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Colin Dowdeswell
Country |
23x15px Rhodesia (1972–1976) 23x16px Switzerland (1977–1981) 23x15px Great Britain (1982–1986) |
---|---|
Born |
London, England | 12 May 1955
Height | 6'1" (185 cm) |
Plays | Right-handed |
Prize money | $327,277 |
Singles | |
Career record | 113–171 |
Career titles | 1 |
Highest ranking | No. 31 (12 December 1983) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | 2R (1984) |
French Open | 2R (1977, 1978, 1979) |
Wimbledon | 2R (1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986) |
US Open | 4R (1976, 1978) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 216–162 |
Career titles | 11 |
Highest ranking | No. 24 (24 March 1980) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (1984, 1985) |
French Open | QF (1977) |
Wimbledon | F (1975) |
US Open | SF (1976) |
Mixed doubles | |
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
French Open | F (1976) |
Wimbledon | QF (1976, 1980) |
US Open | SF (1984) |
Colin Dowdeswell (born 12 May 1955), is an English-born former professional tennis player who represented, at different times, Rhodesia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom[1] and who achieved rank as UK number 1. During his time on the world tour, he won 1 singles title and 11 doubles titles.[2] Perhaps the highlight of his career was reaching the men's doubles final of Wimbledon.
Contents
Early life
Dowdeswell was born in London but grew up in Rhodesia and went to university in South Africa.[3]
Tennis career highlights
Partnering Australian Allan Stone, Dowdeswell finished runner-up in doubles at Wimbledon in 1975. Unseeded, after two straight sets wins, they defeated the No. 7 seeds Tom Okker and Marty Riessen in the round of sixteen in four sets. They did likewise in eliminating the No. 3 seeds, Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan, in the quarterfinals. It took Dowdeswell and Stone then five sets to overcome the unseeded team of Dick Crealy and Niki Pilic in the semi-finals. They lost the final to another unseeded tandem, Vitas Gerulaitis and Sandy Mayer, 5–7, 6–8, 4–6.[4]
Dowdeswell achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 31 in 1983 and a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 24 in 1980.[2]
Grand Prix and WCT singles finals (4)
Titles (1)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | 1974 | Dublin, Ireland | Outdoor | 23x15px Sherwood Stewart | 3–6, 8–9 |
Winner | 1. | 1975 | Istanbul, Turkey | Outdoor | 23x15px Ferdi Taygan | 6–1, 6–4, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 2. | 1978 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | 23x15px Cliff Richey | 2–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 3. | 1983 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | 23x15px Johan Kriek | 4–6, 6–4, 6–1, 5–7, 3–6 |
Grand Slam, Grand Prix, and WCT doubles finals (28)
Titles (11)
Davis Cup
Dowdeswell participated in one Davis Cup tie for Rhodesia in 1976, posting a 2–0 record in singles and an 0–1 record in doubles. He participated in six Davis Cup ties for Great Britain from 1984 to 1986, posting an 0–2 record in singles and a 5–1 record in doubles.
Life outside of tennis
Dowdeswell completed his tennis career in 1986 and began a successful career in Financial Services and Private Banking with Merrill Lynch.[2] Married with three children,[2] he currently resides in Monaco.[citation needed] He has also resided in Wimbledon.[1]
References
- ^ a b "ITF Men's Circuit Biography of Colin Dowdeswell". ITF Tennis. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d "ATP.com Colin Dowdeswell profile". ATP.com. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ Official website: Biography. Accessed 11 July 2014
- ^ "1975 Wimbledon Men's Doubles drawsheet". ATP.com. Retrieved 20 October 2011.