26 Facts About Frank Shields

Frank Shields was ranked world No 2 in 1931, and US No 1 in 1933.

In January 1928, Shields was runner-up to George Lott in the Canadian Covered Courts Championships at the Montreal Indoor Tennis Club, defeating Canadian No 1 Dr Jack Wright in a long five-set semifinal.

Frank Shields was runner-up in the 1929 Canadian Open Championships at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club on red clay, losing the final to Dr Wright, who had earlier beaten John Doeg in the semifinal.

Frank Shields lost to Bill Tilden in the third round of the 1929 US National Tennis Championships, but returned the favor the following season, defeating Tilden in the quarterfinals of the 1930 Southampton Invitation.

Frank Shields defeated Wilmer Allison and Sidney Wood before losing to John Doeg in the final of the 1930 US Championships.

Frank Shields defaulted to Sidney Wood in the singles final of Wimbledon in 1931 due to an ankle injury he had sustained in winning his semi-final match against France's "Musketeer" Jean Borotra, and this was the only time in the history of a Grand Slam event the singles final of that event was won by default.

Frank Shields reached the fourth round at the 1933 French Championships at Roland Garros, where he lost to Christian Boussus.

Frank Shields won the Southampton Invitation on grass, defeating Bitsy Grant in the semifinal and Frank Parker in the final, in three straight sets.

Frank Shields won the Newport Casino Invitational on grass, defeating Ellsworth Vines in the semifinal and Wilmer Allison in the final.

At the 1933 US Championships, Frank Shields was seeded No 2 behind Vines.

Vines lost to Grant in the fourth round, while Frank Shields reached the semifinal, where he lost to Jack Crawford.

Frank Shields was ranked US No 1 for 1933 by the USLTA official ranking, and world No 5 ahead of Vines by Bernard Brown.

In 1934, Shields defended his Canadian Covered Court Championships title by defeating J Gilbert Hall in a close four-set semifinal and George Lott in the final in three straight sets.

Frank Shields won the United North and South tournament at the prestigious Pinehurst Country Club, North Carolina on clay courts, defeating Allison in the final in three long, straight sets.

Frank Shields reached the final of the Queen's Club Championships, where he lost to Sidney Wood.

Frank Shields reached the semifinal at Wimbledon, where he lost a close match to Crawford.

In 1935, Frank Shields won the Ojai Tennis Tournament, defeating Gene Mako in the final.

Frank Shields competed at the 1951 US National Championships in New York City, but was defeated in the first round by South African Syd Levy in straight sets.

Frank Shields competed for the Davis Cup in 1931,1932, and 1934, winning 19 of 25 matches.

Frank Shields was left off the team in 1933, supposedly for "erratic" "playing," despite being the No 1 ranked US player for that year.

Frank Shields was the non-playing captain in 1951, when the team won four matches.

Frank Shields had his issues both with interactions with other players and with alcohol.

Once, a drunk Frank Shields held Grant upside down, outside a hotel window.

Frank Shields had previously been married to Oliver Cadwell Biddle, with whom she had a daughter, Christine Mortimer Biddle, who became a stepdaughter to Shields.

Frank Shields was the grandfather of Brooke Shields, Morgan Christina Shields, and Holton Joseph Shields.

Frank Shields was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island in 1964.