Full name | Robert Ian Mark |
---|---|
Country (sports) | Australia |
Born | Albury, Australia | 28 November 1937
Died | 21 July 2006 South Africa | (aged 68)
Singles | |
Highest ranking | 10 |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1959) |
French Open | 3R (1958) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1958, 1960) |
US Open | QF (1960) |
Doubles | |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | W (1959, 1960, 1961) |
French Open | F (1961) |
Wimbledon | F (1959) |
US Open | F (1960) |
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
Australian Open | W (1959) |
Wimbledon | SF (1959, 1960) |
US Open | W (1961) |
Robert 'Bob' Mark (28 November 1937 – 21 July 2006) was an amateur tennis player from Australia.
Mark won the Australian Men's Doubles title in 1959, 1960 and 1961 partnering Rod Laver. With Sandra Reynolds, he won the 1960 Australian Mixed Doubles, and in 1961, he teamed with compatriot Margaret Smith to win the U.S. National Championships Mixed Doubles.
At the 1959 Australian Championships, Mark beat Andrés Gimeno in four sets in the quarter finals. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, "Mark hit some wonderful passing shots, particularly off the forehand side. Frequently he ran around Gimeno's second service and clubbed it down the sideline for a winner".[1] He lost to Neale Fraser in the semi finals. At the US Championships in 1960, Mark beat third seed Barry MacKay in five sets (having completed the fifth set of his previous round win earlier the same day). The big serving MacKay served many double faults, but Mark served well and his backhand was in form.[2] He lost in the quarter finals to Dennis Ralston. In 1960 Mark won the Kent Championships at Beckenham beating Butch Buchholz in the final.[3] In 1962, he won the singles title at the South African Championships after a four-set victory in the final against Gordon Forbes.[4]