Syd Ball (born 24 January 1950) is an Australian former professional tennis player.[2]

Syd Ball
Country (sports) Australia
Born (1950-01-24) 24 January 1950 (age 74)
Sydney, Australia
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
PlaysRight-handed[1]
Singles
Career record96–161
Highest rankingNo. 63 (3 June 1974)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open3R (1974, 1976, 1979)
French Open1R (1978)
Wimbledon2R (1972, 1973)
US Open4R (1974)
Doubles
Career record240–202
Career titles7
Highest rankingNo. 22 (30 August 1977)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenF (1974)
French Open3R (1971)
WimbledonQF (1976, 1977)
US OpenSF (1974, 1976)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US OpenSF (1969)

Ball enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career, he won seven doubles titles and finished runner-up an additional 14 times. Partnering Bob Giltinan, Ball finished runner-up at the 1974 Australian Open. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 22 in 1977. In August 2000, Ball was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his commitment to tennis.[3]

Syd Ball is the father of former tour professional Carsten Ball.

Career finals

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Doubles (7 titles, 14 runners-up)

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Result W/L Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 1974 Australian Open, Melbourne Grass   Bob Giltinan   Ross Case
  Geoff Masters
7–6, 3–6, 4–6
Loss 0–2 1974 San Francisco, US Carpet   John Alexander   Robert Lutz
  Stan Smith
4–6, 6–7
Loss 0–3 1974 Christchurch, New Zealand   Ray Ruffels   Ismail El Shafei
  Roscoe Tanner
W/O
Win 1–3 1974 Manila, Philippines Hard   Ross Case   Mike Estep
  Marcello Lara
6–3, 7–6, 9–7
Loss 1–4 1975 Bournemouth, England Clay   Dick Crealy   Juan Gisbert
  Manuel Orantes
6–8, 3–6
Loss 1–5 1975 Manila, Philippines Hard   Kim Warwick   Ross Case
  Geoff Masters
1–6, 2–6
Win 2–5 1976 Little Rock, US Carpet   Ray Ruffels   Giuliano Pecci
  Haroon Rahim
6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Win 3–5 1976 Brisbane, Australia Grass   Kim Warwick   Ismail El Shafei
  Brian Fairlie
6–4, 6–4
Loss 3–6 1976 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard   Kim Warwick   Ismail El Shafei
  Brian Fairlie
6–4, 4–6, 6–7
Win 4–6 1976 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Grass   Kim Warwick   Mark Edmondson
  John Marks
6–3, 6–4
Loss 4–7 1977 Adelaide, Australia Grass   Kim Warwick   Cliff Letcher
  Dick Stockton
3–6, 6–4, 4–6
Loss 4–8 1977 Denver, US Carpet   Kim Warwick   Colin Dibley
  Geoff Masters
2–6, 3–6
Win 5–8 1977 Hong Kong Hard   Kim Warwick   Marty Riessen
  Roscoe Tanner
7–6, 6–3
Win 6–8 1977 Adelaide, Australia Grass   Kim Warwick   John Alexander
  Phil Dent
3–6, 7–6, 6–4
Loss 6–9 1978 Brisbane, Australia Grass   Allan Stone   John Alexander
  Phil Dent
3–6, 6–7
Loss 6–10 1978 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Grass   Bob Carmichael   Hank Pfister
  Sherwood Stewart
4–6, 4–6
Win 7–10 1980 Perth, Australia Hard   Cliff Letcher   Dale Collings
  Dick Crealy
6–3, 6–4
Loss 7–11 1981 Cleveland, US Grass   Ross Case   Erik van Dillen
  Van Winitsky
4–6, 7–5, 5–7
Loss 7–12 1982 Richmond WCT, US Carpet   Rolf Gehring   Mark Edmondson
  Kim Warwick
4–6, 2–6
Loss 7–13 1982 Newport, US Grass   Rod Frawley   John Andrews
  John Sadri
6–3, 6–7, 5–7
Loss 7–14 1982 Melbourne Indoor, Australia Carpet (i)   Rod Frawley   Francisco González
  Matt Mitchell
6–7, 6–7

References

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  1. ^ Emery, David, ed. (1983). Who's Who in International Tennis. London: Sphere. pp. 12, 13. ISBN 9780722133200.
  2. ^ "Syd Ball | Overview | ATP Tour | Tennis". ATP Tour. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Syd Ball". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
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