Rodney Heath

Australian tennis player From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rodney Wilfred Heath (15 June 1884 – 26 October 1936) was an Australian tennis player.

FullnameRodney Wilfred Heath
Country(sports) Australia
Born15 June 1884
Melbourne, Australia
Died26 October 1936(1936-10-26) (aged 52)
Melbourne, Australia
Quick facts Full name, Country (sports) ...
Rodney Heath
Full nameRodney Wilfred Heath
Country (sports) Australia
Born15 June 1884
Melbourne, Australia
Died26 October 1936(1936-10-26) (aged 52)
Melbourne, Australia
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record133–61 (68.5%)[1]
Career titles9[1]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenW (1905, 1910)
French Open1R (1925)
WimbledonQF (1911)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (1906, 1911)
WimbledonF (1919)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1911)
Close

Personal

Heath was the second son of F. W. Heath who was the official timekeeper at the Victorian Racing Club and Victorian Amateur Turf Club. Rodney's brother C. V. Heath won the South Australian men's singles title in 1902.[2] In June 1915 Heath left Australia to join the Royal Flying Corps in England. He was promoted to the rank of major two years later.[3][4] In 1916 Heath was injured when he crash-landed his plane after flying into a snowstorm en route from England to France.[5]

Tennis career

Heath was the Men's Singles champion at the inaugural Australasian Championships in 1905 defeating Albert Curtis in four sets. He won again it five years later, in 1910, after a victory in the final against Horace Rice in three straight sets.[6][7][8]

In 1911 he played in the Davis Cup challenge round in New Zealand against the United States and defeated William Larned in four sets.[9]

In 1919 he reached the final of the Wimbledon Men's Doubles tournament with Randolph Lycett.

Death

On 26 October 1936, 9 months before his 53rd birthday, Heath was found dead in the bedroom of his sister's home in Melbourne, Australia. It is said that Heath died from melanoma in his stomach.

Grand Slam finals

Singles (2 titles)

More information Result, Year ...
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Win1905Australasian ChampionshipsGrassAustralia Arthur Curtis4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4[10]
Win1910Australasian ChampionshipsGrassAustralia Horace Rice6–4, 6–3, 6–2[10]
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Doubles: 5 (2 titles, 3 runners-up)

More information Result, Year ...
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win1906Australasian ChampionshipsGrassAustralia Anthony WildingAustralia Cecil C. Cox
New Zealand Harry Parker
6–2, 6–4, 6–2[11]
Loss1910Australasian ChampionshipsGrassAustralia James O'DeaAustralia Ashley Campbell
Australia Horace Rice
3–6, 3–6, 2–6[12]
Win1911Australasian ChampionshipsGrassUnited Kingdom Randolph LycettAustralia John Addison
Australia Norman Brookes
6–2, 7–5, 6–0[13]
Loss1914Australasian ChampionshipsGrassUnited Kingdom Arthur O'Hara WoodAustralia Ashley Campbell
Australia Gerald Patterson
5–7, 6–3, 3–6, 3–6[12]
Loss1919WimbledonGrassUnited Kingdom Randolph LycettAustralia Pat O'Hara-Wood
Australia Ronald Thomas
4–6, 2–6, 6–4, 2–6[14]
Close

References

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