21 Facts About Pat Spence

Patrick Spence was a South African tennis player.

Pat Spence competed mainly in Great Britain and found his form in hard court tournaments.

Pat Spence notably won the mixed doubles championships at Wimbledon in 1928 with Elizabeth Ryan and at the French Open in 1931 with Betty Nuthall.

Pat Spence was active from 1922 to 1936 and won 14 career singles titles on grass and clay courts outdoors, as well as indoor wood courts.

Patrick Spence began his tennis prominence in Great Britain in 1922 when he became Scottish champion after winning the local tournament.

Pat Spence first became the covered courts champion at the Queen's Club the same year by beating reigning champion Patrick Wheatley in three sets.

Pat Spence shared the doubles victory with Raymond and the mixed doubles with Colyer.

In 1927 Pat Spence reached the semi-finals of the French championships, beating Frank Hunter before losing to Rene Lacoste.

Pat Spence met Lacoste for his second British Hard Court Championships trophy but was subdued in straight sets.

Pat Spence lost the doubles against the French team of Lacoste and Brugnon.

Pat Spence was runner up in the Championship of London in doubles.

Patrick Spence was born 11 February 1898 in Queenstown, Cape Colony.

Pat Spence moved to Edinburgh after the First World War.

Pat Spence graduated from Edinburgh University with a doctorate in medicine.

Pat Spence worked at Guy's Hospital in London and then in Richmond, London in 1930.

Pat Spence formed a real-life couple with his 18-year-old doubles partner Betty Nuthall, with whom he won the French Open mixed doubles tournament in 1931.

Pat Spence married Joy Robson, a ballerina with Sadler Wells Ballet, and had four children: Mikael, Stephen, Mandy and Charles.

Pat Spence preferred to pace the ball rather than give it a spin.

Pat Spence tended to go to the net, but his volley showed indecisiveness.

Pat Spence had a long-swinged forehand, on which he applied a moderate topspin.

Pat Spence's backhand was weak, and he always placed himself to receive the ball to his forehand side.