Dennis Ralston runner -up in the singles at Wimbledon in 1966 to Manual Santana, passed away on 6th December 2020 aged 78. He was one of the members of "The Handsome 8 " who signed up to the Pro World Championship tennis. He is also the youngest man to win the men's doubles at Wimbledon. Aged 17 he teamed up with Rafael Osuna to win the doubles in 1960 defeating the British pair of Bobby Wilson and Mike Davies. He was also runner-up in the mixed doubles in 1962 with Ann Haydon losing to Margaret Dupont and Neale Fraser. He also won the mens doubles at the French Championships and the US Championships. His career also extended to being a successful player and captain of the US Davis Cup team. Among players he coached was Chris Evert.
As well as as Denis Ralston, Alex Olmedo and Gordon Forbes died this week. olmedo was possibly South Americas greatest male player before the open era, Peruvian turned US national. Forbes a South African who wrote possibly the finest tennis book Ive read, A handful of summers , about life touring the european and British circuit as a shamateur back in the 50s. Check it out.
