Clark Graebner - Tennis Career

Tennis Career

He graduated from Northwestern University, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Graebner's deceased wife, Carole, was also a successful touring tennis professional. Graebner was considered to be one of the fastest servers in his time.

Graebner was runner-up to John Newcombe in the 1967 United States Championship, the last time the event, today's U.S. Open, was only open to amateur players. The following year he reached the semi-finals in singles at both Wimbledon and the inaugural U.S. Open.

Graebner and Arthur Ashe led the U.S. Davis Cup team to victory in the 1968 Davis Cup, its first in five years. The Americans went on to win four more titles in as many years.

Graebner was one of the protagonists of John McPhee's book, Levels of the Game, which is about a semifinal match played between himself and Ashe at the 1968 U.S. Open at Forest Hills. Ashe won the match.

Graebner's most significant title was probably the men's doubles title at the 1966 French Championships, where he and Dennis Ralston beat Ion Ţiriac and Ilie Năstase in the final. He also won the 1968 U.S. Men's Clay Court singles Championship in Milwaukee, the 1969 and 1970 U.S. Men's Clay Court doubles Championship (with William Bowrey and Ashe, respectively), and the 1963 doubles title at Cincinnati.

Graebner also reached the singles quarterfinals in Cincinnati in 1970, knocking off Bob McKinley, Barry MacKay, and Ray Ruffels before falling to eventual champ Ken Rosewall.

Graebner still ranks #32 on the list of best career set win/loss records in Grand Slam events, at 108-58, for a 65% record.