Handsome Eight
Encyclopedia
The Handsome Eight were eight professional tennis
players that Lamar Hunt
signed in 1968 for his newly formed tour, World Championship Tennis
(WCT). Taken together with a rival group of another half-dozen professionals such as Ken Rosewall
and Rod Laver
, so many of the top players were now lost to amateur tennis that an irresistible impetus was given to the need to create Open Tennis, which would let both professional and amateur players compete in the same tournaments. The first Open tournaments were held in 1968.
The so-called "Handsome Eight" were Nikola Pilić
of Yugoslavia, Butch Buchholz and Dennis Ralston
of the United States, Pierre Barthes
of France, Cliff Drysdale
of South Africa, Roger Taylor
of Great Britain, and John Newcombe
and Tony Roche
of Australia. All of them were fine players, with many amateur titles to their names, but only Newcombe and Roche were quite at the very highest level of the game as exemplified by Rosewall and Laver.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
players that Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
signed in 1968 for his newly formed tour, World Championship Tennis
World Championship Tennis
World Championship Tennis was a tour for professional male tennis players established in 1968 and lasted until the emergence of the ATP Tour in 1990...
(WCT). Taken together with a rival group of another half-dozen professionals such as Ken Rosewall
Ken Rosewall
Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam...
and Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
, so many of the top players were now lost to amateur tennis that an irresistible impetus was given to the need to create Open Tennis, which would let both professional and amateur players compete in the same tournaments. The first Open tournaments were held in 1968.
The so-called "Handsome Eight" were Nikola Pilić
Nikola Pilic
Nikola "Niki" Pilić is a retired Croatian professional tennis player who competed for SFR Yugoslavia. He was one of the Handsome Eight.-Biography:...
of Yugoslavia, Butch Buchholz and Dennis Ralston
Dennis Ralston
Richard Dennis Ralston is an American former professional tennis player. He attended the University of Southern California and won NCAA championships under their legendary coach, George Toley. He was coached in his earlier years by the legendary tennis player, Pancho Gonzales...
of the United States, Pierre Barthes
Pierre Barthes
Pierre Barthès is a French retired professional tour tennis player.-Career:Born in Béziers, Barthès was one of the Handsome Eight and reached a career high singles ATP ranking in 1974 of World No. 54. Before the creation of the ATP ranking, he was one of the best twenty players in 1971. He was...
of France, Cliff Drysdale
Cliff Drysdale
Cliff Drysdale is a former top-ranked professional tennis player of the 1960s and early 1970s who became a well-known tennis announcer. He was one of the Handsome Eight, signed by Lamar Hunt in 1968 for the newly formed World Championship Tennis group...
of South Africa, Roger Taylor
Roger Taylor (tennis player)
Roger Taylor is a British former tennis player. Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, he won six singles titles and 10 doubles titles during his career...
of Great Britain, and John Newcombe
John Newcombe
John David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of...
and Tony Roche
Tony Roche
Anthony "Tony" Dalton Roche is a former professional Australian tennis player, native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga. He won one Grand Slam singles title and twelve Grand Slam doubles titles. He is also very well known for coaching...
of Australia. All of them were fine players, with many amateur titles to their names, but only Newcombe and Roche were quite at the very highest level of the game as exemplified by Rosewall and Laver.