Gerald Leighton Patterson MC (17 December 1895 – 13 June 1967) was an Australian tennis player.

Patterson was active in the decade following World War I. During his career he won three Grand Slam tournaments in the singles event as well as six titles in the doubles competition and one title in mixed doubles. He was born in Melbourne, educated at Scotch College and Trinity Grammar School and died in Melbourne on 13 June 1967. He was the co-World No. 1 player for 1919 along with Bill Johnston.

Playing career Tall and well-built, Patterson played a strong serve-and-volley game. At Wimbledon 1919, Patterson beat 41-year-old Norman Brookes, who was defending champion (Brookes' 1914 title was the last held before World War 1) in the Challenge Round. At Wimbledon 1922, the Challenge Round was abolished and Patterson won the title (the first to be held at the current site at Church Road) beating Randolph Lycett in the final. In 1927, Patterson was five championship points down in the Australian singles final against Jack Hawkes, but won in five sets.

Patterson was known as the "Human Catapult" for his powerful serve that many of the top players had trouble returning. He also enjoyed great success representing Australia in Davis Cup and amassed a 32–14 win–loss record (singles 21–10, doubles 11–4) and was part of the winning team in 1919. Patterson played Davis Cup in 1920, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1928 and finally as captain in 1946. He was a player ahead of his time, playing with a steel racquet strung with wire in 1925.

He was inducted into the Sport Australia Home of Fame in December 1986. This was followed by induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in August 1997.

Personal life Patterson was the nephew of Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and father of racing driver Bill Patterson. In 1917, Patterson was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" as an officer in the Royal Field Artillery at Messines.

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 7 (3 titles, 4 runners-up) ResultYearChampionship SurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 1914 Australasian Championships Grass Arthur O'Hara Wood 4–6, 3–6, 7–5, 1–6 Win 1919 Wimbledon Grass Norman Brookes 6–3, 7–5, 6–2 Loss 1920 Wimbledon Grass Bill Tilden 6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 4–6 Loss 1922 Australasian Championships Grass James Anderson 0–6, 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 Win 1922 Wimbledon Grass Randolph Lycett 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 Loss 1925 Australasian Championships Grass James Anderson 9–11, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6 Win 1927 Australian Championships Grass John Hawkes 3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 18–16, 6–3

Doubles: 14 (6 titles, 8 runners-up) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1914 Australasian Championships Grass Ashley Campbell Rodney Heath Arthur O'Hara Wood 7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 Win 1919 U.S. National Championships Grass Norman Brookes Vincent Richards Bill Tilden 8–6, 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–2 Win 1922 Australasian Championships Grass John Hawkes James Anderson Norman Peach 8–10, 6–0, 6–0, 7–5 Loss 1922 Wimbledon Grass Pat O'Hara Wood James Anderson Randolph Lycett 6–3, 9–7, 4–6, 3–6, 9–11 Loss 1922 U.S. National Championships Grass Pat O'Hara Wood Vincent Richards Bill Tilden 6–4, 1–6, 3–6, 4–6 Loss 1924 Australasian Championships Grass Pat O'Hara Wood James Anderson Norman Brookes 2–6, 4–6, 3–6 Loss 1924 U.S. National Championships Grass Pat O'Hara Wood Howard Kinsey Robert Kinsey 5–7, 7–5, 9–7, 3–6, 4–6 Win 1925 Australasian Championships Grass Pat O'Hara Wood James Anderson Fred Kalms 6–4, 8–6, 7–5 Loss 1925 U.S. National Championships Grass John Hawkes R. Norris Williams Vincent Richards 2–6, 10–8, 4–6, 9–11 Win 1926 Australasian Championships Grass John Hawkes James Anderson Pat O'Hara Wood 6–1, 6–4, 6–2 Win 1927 Australian Championships Grass John Hawkes Ian McInness Pat O'Hara Wood 8–6, 6–2, 6–1 Loss 1928 Wimbledon Grass John Hawkes Jacques Brugnon Henri Cochet 11–13, 4–6, 4–6 Loss 1928 U.S. National Championships Grass John Hawkes John Hennessey George Lott 2–6, 1–6, 2–6 Loss 1932 Australian Championships Grass Harry Hopman Jack Crawford Edgar Moon 10–12, 3–6, 6–4, 4–6

Mixed doubles: 1 (1 title) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1920 Wimbledon Grass Suzanne Lenglen Elizabeth Ryan Randolph Lycett 7–5, 6–3

Grand Slam singles performance timeline

Events with a challenge round: (WC) won; (CR) lost the challenge round; (FA) all comers' finalist

(OF) only for French players

Tournament 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 SR W–L Win %AustralianF Anot held3R1 A AF A2RF1RWQF 1 / 8 21–6 77.8FrenchOFnot heldOF A A A4R 0 / 1 2–1 66.7Wimbledon Anot heldWCCR AW A A A A A4R 2 / 4 17–2 89.5U.S. A A A A A4R A ASF ASF A A A A 0 / 3 10–3 76.9Win–loss 3–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 11–1 0–1 0–0 13–2 0–0 5–2 5–1 0–1 6–0 7–3 3 / 16 50–12 80.61Patterson was the first tennis player to play in three Grand Slam singles tournaments within one calendar year.

References

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