Quick Facts
Biography
Jimmie McDaniel was an American tennis player. He is said to be the greatest black tennis player in the era before World War II. He was a four time American Tennis Association singles champion. He was said to be the "e greatest black player of the pre-war (WWII) era."
McDaniel's father Willis McDaniel was a former baseball player in the Negro Leagues. Jimmie was raised in Los Angeles where he attended Manual Arts High School. McDaniel was recruited by Olympian Ralph Metcalfe for a track scholarship to Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, where he soon switched his efforts to tennis and went on to win multiple championships among the then-segregated ranks of black tennis players. In 1940 he played an exhibition match against Don Budge that received wide attention. (Budge won the match 6-1, 6-2.)
Personal life
Jimmy served 2 years in reform school when at the age of 18 he got a 15 year old girl pregnant. He got a track scholarship to Xavier University with the help of Ralph Metcalfe.
He had at least 5 children and was married to a woman named Audrey. He was a lefty and was about 6'5" tall. He later worked as a letter carrier in Los Angeles.
Accolades
ATA National Men’s Singles title in 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1946.
ATA National Men’s Doubles title in 1939 and 1941 with his college teammate Dr. Richard Cohen.
ATA National Men’s Doubles title in 1946 with James Stocks.
ATA National Men’s Doubles title in 1952 with Earthna Jacquet.