Stanley Matthews (tennis)
| Full name | Stanley John Matthews |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |
 United Kingdom
|
| Residence | Weston, Connecticut, United States |
| Born |
20 November 1945 Stoke-upon-Trent, England |
| Retired | 1973 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 6–17 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (1963, 1964) |
| French Open | 2R (1967, 1969) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1963, 1969) |
| US Open | 2R (1971) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 4–13 |
Stanley John Matthews (born 20 November 1945) is an English former professional tennis player. He became Wimbledon Boys' Champion in 1962 and reached the second round of the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. He is the son of former professional footballer Sir Stanley Matthews.
Matthews' first foray in sport was via football, and, like his father, he played on the wing. "But I stopped playing soccer, as we call it in America, when I was 12," he explained in 2007. "I was fairly good, but whoever I played, they kicked the shit out of me. I came with a name, and the mentality was, 'We're going to get Stanley Matthews' son.' "
In 1958, Matthews' father arranged for him to attend the Lawn Tennis Association in London. He lived with the family of Charlie Chester, a friend of his father's, in North Finchley. In the morning he would work with a private tutor; in the afternoon he would practice at Queen's Club.
Matthews was British Junior Champion between 1960 and 1962, the only three-times winner of the title and last British male winner of the tournament.
In 1962, Matthews won the Wimbledon Boys' Championship. He can remember the final point by point. "It was against Alexander Metreveli, who went on to be the top Russian and lost in the final of a Wimbledon senior." The match went the distance, and Matthews won 7–5 in the final set.
However, despite Matthews' success in the junior ranks, his coach, John Barrett, stated that "ultimately, he just wasn't good enough". Matthews' father said, "There is no doubt my reputation did put some pressure on him. I know it worried him a bit, being in my shadow. I hoped he might overcome it." Matthews junior concurs: "Even though it wasn't football, it was a lot of pressure to live up to the name of Matthews. There would be pictures of my father and me in the papers, and they started to call me the next Fred Perry. Sure, being Dad's son opened some doors, but it also made things harder. Instead of being congratulated if I did well, I was expected to. And if I didn't do well, they'd say, 'He's not as good as his father.' Unfortunately, that's how it is. It goes with the territory."
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