Ted Schroeder
Frederick Rudolph "Ted" Schroeder (July 20,
Ted Schroeder
1921 – May 26, 2006) was an American tennis
player who won the two most prestigious amateur
tennis titles, Wimbledon and the U.S. National. He
was the No. 1-ranked American amateur player in
1942; the No. 2 for 4 consecutive years, 1946
through 1949, and the latter year saw Schroeder
ranked World No. 1 amateur by Pierre Gillou
(president of the Fédération Française de Tennis).[1]
He was born in Newark, New Jersey, but developed
as a tennis player in Southern California under the
guidance of Perry T. Jones.
Early life and career
Full name Frederick Rudolph Schroeder
Schroeder was born in Newark, NJ but moved to
Country (sports) United States
Glendale in his childhood where he learned to play
tennis.[2] He was discovered by Perry T. Jones who Born July 20, 1921
was based at the Los Angeles Tennis Club and Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
mentored several world-class players including Died May 26, 2006 (aged 84)
Ellsworth Vines, Bobby Riggs and Jack Kramer.[3] La Jolla, California, U.S.
Schroeder was an almost exact contemporary of Plays Right-handed (1-handed
Kramer, having been born only 10 days earlier in backhand)
1921, and they began to play against each other as
Int. Tennis HoF 1966 (member page (https://w
top boy players in the mid-1930s. Schroeder's career
ww.tennisfame.com/hall-of-fa
is similar to Kramer's in that they both became top
mers/inductees/ted-schroede
players whose careers were then interrupted by
r/))
World War II. They were also lifelong friends and at
least once Schroeder mortgaged his house on short Singles
notice in order to be able to lend an unsolicited Career record 27–5
$25,000 to Kramer. Schroeder, however, attended Highest ranking No. 1 (1949, Pierre Gillou)[1]
college for four years, the first two at the University
Grand Slam singles results
of Southern California (USC), and the last two at
Wimbledon W (1949)
Stanford University. After the war Kramer proved
himself to be slightly better than Schroeder in the US Open W (1942)
amateur ranks and subsequently turned professional. Doubles
Career record 1–2
Grand Slam doubles results
'Lucky Ted'
Wimbledon F (1949)
When Riggs semi-retired he became the promoter of US Open W (1940, 1941, 1947)
the professional tour. He and Kramer decided that Grand Slam mixed doubles results
the only player who could oppose Kramer for a
Wimbledon 1R (1971)
financially successful tour would be Schroeder. The
youthful Pancho Gonzales was the reigning US Open W (1942)
American amateur champion, due to his upset win at Team competitions
the U.S. Open Championships in 1948, but during Davis Cup W (1946, 1947, 1948, 1949)
his brief career had been beaten by Schroeder eight
matches out of nine. Schroeder, playing during vacation time from his job, won Wimbledon in June 1949,
winning some tough matches along the way. Schroeder was two sets down against Gardnar Mulloy in
round one and then had five-set wins against Frank Sedgman, Eric Sturgess and Jaroslav Drobny in the
quarters, semis and final.[4][5] According to his obituary in the New York Times, he "captivated London as
an outgoing, straightforward Yank smoking a corn-cob pipe and earned the nickname 'Lucky Ted' there
for his five-set escapes".
Professional hope
Following his Wimbledon victory, Riggs and Kramer offered Schroeder $25,000 to turn pro after he won
the up-coming 1949 U.S. Championships and Schroeder accepted. But Gonzales upset their plans by
beating the heavily favored Schroeder in a five-set final — it has been called the 11th greatest match of
all time.[6] Gonzales lost the 1-hour and 15-minute first set 16–18 but finally managed to prevail in the
fifth set.[7] Kramer writes that in spite of his friendship with Schroeder, he has always felt that Schroeder
subconsciously "tanked" the match, in order to avoid the rigors of the professional tour. In any event,
Gonzales was now the two-time American champion and Kramer and Riggs were obliged to sign him,
instead of Schroeder, to a professional contract.
Post-war
Schroeder was never much more than a part-time player after the War, being preoccupied with his family
and his career as vice president of a commercial refrigeration equipment company, and had never really
intended to turn professional. Schroeder said he took his tennis far too emotionally to allow him to treat it
as a profession.[8] He remained a successful amateur player for a few more years and then faded from
view. He died in La Jolla, California at the age of 84. His son, John, is a professional golfer who has won
on the PGA Tour. Had 2 others sons Richard Schroeder and Robert Schroeder.
Abilities
In his 1979 autobiography, the long-time tennis promoter and great player Jack Kramer included
Schroeder in his list of the 21 greatest players of all time.[9] Schroeder, says Kramer, "won with heart and
stamina, but lacked in the simple mechanics."
Kramer writes,
As a player, Schroed had weaknesses with his groundstrokes. Long before the rest of us, he was
rushing the net because he couldn't rely on his backhand or forehand.... he had the ideal
attacking grass game: a terrific overhead and volley (especially the backhand) and that most
valuable of all tools, a strong second serve. Also, Schroed was tough physically, at a time of
long best-of-five deuce sets, and he was a great fighter.
Schroeder was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island in 1966.
Grand Slam finals
Singles (2 titles, 1 runner-up)
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Win 1942 U.S. Championships Grass Frank Parker 8–6, 7–5, 3–6, 4–6, 6–2
Win 1949 Wimbledon Grass Jaroslav Drobný 3–6, 6–0, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4
Loss 1949 U.S. Championships Grass Pancho Gonzales 18–16, 6–2, 1–6, 2–6, 4–6
Men's doubles (3 titles, 3 runner-ups)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Gardnar
U.S.
Win 1940 Grass Jack Kramer Mulloy 6–4, 8–6, 9–7
Championships
Henry Prusoff
Wayne Sabin
U.S.
Win 1941 Grass Jack Kramer Gardnar 9–7, 6–4, 6–2
Championships
Mulloy
Gardnar
U.S. Sidney
Loss 1942 Grass Mulloy 5–7, 7–9, 1–6
Championships Wood
Bill Talbert
U.S. Bill Talbert
Win 1947 Grass Jack Kramer 6–4, 7–5, 6–3
Championships Bill Sidwell
Gardnar
U.S. Frank 6–1, 7–9, 3–6, 6–
Loss 1948 Grass Mulloy
Championships Parker 3, 7–9
Bill Talbert
Pancho
Gardnar
Loss 1949 Wimbledon Grass Gonzales 4–6, 4–6, 2–6
Mulloy
Frank Parker
Mixed doubles (1 title)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Patricia
U.S. Louise
Win 1942 Grass Canning Todd 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
Championships Brough
Alejo Russell
References
1. "World Net List Led By Schroeder" (https://archive.today/20130201171857/http://pqasb.pqar
chiver.com/courant/access/885655602.html?dids=885655602:885655602&FMT=ABS&FMT
S=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+20,+1949&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Worl
d+Net+List+Led+By+Schroeder&pqatl=google), The Hartford Courant, October 20, 1949.
2. Bill Dwyre (May 27, 2006). "Ted Schroeder, 84; 1940s tennis champ who refused to turn
pro" (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-27-me-schroeder27-story.html).
Los Angeles Times.
3. "Ted Schroeder" (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1520149/Ted-Schroeder.htm
l). The Telegraph. June 3, 2006.
4. Richard Evans (June 6, 2006). "Ted Schroeder" (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/ju
n/06/tennis). The Guardian.
5. "Wimbledon player profile – Ted Schroeder" (https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/draws_arc
hive/player_profile/7aa08b74-02d8-421d-a9f7-517303c68c36.html). AELTC.
6. Tennis Magazine, on page 330 of The Tennis Book, Edited by Michael Bartlett and Bob
Gillen
7. Austin Bealmear (September 6, 1949). "Pro Tennis Beckoning to Gonzales After Gallant Win
Over Schroeder" (https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Mv9PAAAAIBAJ&pg=2793%2C
2183925). The Evening Independent. AP. p. 13 – via Google News Archive.
8. Robin Finn (May 27, 2006). "Ted Schroeder, 84, winner of tennis titles in 1940s, dies" (http
s://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/sports/tennis/27schroeder.html). The New York Times.
9. Writing in 1979, Kramer considered the best ever to have been either Don Budge (for
consistent play) or Ellsworth Vines (at the height of his game). The next four best were,
chronologically, Bill Tilden, Fred Perry, Bobby Riggs, and Pancho Gonzales. After these six
came the "second echelon" of Rod Laver, Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Gottfried von Cramm,
Ted Schroeder, Jack Crawford, Pancho Segura, Frank Sedgman, Tony Trabert, John
Newcombe, Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Björn Borg, and Jimmy Connors. He felt unable to
rank Henri Cochet and René Lacoste accurately but felt they were among the very best.
Sources
The Game, My 40 Years in Tennis (1979), Jack Kramer with Frank Deford (ISBN 0-399-
12336-9)
Man with a Racket, The Autobiography of Pancho Gonzales, as Told to Cy Rice (1959)
External links
Ted Schroeder (https://www.atptour.com/en/players/-/SB40/overview) at the Association of
Tennis Professionals
Ted Schroeder (https://www.itftennis.com/en/players/ted-schroeder/800172215/usa) at the
International Tennis Federation
Ted Schroeder (https://www.daviscup.com/en/players/player.aspx?id=800172215) at the
Davis Cup
Ted Schroeder (https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/ted-schroeder) at the
International Tennis Hall of Fame
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