Bill Bowrey
Bill Bowrey at the 1970 Dutch Open
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| Full name | William Walter Bowrey |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |
 Australia
|
| Residence | Victoria, Australia |
| Born |
25 December 1943 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Turned pro | 1968 (amateur tour from 1962) |
| Retired | 1975 |
| Plays | Right-handed (1-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 88–99 |
| Career titles | 6 |
| Highest ranking | No. 8 (1967, NY Times) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1968) |
| French Open | 3R (1965, 1971) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1966) |
| US Open | QF (1966) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 89–60 (Open era at Grand Slam, Grand Prix and WCT level, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 5 |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1967) |
| French Open | QF (1969, 1971) |
| Wimbledon | F (1966) |
| US Open | F (1967) |
| Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1966) |
William "Bill" Bowrey (born 25 December 1943) is a former Australian male tennis player.
Bowrey was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and is best remembered as the last amateur to win the Australian Championships in 1968 before the tournament opened itself for professional tennis players in 1969.
At the age of 16 Bill was a member of the schoolboys' NSW state PSAAA tennis team. In the process of qualifying he overcame promising Newcastle junior Ross Flanagan who had match point against Bowrey. Bowrey held on to win and Ross Flanagan decided to pursue a less spectacular career as a Physics and Sports Biomechanics Lecturer at The University of Newcastle.
Bowrey reached the quarters of the Australian (international amateur) Championships in 1965 (losing to John Newcombe), 1966 (losing to Roy Emerson) and 1967 (losing to Emerson) and the US Open quarters in 1966 (losing to Manuel Santana). At the 1967 US Open – Doubles Bowrey and partner Owen Davidson lost the final to Newcombe and Roche in four sets. At the end of 1967, John Newcombe, Roy Emerson and Tony Roche had all signed professional contracts, which left the amateur game devoid of talent. A poor quality field lined up for the 1968 Australian championships, which were held at Melbourne's historic Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. Bowrey was the top seed. In the final Bowrey met the Spaniard Juan Gisbert, which he won in four sets. A month after his Australian triumph Bowrey married the women's player Lesley Turner. The game went open in April that year and at the first Open Wimbledon Bowrey lost in the second round to Andrés Gimeno. Defending his Australian title the following year Bowrey blew a two sets to love lead in the quarters against Ray Ruffels. Bowrey represented Australia in two Davis Cup rounds, the first against the U.S in the World Group Final in December 1968, where he lost to Clark Graebner in five sets and beat Arthur Ashe in four sets. The second in the North & Central America draw in May 1969 versus Mexico, where he won against Joaquin Loyo-Mayo and lost to Rafael Osuna.
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