#7: The Amateur Tennis Career of Don Budge Was Sensational

Don Budge was an amateur American male tennis player in the 1930’s. He had an incredible early career that set the stage for his professional career. He was voted America’s top amateur athlete.

Some of the most notable aspects of  Budge’s game are his incredibly powerful serve and invincible backhand. He won many matches based on these two strokes alone. His least strong matches were played on grass courts which put him at a disadvantage for Wimbledon. After a year of specific training with a new coach, Budge’s grass court game significantly improved and he swept the Wimbledon title in 1937. He won the singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles tournaments that year. Another notable accomplishment is that he was the first person to win the Grand Slam in tennis. He accomplished all of these things before being considered a professional player. His professional career is just as accomplished!