Archive for the 'Tennis Legends' Category

How Did Pancho Gonzales Gain His Facial Scar?

TENNIS URBAN LEGEND: Pancho Gonzales received a scar from a knife fight he had when a young teen. I’ve discussed Richard Alonzo “Pancho” Gonzales here in a past legend. To say Pancho Gonzales was misunderstood during his playing days is an understatement – he was so little known, it’d be hard to say that people […]

Did Tennis Tournaments Once Come Up With Rules Specifically to Handicap Pancho Gonzales’ Style of Play?

SPORTS LEGEND: The officials behind the pre-Open pro tennis tournaments once came up with a rule specifically to handicap Pancho Gonzales’ style of play. Before 1968, there were two separate tennis competitions – “amateur” and “pro.” The amateur tour has most (if not all) of the most famous tournaments, while professional tennis looked a lot […]

Did Men’s Fitness Photoshop Someone Else’s Biceps on to Andy Roddick’s on a Cover?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about tennis and whether they are true or false. TENNIS URBAN LEGEND: Men’s Fitness gave Andy Roddick someone else’s biceps for the cover of the magazine. Former professional tennis player Andy Roddick was (and is) a very fit man. Just check him out […]

Was a Tennis Player Once Banned For Taking a Drug Supplied By…the Association of Tennis Professionals!

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about tennis and whether they are true or false. TENNIS URBAN LEGEND: Bohdan Ulihrach was suspended for taking a banned substance that was supplied by…the Association of Tennis Professionals! In 2002, Czech tennis player Bohdan Ulihrach (who was ranked as high as 22nd […]

What Lengths Did a Town Go to to Keep a Tennis Player From Going Pro?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about tennis and whether they are true or false. TENNIS URBAN LEGEND: Frank Sedgman’s hometown had a collection to raise money to keep Sedgman from becoming a professional. It’s hard sometimes to fully appreciate what professional tennis was like in the days before […]

What Animal is on the Logo for René Lacoste Sports Apparel?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about tennis and whether they are true or false. TENNIS URBAN LEGEND: René Lacoste created a line of sport apparel using a crocodile for a logo. René Lacoste was a legendary French tennis player of the 1920s and 1930s, but however great of […]

Did Stefan Edberg Really Once Kill a Man With His Tennis Serve?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about tennis and whether they are true or false. TENNIS URBAN LEGEND: Stefan Edberg once killed a man with his tennis serve. Stefan Edberg was one of the best tennis players of his generation, and was actually ranked #1 in the world at […]

How Did the Design of a Pair of Underpants Lead to a Wimbledon Official Being Forced to Resign?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about tennis and whether they are true or false. TENNIS URBAN LEGEND: A Wimbledon official (and past Wimbledon competitor) was asked to resign over his design of a female tennis player’s underwear. When Ted Tingling was 13, a bad case of asthma forced […]

Did Bjorn Borg Really Have a Pulse Rate of 45?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about tennis and whether they are true or false. TENNIS URBAN LEGEND: Bjorn Borg had a pulse rate of 45 beats per minute. Often in our zeal to celebrate legendary athletes, we sometimes begin to, well, create legends about these legendary athletes, often […]

Was a Wimbledon Finalist Later Convicted of Murder?

SPORTS LEGEND: A Wimbledon finalist was later convicted of murder.