John Clifton
Country (sports)United Kingdom Great Britain
ResidencePlymouth, England.
Born (1946-02-19) 19 February 1946
Leeds, England
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Career record5–18
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 243 (3 June 1974)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open1R (1971)
Wimbledon2R (1971)
US Open1R (1971)
Doubles
Career record8–15
Career titles0
Grand Slam doubles results
Wimbledon3R (1973)
US Open1R (1971)

John Clifton (born 19 February 1946) is a British former professional tennis player.[1][2][3] He was born in England and grew up in Scotland.[4]

Clifton became the first player to start a match and win a point in the open era of tennis when he played Owen Davidson in the first round of the British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth played on 22 April 1968. Clifton lost the match in four sets.[5][6][7]

With partner John Paish, Clifton was a doubles runner-up at Newport in 1971.[1]

He made the second round of the singles at the 1971 Wimbledon Championships and the third round of the men's doubles at the 1973 Wimbledon Championships (with Stanley Matthews).[1]

Clifton played a tie for the Great Britain Davis Cup team in 1970, against Austria. He took part in singles rubbers against Peter Pokorny and Hans Kary, but was unable to win either.[8]

Grand Prix career finals

Doubles: 1 (0–1)

Outcome No. Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1. 1971 Newport, Great Britain Grass United Kingdom John Paish Australia Ken Rosewall
United Kingdom Roger Taylor
5–7, 6–3, 2–6

References

  1. 1 2 3 ATP World Tour profile
  2. ITF Pro Circuit profile
  3. Tennis Archives: John G. Clifton
  4. Scotsman, "Clifton's tennis love match lingers on despite past agony", 7 April 2006
  5. Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book (2nd ed.). New York: New Chapter Press. pp. 144, 145. ISBN 9780942257700.
  6. John Barrett, ed. (1993). The International Tennis Federation : World of Tennis 1993. London: Collins Willow. p. 7. ISBN 9780002185080.
  7. "The First Open Makes Its Mark". Sports Illustrated. 6 May 1968.
  8. Davis Cup: John Clifton
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