Arthur James Willard (22 April 1893 – 10 June 1968), better known as Jim Willard, was an Australian tennis player.

James Willard
Full nameArthur James Willard
Country (sports)Australia
Born(1893-04-22)22 April 1893
Tambaroora, New South Wales
Died10 June 1968(1968-06-10) (aged 75)
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenF (1926)
French Open3R (1930)
Wimbledon2R (1924)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games3R (1924)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenF (1928)
French OpenF (1930)
WimbledonQF (1930)
Olympic Games2R (1924)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenW (1924, 1925)
Wimbledon3R (1930)

Tennis career

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Willard won two mixed doubles titles alongside Daphne Akhurst at the Australasian Championships, the future Australian Open, in 1924 and 1925. Willard also finished singles runner-up to John Hawkes in 1926 and reached the semifinals in 1927 and 1930. He was the mixed doubles runner-up in Australia in 1926 and 1927, and doubles runner-up at the Australian Championships in 1928 and at the French Championships in 1930. He participated in the 1924 Wimbledon Championships, losing in the second round of the singles event. He returned at the 1930 Championships where he lost in the first round of the singles event, reached the quarterfinal of the doubles with Harry Hopman and made it to the third round of the mixed doubles partnering Lolette Payot.[1]

Willard competed in the singles and doubles event at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[2] In the singles he made it to the third round before being defeated by Sydney Jacob. In the doubles event he teamed up with James Bayley and reached the second round in which they lost to eventual Olympic champions Vincent Richards and Frank Hunter.[3][4]

Willard won the Sydney metropolitan championships in October 1929 after a victory in the final against Jack Crawford.[5]

He became a professional player in February 1933.[6]

From 1933 to 1941, Willard had an endorsement deal with the Alexander Patent Racket Company in Launceston, Tasmania, to produce a range of 'Jim Willard' tennis racquets.[7][8]

Grand Slam finals

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Singles (1 runner-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1926 Australasian Championships Grass   John Hawkes 6–1, 6–3, 6–1

Doubles (2 runners-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1928 Australian Championships Grass   Edgar Moon   Jean Borotra
  Jacques Brugnon
2–6, 6–4, 4–6, 4–6
Loss 1930 French Championships Clay   Harry Hopman   Henri Cochet
  Jacques Brugnon
3–6, 7–9, 3–6

Mixed doubles (2 titles, 2 runners-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1924 Australasian Championships Grass   Daphne Akhurst   Esna Boyd Robertson
  Gar Hone
6–3, 6–4
Win 1925 Australasian Championships Grass   Daphne Akhurst   Sylvia Lance Harper
  Robert Schlesinger
6–4, 6–4
Loss 1926 Australasian Championships Grass   Daphne Akhurst   Esna Boyd Robertson
  John Hawkes
2–6, 4–6
Loss 1927 Australian Championships Grass   Youtha Anthony   Esna Boyd Robertson
  John Hawkes
1–6, 3–6

References

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  1. ^ "Wimbledon players archive – James Willard". AELTC.
  2. ^ "James Willard". Olympedia. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jim Willard". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
  4. ^ "Anthony Willard – Olympic Results". Australian Olympic Committee.
  5. ^ "Tennis". The Northern Star. 28 October 1929. p. 6 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Tennis Pro". The Sun. No. 7217. Sydney. 15 February 1933. p. 15 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Green, Christopher (2011). What a racket! : the illustrated story of the Alexander Patent Racket Co. Ltd., Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1925-1961. Launceston, Tas.: Bokprint Pty. Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9871085-0-0. OCLC 733310743.
  8. ^ "Advertising". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 6 April 1933. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
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