbledon players archive – Wilmer Allison|url=http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/draws/archive/players/f762b586-deca-470e-84c9-18a7b42520b0/index.html|website=www.wimbledon.com|publisher=]}}</ref> En route to the final he defeated reigning champion and first-seed ] in straight sets in the quarterfinals.<ref name="tsha">{{cite web|title=Allison, Wilmer Lawson|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fal80|publisher=] (TSHA)}}</ref>
At 5'11, 155&nbsp;lb., Allison played a total of 44 matches, 29 in doubles with Van Ryn, in ] for the United States, the third most of any player behind ] and ]. He won 32 of those matches but never the cup.


In the 1928 ] held at the ] on red clay, Allison defeated ] in four sets in the quarterfinal, ] in four sets in the semifinal, and Van Ryn in the final in three straight sets.
At the ], Allison was the ] champion in 1927.


In 1929, Allison won the Mason Dixon Championships<ref>Sampras named tennis pro emeritus at Greenbrier. https://wvpress.org/copydesk/wv-press-videos/sampras-named-tennis-pro-emeritus-greenbrier/</ref> at ] resort defeating ] in the final in five sets. He won the same title in 1935 defeating J. Gilbert Hall in the final.
In his 1979 autobiography ], who had a fine volley himself, devotes a page to the best tennis strokes he had ever seen. He writes: "FOREHAND VOLLEY — Wilmer Allison of Texas, who won the 1935 ], had the best I ever saw as a kid, and I've never seen anyone since hit one better. ] came closest, then ]".


In April 1932, Allison won the United North and South Championships at the ] defeating ] in the final in a long five set match. He won the same tournament in 1935 defeating J. Gilbert Hall in the final in three straight sets.
], who himself won 5 U.S. doubles titles as well as 2 at Wimbledon, wrote an article in the May, 1973, issue of ''Tennis Magazine'' in which he ranked the great doubles teams and the great players. He called the team of Allison and Van Ryn the ninth best of all time.


He was ranked U.S. No. 1 in singles in 1934 and 1935 and World No. 4 in 1932 and again in 1935 by ] of ].<ref name="ReadingEagle1935"/>
Allison was a colonel in the ] in ].


Allison's last major tournament was a 1936 quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon to ].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Bud Collins History of Tennis|year=2010|publisher=New Chapter Press|location=|isbn=978-0942257700|page=541|author=Bud Collins|edition=2nd}}</ref> He did not defend his title at the US Open that year.
Allison was inducted into the ] in ] in 1963.


Allison was runner-up to ] at the 1938 Canadian Open Championships.
==Grand Slam record==
===]===
*'''Doubles champion''': '''1929''', '''1930'''


As a doubles player with partner ], Allison won the 1929 and 1930 Wimbledon and 1935 U.S. doubles championships.
===]===
*'''Singles champion''': '''1935'''
*'''Doubles champion''': '''1931''', '''1935'''
*'''Mixed Doubles champion''': '''1929''', '''1930'''


==Source== ===Davis Cup===
Allison played a total of 44 matches, 29 in doubles with Van Ryn, in ] for the United States, the third most of any player behind ] and ]. He won 32 of those matches but never the cup.
{{Nofootnotes|date=April 2008}}

*
===Playing style===
In his 1979 autobiography, ] devotes a page to the best tennis strokes he had ever seen. He writes: "FOREHAND VOLLEY — Wilmer Allison of Texas, who won the 1935 ], had the best I ever saw as a kid, and I've never seen anyone since hit one better. ] came closest, then ]".<ref>{{cite book|last=Kramer|first=Jack|title=The Game : My 40 Years in Tennis|year=1981|publisher=Andre Deutsch|location=London|isbn=9780233973074|pages=295, 296|author2=Frank Deford }}</ref>

], who won five U.S. doubles titles as well as two at Wimbledon, wrote an article in the May 1973, issue of ''Tennis Magazine'' in which he ranked the great doubles teams and the great players. He called the team of Allison and Van Ryn the ninth best of all time.

Allison was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. He coached tennis for the varsity team of his alma mater from 1946 through 1972 and was head coach from 1957.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texassports.com/genrel/allison_wilmer00.html |title=Texas Official Athletic Site – Athletics News |publisher=Texassports.com |access-date=2010-05-14}}</ref>

Allison was inducted into the ] in Newport, Rhode Island in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hall of Famers – Wilmer Allison|url=https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/wilmer-allison/|publisher=]}}</ref>

==Grand Slam finals==

===Singles (1 titles, 2 runners-up)===

{| class='sortable wikitable'
!style="width:45px"|Result
!style="width:35px"|Year
!style="width:200px"|Championship
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:150px"|Opponent
!style="width:180px" class="unsortable"|Score
|- style="background:#ccffcc"
| style="background:#FFA07A"|Loss || ] || ] || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || 3–6, 7–9, 4–6
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| style="background:#FFA07A"|Loss || ] || ] || Grass || {{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–8
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Win || ] || U.S. National Championships || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
|}

=== Doubles (4 titles, 5 runners-up) ===

{| class='sortable wikitable'
!style="width:45px"|Result
!style="width:35px"|Year
!style="width:200px"|Championship
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:150px"|Partner
!style="width:150px"|Opponents
!style="width:180px" class="unsortable"|Score
|- style="background:#ccffcc"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Win || ] || ] || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || {{flagicon|GBR}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|GBR}} ] || 6–4, 5–7, 6–3, 10–12, 6–4
|- style="background:#ccffcc"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Win || ] || Wimbledon || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} John Van Ryn || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || 6–3, 6–3, 6–2
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| style="background:#FFA07A"|Loss || ] || ] || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} John Van Ryn || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} John Doeg <br /> {{flagicon|USA|1912}} George Lott || 6–8, 3–6, 6–3, 15–13, 4–6
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Win || ] || U.S. National Championships || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} John Van Ryn || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| style="background:#FFA07A"|Loss || ] || U.S. National Championships || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} John Van Ryn || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || 4–6, 3–6, 2–6
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| style="background:#FFA07A"|Loss || ] || U.S. National Championships || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} John Van Ryn || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} George Lott <br /> {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || 4–6, 7–9, 6–3, 4–6
|- style="background:#ccffcc"
| style="background:#FFA07A"|Loss || ] || Wimbledon || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} John Van Ryn || {{flagicon|AUS}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|AUS}} ] || 3–6, 7–5, 2–6, 7–5, 5–7
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Win || ] || U.S. National Championships || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} John Van Ryn || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || 6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–1
|- style="background:#ccccff"
| style="background:#FFA07A"|Loss || ] || U.S. National Championships || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} John Van Ryn || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Don Budge <br /> {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Gene Mako || 4–6, 2–6, 4–6
|}

=== Mixed doubles (1 title, 1 runner-up) ===

{| class='sortable wikitable'
!style="width:45px"|Result
!style="width:35px"|Year
!style="width:200px"|Championship
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:150px"|Partner
!style="width:150px"|Opponents
!style="width:180px" class="unsortable"|Score
|- style="background:#ccccff"
|style="background:#98FB98"|Win || ] || ] || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || 6–4, 6–4
|- style="background:#ccccff"
|style="background:#FFA07A"|Loss || ] || U.S. National Championships || Grass || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || {{flagicon|GBR}} ] <br /> {{flagicon|USA|1912}} ] || 3–6, 3–6
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Tennis Hall of Fame}}
* {{ITF}}
* {{ATP}}
* {{Davis Cup player}}

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|title=Articles and topics related to Wilmer Allison
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{{US Open men's singles champions}}
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Latest revision as of 04:26, 2 December 2024

American tennis player

Wilmer Allison
Full nameWilmer Lawson Allison Jr.
Country (sports) United States
Born(1904-12-08)December 8, 1904
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
DiedApril 20, 1977(1977-04-20) (aged 72)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Turned pro1927 (amateur tour)
Retired1941
PlaysRight-handed (1-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF1963 (member page)
Singles
Career record179-67
Career titles28
Highest rankingNo. 4 (1935, A. Wallis Myers)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (1933)
WimbledonF (1930)
US OpenW (1935)
Doubles
Career record0–0
Grand Slam doubles results
WimbledonW (1929, 1930)
US OpenW (1931, 1935)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US OpenW (1930)

Wilmer Lawson Allison Jr. (December 8, 1904 – April 20, 1977) was an American amateur tennis champion of the 1930s. Allison was both a fine singles player and, along with his frequent partner, John Van Ryn, a great doubles player. He won the 1935 U.S. Championship in singles and was ranked US No. 1 in 1934 and 1935.

At the University of Texas at Austin, Allison was the Intercollegiate tennis champion in 1927. One of Allison's earliest tournament wins was the 1928 Canadian Championship, where he won the final over doubles partner Van Ryn.

Career

Right-handed, Allison's greatest triumph was winning the 1935 U.S. Championship singles, defeating Fred Perry in the semifinals (Perry fell and suffered an injury during the match) and Sidney Wood in the finals, both in three sets. He had previously lost to Perry 8–6 in the fifth set in the 1934 finals. This would be his final appearance at the US Open tournament.

At the Wimbledon Championships his best results in singles came in 1930 when he finished runner-up to Bill Tilden, losing the final in straight sets. En route to the final he defeated reigning champion and first-seed Henri Cochet in straight sets in the quarterfinals.

In the 1928 Canadian Open held at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club on red clay, Allison defeated Willard Crocker in four sets in the quarterfinal, John Doeg in four sets in the semifinal, and Van Ryn in the final in three straight sets.

In 1929, Allison won the Mason Dixon Championships at The Greenbrier resort defeating Frank Hunter in the final in five sets. He won the same title in 1935 defeating J. Gilbert Hall in the final.

In April 1932, Allison won the United North and South Championships at the Pinehurst Country Club defeating Ellsworth Vines in the final in a long five set match. He won the same tournament in 1935 defeating J. Gilbert Hall in the final in three straight sets.

He was ranked U.S. No. 1 in singles in 1934 and 1935 and World No. 4 in 1932 and again in 1935 by A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph.

Allison's last major tournament was a 1936 quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon to Bunny Austin. He did not defend his title at the US Open that year.

Allison was runner-up to Frank Parker at the 1938 Canadian Open Championships.

As a doubles player with partner John Van Ryn, Allison won the 1929 and 1930 Wimbledon and 1935 U.S. doubles championships.

Davis Cup

Allison played a total of 44 matches, 29 in doubles with Van Ryn, in Davis Cup for the United States, the third most of any player behind John McEnroe and Vic Seixas. He won 32 of those matches but never the cup.

Playing style

In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer devotes a page to the best tennis strokes he had ever seen. He writes: "FOREHAND VOLLEY — Wilmer Allison of Texas, who won the 1935 Forest Hills, had the best I ever saw as a kid, and I've never seen anyone since hit one better. Budge Patty came closest, then Newcombe".

George Lott, who won five U.S. doubles titles as well as two at Wimbledon, wrote an article in the May 1973, issue of Tennis Magazine in which he ranked the great doubles teams and the great players. He called the team of Allison and Van Ryn the ninth best of all time.

Allison was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. He coached tennis for the varsity team of his alma mater from 1946 through 1972 and was head coach from 1957.

Allison was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island in 1963.

Grand Slam finals

Singles (1 titles, 2 runners-up)

Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1930 Wimbledon Grass United States Bill Tilden 3–6, 7–9, 4–6
Loss 1934 U.S. National Championships Grass United Kingdom Fred Perry 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–8
Win 1935 U.S. National Championships Grass United States Sidney Wood 6–2, 6–2, 6–3

Doubles (4 titles, 5 runners-up)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1929 Wimbledon Grass United States John Van Ryn United Kingdom Ian Collins
United Kingdom Colin Gregory		 6–4, 5–7, 6–3, 10–12, 6–4
Win 1930 Wimbledon Grass United States John Van Ryn United States John Doeg
United States George Lott		 6–3, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 1930 U.S. National Championships Grass United States John Van Ryn United States John Doeg
United States George Lott		 6–8, 3–6, 6–3, 15–13, 4–6
Win 1931 U.S. National Championships Grass United States John Van Ryn United States Berkeley Bell
United States Gregory Mangin		 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 1932 U.S. National Championships Grass United States John Van Ryn United States Keith Gledhill
United States Ellsworth Vines		 4–6, 3–6, 2–6
Loss 1934 U.S. National Championships Grass United States John Van Ryn United States George Lott
United States Lester Stoefen		 4–6, 7–9, 6–3, 4–6
Loss 1935 Wimbledon Grass United States John Van Ryn Australia Jack Crawford
Australia Adrian Quist		 3–6, 7–5, 2–6, 7–5, 5–7
Win 1935 U.S. National Championships Grass United States John Van Ryn United States Don Budge
United States Gene Mako		 6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–1
Loss 1936 U.S. National Championships Grass United States John Van Ryn United States Don Budge
United States Gene Mako		 4–6, 2–6, 4–6

Mixed doubles (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1930 U.S. National Championships Grass United States Edith Cross United States Marjorie Morrill
United States Frank Shields		 6–4, 6–4
Loss 1931 U.S. National Championships Grass United States Anna McCune Harper United Kingdom Betty Nuthall
United States George Lott		 3–6, 3–6

References

  1. ^ "Moody, Perry Rated Tops By British Expert", Reading Eagle, 17 October 1935.
  2. "Wimbledon players archive – Wilmer Allison". www.wimbledon.com. AELTC.
  3. "Allison, Wilmer Lawson". Texas State Historical Association (TSHA).
  4. Sampras named tennis pro emeritus at Greenbrier. https://wvpress.org/copydesk/wv-press-videos/sampras-named-tennis-pro-emeritus-greenbrier/
  5. Bud Collins (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). : New Chapter Press. p. 541. ISBN 978-0942257700.
  6. Kramer, Jack; Frank Deford (1981). The Game : My 40 Years in Tennis. London: Andre Deutsch. pp. 295, 296. ISBN 9780233973074.
  7. "Texas Official Athletic Site – Athletics News". Texassports.com. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
  8. "Hall of Famers – Wilmer Allison". International Tennis Hall of Fame.

External links

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