Straight Clark
Encyclopedia
Louis Straight Clark was an American tennis player in the mid-20th Century. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa
.
A member of the U.S. Davis Cup
team, he was 5–0 in matches in 1953 and 1954.
In 1954, he won the singles title at the tournament in Cincinnati
, defeating Sammy Giammalva, Sr., 8–6, 6–1, 6–1 in the final.
He reached the final at the Newport Casino Invitational
in 1954, only to lose to Hamilton Richardson
6–3, 9–7, 12–14, 6–8, 10–8, in a match that lasted more than four hours.
In 1951, he knocked off Whitney Reed
to reach the final of the Pennsylvania State tennis championship, only to fall to future Hall of Famer Vic Seixas
.
When he teamed with fellow American Hal Burrows, the pair became one of the top doubles teams of their time. They reached the finals of the U.S. Clay Court Championship, and the semifinals of the U.S. Nationals
, upsetting the team of future International Hall of Famers Ken Rosewall
and Lew Hoad
in the quarterfinals. Clark and Burrows also reached the quarterfinals at the French National Championships, Rome
and Wimbledon
.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
A member of the U.S. Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
team, he was 5–0 in matches in 1953 and 1954.
In 1954, he won the singles title at the tournament in Cincinnati
Cincinnati Masters
The Cincinnati Open is an annual outdoor hardcourts tennis event held in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio, USA. The event started on September 18, 1899 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States played in its original city., Between...
, defeating Sammy Giammalva, Sr., 8–6, 6–1, 6–1 in the final.
He reached the final at the Newport Casino Invitational
Newport Casino Invitational
The Newport Casino Invitational tennis tournament began in 1915 when the US championships, which had been held in Newport, Rhode Island since 1881, moved to Forest Hills, New York. Since its inception, with a field of fifty players, it consistently attracted the best of the US contingent of tennis...
in 1954, only to lose to Hamilton Richardson
Hamilton Richardson
Hamilton "Ham" Farrar Richardson was a American tennis player in the 1950s and 1960s.Born August 24, 1933 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Richardson was ranked No. 1 in the United States in 1956 and 1958, and was ranked in the top ten in nine other years...
6–3, 9–7, 12–14, 6–8, 10–8, in a match that lasted more than four hours.
In 1951, he knocked off Whitney Reed
Whitney Reed
Whitney Reed was a tennis player in the 1950s and 1960s.Reed was ranked No. 1 in the United States in 1961 and was ranked in the U.S. top ten in 1957 , 1959 , 1960 , and 1962 Whitney Reed (born August 20, 1932, in Oakland, California) was a tennis player in the 1950s and 1960s.Reed was ranked No....
to reach the final of the Pennsylvania State tennis championship, only to fall to future Hall of Famer Vic Seixas
Vic Seixas
Elias Victor Seixas, Jr. is an American former tennis player.Seixas was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of Portuguese Sephardi Jewish ancestry. After serving in World War II, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , where he was a member of Alpha Sigma of the Chi Psi...
.
When he teamed with fellow American Hal Burrows, the pair became one of the top doubles teams of their time. They reached the finals of the U.S. Clay Court Championship, and the semifinals of the U.S. Nationals
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
, upsetting the team of future International Hall of Famers 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 Lew Hoad
Lew Hoad
Lewis Alan Hoad was a champion tennis player....
in the quarterfinals. Clark and Burrows also reached the quarterfinals at the French National Championships, Rome
Rome Masters
The Italian Open is an annual tennis tournament held in Rome, Italy. It is the most prestigious red clay tennis tournament in the world after the French Open, with the men's competition being an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour, and the women's...
and Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
.