Joseph Hunt
 |
|
| Full name | Joseph Raphael Hunt |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |
 United States
|
| Born |
February 17, 1919 San Francisco, California, USA |
| Died | February 2, 1945 (aged 25) Daytona Beach, Florida, USA |
| Turned pro | 1935 (amateur tour) |
| Retired | 1945 (due to death) |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1966 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 5 (1943, Karoly Mazak) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| US Open | W (1943) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | F (1939Ch) |
Joseph "Joe" Raphael Hunt (February 17, 1919 – February 2, 1945) was an American tennis player of the late 1930s and early 1940s from Southern California. He was the number one ranked American in 1943 and won the US singles championship in his final match. He died off the coast of Florida in an airplane crash during World War II. To date he is the only man to win the U.S. boys' (15 and under), junior (18 and under), collegiate, and men's singles championship.
Hunt played college tennis at the University of Southern California as a freshman and he went undefeated in singles and doubles play while in college during 1938, including the Ojai Tennis Tournament. Hunt was very athletic and he played football for a while. After enlisting, he attended the United States Naval Academy and joined the Navy football team as a running back during the 1940 season. He was given the game ball for the 1940 Army–Navy Game. Hunt made the semifinals at the 1939 and 1940 United States singles championships. During the 1940 quarterfinal against Frank Kovacs he staged a sit-down strike during the match after he complained to the referee about Kovacs' antics and was unhappy with the referee's lack of response. Early in their third set, Kovacs began engaging in prolonged antics with the stadium gallery. When the umpire would not stop Kovacs or quiet the crowd, Hunt sat down on his baseline and did not acknowledge several of Kovacs' serves, allowing them to harmlessly fly by. Kovacs then sat down on his baseline and the two players sat for up to five minutes while the crowd alternately jeered and cheered. When order was finally restored, Hunt went on to win the match in straight sets. Hunt represented the United States in the 1939 International Lawn Tennis Challenge (now Davis Cup) challenge round against Australia. He played the doubles match partnering Jack Kramer which they lost to John Bromwich and Adrian Quist.
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