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| Sir Norman Brookes - a portrait of the Wizard |
EARLY BEGINNINGS
It was in the 1880's, the colonial game of tennis reached
the shores of Australia and New Zealand. With limited transportation and geographical
constraints, tennis down under was pretty much an inter-state affair. Victoria (1880)
and New South Wales (1885) rose early to
embrace lawn tennis - and within few years, impressed by the success of these
inter-colonial games - New Zealand (1886), Queensland (1888), South Australia
(1890), Tasmania (1893) and Western Australia (1895) started to host state
championships. It was in this environment, Norman Brookes began his tennis
career from Victoria.
An elegant left-handed player, he made headlines when he
played a five-setter (and lost) against the well-known Wilberforce Eaves
(Australian who played tennis in the UK), who later went on to coach him. Under
his guidance, Brookes underwent few changes in his technique and in mindset and
strengthened his overall play. Together with Alf Dunlop, they formed a team
which would take Australia tennis to the world - a result which helped to
create the Australasia Lawn Tennis Association together with New Zealand, a
crucial first step to gain an entry to play in the coveted Davis Cup.
TO BE THE BEST, YOU GOTTA PLAY WITH THE BEST
With Australasia participating in the 1905 Davis Cup, many
of the leading Australian tennis players felt the need to participate in the
Wimbledon championships since the Davis Cup was held in the British Isles (Britain
being the defending champions). Norman Brookes led the pack and reached the
challenge round (finals) before his progress was halted by Laurence Doherty.
And in the Davis Cup, Australasia were humbled by the USA in the final round
(challenge round was the ultimate finals back then).
It was in 1907 when Norman Brookes would showcase some of
his best tennis. Norman Brookes stunned the locals when he won the singles
title 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeating Arthur Gore in the process becoming the first
non-Brit and the first left hander to win the Wimbledon title. Soon after,
partnering with Tony Wilding he would win the doubles title as well. Carrying
on this momentum, the duo of Brookes and Wilding would defeat USA in the final
round of Davis Cup 3-2 and by the same margin defeat the British team in the
challenge round to lift their first Davis Cup title.
In 1908, the defending champions Australasia would win it
again - and this time in front of the home crowd in Melbourne. He would win
four more Davis Cup titles (1909, 1911, 1914 and 1919). And due to his business
obligations he could not make a trip to Wimbledon to defend his title.
After having formed the national association for tennis, the
Australasian championships on the lines of Wimbledon, US Open and French Open was
started in 1905. Norman Brookes for many reasons (business and away trips)
could not take part in the Australasia championships and finally made his
maiden appearance in 1911, which he won comfortably.
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| Tony Wilding and Sir Norman Brookes |
Months before the war broke out in the year 1914, Norman
Brookes would win the singles title at Wimbledon defeating his mate Tony Wilding and the duo
would win the doubles title and later the Davis Cup. While Tony Wilding
registered with the British Army for the war, Brookes was not selected owing to
his ill-condition of stomach ulcers. He was instead posted in various places in
the capacity of administrator during the war. Wilding-Brookes, the name which
brought many glories to Australasian tennis would no longer play a match
together as Wilding became a war casualty (died in 1915). Tennis would resume
post war and Brookes spearheads once again to win another Davis Cup title, this
time without his friend, mate Tony Wilding. With his best years behind him, he
focuses his life more on business matters and played occasional tournaments. Even
during his fading years, he managed to win doubles title at US Open in 1919 and
Australasian Open in 1924.
THE FLAG BEARER OF AUSTRALIAN TENNIS
After having a successful career which saw him many
championships, it was time for Brookes to take the next step, the role of a
administrator and be the necessary conduit for the continued success of
Australian tennis. Personally, this is a crucial phase of any athlete's career
- post his or her playing days and how relevant their contributions are towards
the game. He first became the President of the Victorian Tennis - a post which he
held for 12 years and then from 1926 for 28 years, he was the top man of Lawn
Tennis Association of Australia. By this time, an international calendar was in
place and the international governing body had recognised the four major
tournaments to be exclusive - a honour which is still in place. During his
reign as the administrator, Australia won the Davis Cup six more times and had helped
to build a structure which enabled Australian players to dominate world tennis from
the late 50's up until early 80's.
For his services to tennis, he was knighted by the British
Government in 1939. A man who put Australia on the world tennis map, the best
honour came from his home country. St. Kilda, a neighbourhood where he once
lived his life and South Yarra where he breathed his last are all the sub-urban
areas shadowed by the more popular Victorian city of 'Melbourne'. It is here at
the beginning of each year, many male tennis players showcase their talents in
pursuit of Norman Brookes Challenge Cup (Australian Open men's singles title) and
it is here the legend of Norman Brookes comes to life year after year.
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