Alvin Gardiner

Alvin Gardiner (born 11 February 1951) is a former professional tennis player from Australia.

Alvin Gardiner
Full nameAlvin Gardiner
Country (sports) Australia
Born (1951-02-11) 11 February 1951
Tara, Queensland, Australia
Singles
Career record26–82
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 90 (31 December 1978)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (1970, 1979)
French Open1R (1969, 1976, 1977, 1979)
Wimbledon1R (1972, 1975, 1977, 1979)
US Open2R (1976)
Doubles
Career record25–77
Career titles0
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenQF (1968)
French Open3R (1969)
Wimbledon2R (1980)
US Open1R (1976, 1978, 1979)

Career

Gardiner was a quarter-finalist in the men's doubles at the 1968 Australian Open with Ross Case.

He continued to compete in every Australian Open until 1973, when he began to suffer a series of injuries and illnesses. It started with a season ending collarbone injury, a break that required a bone graft operation in London.[1] When he returned to action he caught glandular fever, in August 1974 he won the Exmouth Open, and then midway through the season he pulled a back muscle.[2] He won the Exmouth Open singles title against Graeme Thomson in 1974 He made a comeback in 1975 and won the Irish Open that year, over Rhodesian player Tony Fawcett.[3]

During his career he also featured in the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open tournaments. He was John McEnroe's first ever opponent in a Grand Slam singles main draw. They met in the first round of the 1977 French Open and the American qualifier won the match in straight sets.[4] At the same tournament, Gardiner partnered Paul McNamee in the men's doubles. He made the second round of the Australian Open twice, the last of which was in 1979, when he lost to eventual champion Guillermo Vilas.[5]

Personal life

Gardiner was born in Tara, Queensland, to Ann, a schoolteacher, and Fred, a grazier who became an artist known for his wood sculptures.[6]

He is involved with coaching in the Toowoomba region.[7]

In 2017 Gardiner published a book on his tennis career titled Aussie Journeyman: Memoir of a Touring Tennis Professional.[8]

References
  1. Christensen, Phillip (6 January 1975). "Tense Tennis Win By Alvin". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 13. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  2. "Breakthrough for luckless player". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 6 January 1975. p. 15. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  3. "Tennis win". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 14 July 1975. p. 11. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  4. "Sport". Idaho State Journal. 25 May 1977. p. 10. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  5. "Ball upsets Pfister in Open". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 28 December 1979. p. 14. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  6. "Art of a Bushman". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 11 September 1968. p. 81. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  7. McCullough, Glenn (1 May 2009). "Courting junior talent". Chronicle. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  8. "Aussie Journeyman". Tennis Gallery Wimbledon.
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