Norman Brookes

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Sir Norman Everard Brookes (born November 14, 1877 in Melbourne, Victoria – died September 28, 1968 in Melbourne, Victoria) was an Australian tennis champion and president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia.

Brookes' father had become rich from gold mining, and Norman Brookes received a private education. On leaving school he went to work as a clerk at the paper mill where his father was managing director, and was on the board himself within eight years.

Brookes won the Wimbledon Championship men's singles twice, first in 1907 when he was the first non-British winner, and again in 1914. He also won the doubles in 1907 with New Zealander Anthony Wilding. He was personally a major figure in establishing the Australian Open (known as the Australasian Championship until 1927) which he won in 1911.

Brookes played 39 Davis Cup matches for Australia/New Zealand and Australia between 1905 and 1920. During World War I he served as commissioner of the Australian branch of the British Red Cross in Egypt.

In 1926 he became the first president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia, a post he held for the next 28 years. He was knighted in 1939. He died in South Yarra in 1968.

The trophy for men's singles at the Australian Open is named in his honour. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1977.

Grand Slam record

• Singles champion: 1911
• Doubles champion: 1924

• Singles champion: 1907, 1914
• Singles finalist: 1905, 1919
• Doubles champion: 1907, 1914 '''

• Doubles champion: 1919

 

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