Gardnar Mulloy

Gardnar Mulloy

Gardnar Putnam ("Gar") Mulloy (born November 22, 1913, in Washington, D.C.) is a former World No. 1 tennis player primarily known for playing in doubles matches with partner Billy Talbert. When he was the Tennis Coach of the University of Miami, he recruited Pancho Segura for the tennis team. Pancho won three straight NCAA Singles Titles in 1943, 1944, and 1945, a college record now matched by Steve Johnson, who won in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Pancho went on to enjoy a very successful professional tennis career, competing against the top touring professional players from 1947 until retiring in 1962.

Mulloy reached the US Championships men's singles final in 1952, losing to Frank Sedgman in the final.

The pair of Mulloy and Talbert won the U.S. men's doubles title in 1942, 1945, 1946, and 1948. He also won the Wimbledon doubles with Budge Patty in 1957, at age 44. Mulloy was a Davis Cup team member in 1946, 1948–50, 1952–53 and 1957, winning the Cup on three occasions against Australia. His Davis Cup record stands at 11 wins and 3 losses. Mulloy, who served as the commanding officer of LST 32 during WWII in the Mediterranean Theater, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1972.

A 1936 graduate of the University of Miami, and Tennis Coach at the school. He also is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He recruited to Miami and played doubles with George Toley, who went on to win 10 NCAA Team Titles at University of Southern California. Probably Mulloy's greatest contribution to tennis was advancing the popularity of Senior Tennis. He played the senior circuit around the world into his 90s, and contributed the Mulloy Cup for international competition between men tennis players 80 years of age and over. He has won over 127 National Championships and 25 International Titles over his 75 years of playing competitive tennis.