23 Facts About Budge Patty

Budge Patty won two Grand Slam singles titles in 1950.

Budge Patty was the second American male player to win the Channel Slam and one of only three as of 2021.

Edward John Patty was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on February 11,1924.

Budge Patty's grandmother was born in France, while one of his grandfathers was Austrian.

Budge Patty's family relocated to Los Angeles during his childhood, and he attended Los Angeles High School.

Budge Patty was nicknamed "Budge" by his brother, who perceived Patty to be lethargic, resulting in a "failure to budge".

Budge Patty started playing tennis as a child, and practised with Pauline Betz every Saturday morning when he was a junior player.

Budge Patty triumphed at the under-15 national championships in 1939, before winning both the singles and doubles titles at the under-18 tournament two years later.

Budge Patty intended to study at the University of Southern California, but was drafted into the US Army several days after registering.

Budge Patty then won his first major singles title at the 1950 French Championships, where he won three consecutive matches in five sets, including the final against Jaroslav Drobny.

Budge Patty was the fourth consecutive male player from Southern California to win Wimbledon.

At the 1953 Wimbledon Championships, Budge Patty faced Drobny again in the third round.

Budge Patty lost the five-set match that lasted four hours and twenty minutes, despite having six match points on Drobny's serve.

Budge Patty later recounted to The Telegraph in 2000 how he "could hardly see a thing" towards the end of that match, adding: "I was so tired I barely knew where I was".

Budge Patty partnered with Gardnar Mulloy in 1957 to win the Wimbledon men's doubles title, upsetting top seeds Lew Hoad and Neale Fraser in the final.

The final tournament of Budge Patty's career was the 1960 Wimbledon Championships, where he lost to Italy's Nicola Pietrangeli in the first round.

Budge Patty stayed amateur throughout his career and won 46 singles titles.

Budge Patty finished seven years ranked within the Top 10 between 1947 and 1957.

Budge Patty was inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1977.

Budge Patty moved to Paris after World War II and became fluent in French.

Budge Patty featured in bit parts of films and worked in real estate.

Budge Patty ultimately resided in Europe for over seven decades.

Budge Patty died on October 4,2021, at a hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland.