Don Budge, Tennis' first "Grand Slam" winner, 84

["Deathwatch Central" <cdw@slick.org>]

http://cnnsi.com/tennis/news/2000/01/26/budge_dead_ap/

Tennis great Don Budge dead at 84

Posted: Wednesday January 26, 2000 07:17 PM

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) -- Don Budge, who in 1938 swept all four major tennis
tournaments to become the sport's first "Grand Slam" winner, died Wednesday
of cardiac arrest. He was 84.

Budge died at 2:04 p.m. EST at Mercy Hospital in Scranton, hospital
spokeswoman Mary Leone said.

Budge was injured Dec. 14 in northeastern Pennsylvania when he apparently
lost control of the car he was driving and it went off the road. He had to
be cut from the wreckage and was hospitalized in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., until
Jan. 8, when he was transferred to a nursing home in Scranton.

Budge had a complete game built around a whiplash backhand, which still is
considered the best ever. He backed up a strong serve with power and
accuracy off the ground and volleyed effectively.
After reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 1936, Budge took five months off
the following winter to change his game, taking the ball earlier and
improving his forehand.

In 1937, he won Wimbledon easily, then on July 20, 1937, met Von Cramm on
the grass courts of the All-England Club.

While in the dressing room before beginning the match, Von Cramm received a
telephone call. As Budge listened, Von Cramm, an anti-Nazi, listened, then
ended the call by saying politely, "Ja, mein Fuhrer." It was Adolph Hitler.

By the time the two took the court, the best-of-5 competition was tied a two
victories apiece. Budge triumphed 6-8, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 8-6, giving the United
States the victory.

"Don," Von Cramm said, "this was absolutely the finest match I have ever
played in my life. I'm very happy that I could have played it against you,
whom I like so much."

Budge received the James E. Sullivan Trophy as the nation's outstanding
amateur athlete in 1937 and was The Associated Press athlete of the year in
1938.

After his 1938 Grand Slam, Budge turned pro and dominated in an era when
professionals were not allowed to play tournaments, including the major
championships.

"I was the amateur champion for two years and then the pro champion for many
years after that," Budge said. "There was no one who could beat me. Just
think of how many more Wimbledons I could have won."

Budge was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1964, and selected one of
Tennis Magazine's 20 greatest players of the 20th century.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete Wednesday. In addition to David Budge,
he was survived by his second wife, Loriel Budge, and another son, Jeffrey
Budge, an investment counselor in Boston.

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