Ronald Holmberg
 |
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| Full name | Ronald Edward Holmberg |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |
 United States
|
| Residence |
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY New Orleans, LA |
| Born |
January 27, 1938 Brooklyn, NY, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Turned pro | 1968 with WCT |
| Retired | 1973 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 422-221 |
| Career titles | 25 |
| Highest ranking | No. 7 (1960, Lance Tingay) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | Did not play in 1958 (due to emergency appendectomy) |
| French Open | QF (1961) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1964, 1966) |
| US Open | SF (1959) |
| Professional majors | |
| US Pro | QF (1969) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | Did not play in 1958 (due to emergency appendectomy) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1960) |
| Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
| US Open | SF (1962) with Jan Lehane |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | F (1957Ch) |
| Last updated on: August 19, 2015. | |
Ronald "Ronnie" E. Holmberg (born January 27, 1938) was a former American tennis player who competed during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He was ranked World No. 7 in 1960 and was ranked in the U.S. Top 10 for an impressive nine years. He is currently one of the USPTA's select "Master Professionals" and devotes most of his time coaching, participating and directing charity events and clinics and other tennis related projects.
The following biography is based on the USTA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame and USTA Southern Tennis Hall of Fame inductions. The original text was submitted to the USTA by tennis historian Steve Flink and presented by him during the induction ceremony.
In the late 1950s and ‘60s World Tennis magazine frequently paid tribute to Ron Holmberg’s tennis ability: “Holmberg can do more with a tennis ball than any other player of his era. There is no shot that is beyond his aptitude ... His touch, power and stroke making are beautiful to watch.”
Indeed, the U.S. Tennis Association Official Encyclopedia of Tennis sites Holmberg as one of “the leading tennis players of his day.” He ranked among the top 10 in U.S. Men’s Singles nine times during the 1950s and 1960s, he was a semifinalist at the U.S. National Championships (the US Open), a quarter-finalist at the French (the French Open), won the singles title once and doubles title twice at the Canadian Open in Toronto and he won the U.S. National Indoor Doubles Championship among other titles.
Steve Flink, a past editor of World Tennis said, “His record was impressive, but more importantly, Holmberg was a spectator’s delight. Ron was his own kind of player, a consummate stylist, which made him stand out. He reminded me of Ken Rosewall in that he was so effortless. He could hit winners from everywhere.” In fact, Flink remembers watching him play Rosewall in the Wimbledon warm-up at the Queen’s Club, London, in the late ‘60s. Holmberg was down a set and 2-0, but after a rain delay, he found his timing and completely took over the match. “He was brilliant!” said Flink.
Holmberg learned the game in his native Brooklyn at Fort Greene Park and progressed through the N.Y.C. Parks system. Tennis was merely another game to complement baseball and basketball, but his potential carried him beyond his roots into the national arena when he was 14. He met teaching pro John Nogrady, who was a tremendous help, especially with match-play strategy. During these formative years Holmberg worked closely with some of the all-time greats: Pancho Segura, Pancho Gonzalez, Bobby Riggs, Jack Kramer and Emmett Pare’, all top playing professionals who took him under their wing and remained good friends throughout his career to the present. In 1953, at age 15, Ron won three out of the four U.S. National Boys’ titles and in 1954, played in his first U.S. National Men’s Championships at Forest Hills (US Open).
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