Gerald Patterson

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. 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.

Tall and well-built, Gerald Patterson played a strong serve-and-volley game that won him three major singles. 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.

Patterson was the nephew of Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and father of racing driver Bill Patterson. Patterson was awarded the Military Cross for bravery as an officer in Royal Field Artillery in 1917 at Messines.

Gerald Patterson playing a forehand stroke

Singles: 7 (3 titles, 4 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Runner-up	1914	Australasian Championships	Grass	Arthur O'Hara Wood	4–6, 3–6, 7–5, 1–6
Winner	1919	Wimbledon	Grass	Norman Brookes	6–3, 7–5, 6–2
Runner-up	1920	Wimbledon	Grass	Bill Tilden	6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 4–6
Runner-up	1922	Australasian Championships	Grass	James Anderson	0–6, 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Winner	1922	Wimbledon	Grass	Randolph Lycett	6–3, 6–4, 6–2
Runner-up	1925	Australasian Championships	Grass	James Anderson	9–11, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6
Winner	1927	Australian Championships	Grass	John Hawkes	3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 18–16, 6–3

Doubles: 14 (6 titles, 8 runners-up)

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

Mixed doubles: 1 (1 title)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Winner	1920	Wimbledon	Grass	Suzanne Lenglen	Elizabeth Ryan Randolph Lycett	7–5, 6–3