Frew McMillan

Frew McMillan
Full nameFrew Donald McMillan
Country (sports)South Africa South Africa
ResidenceBristol, England
Born (1942-05-20) 20 May 1942 (age 82)
Springs, South Africa
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro1969 (amateur tour from 1961)
Retired1983
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed both sides)
Prize money$609,072[1]
Int. Tennis HoF1992 (member page)
Singles
Career record142–213 (Open era)[2]
Career titles2
Highest rankingNo. 39 (6 March 1974)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open1R (1971)
French Open3R (1967, 1971)
Wimbledon3R (1970, 1978)
US OpenQF (1972)
Doubles
Career record552–207
Career titles64
Highest rankingNo. 1 (23 August 1977)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open1R (1971)
French OpenW (1972)
WimbledonW (1967, 1972, 1978)
US OpenW (1977)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1977)
Mixed doubles
Career titles5
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French OpenW (1966)
WimbledonW (1978, 1981)
US OpenW (1977, 1978)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1974)

Frew Donald McMillan (born 20 May 1942) is a former professional tennis player from South Africa who won five grand slam doubles titles including three Wimbledons with Bob Hewitt. All together, he won 63 doubles titles, surpassed only by the Bryan brothers, Daniel Nestor, Mark Woodforde, Todd Woodbridge, John McEnroe and Tom Okker. He was also ranked No.1 in Doubles on the ATP Computer for a significant period from 1977 to 1979 when he was aged 37.

Biography

[edit]

McMillan was born in Springs, South Africa. Aside from his considerable success as a doubles player, he had a singles career with good results mostly in South Africa.

He played in 38 Grand Slam singles events with a 28 to 38 win–loss record, first playing in 1961 at Wimbledon and last at the first US Open at Flushing Meadows in 1978. His best results in both came at the US Open reaching the quarter finals in 1972 and the last 16 in 1976. Arguably his greatest result was reaching the final of the 1970 South African Open held at Ellis Park. He beat a raging Pancho Gonzales in the semi-final before losing to world no.1 Rod Laver in four sets in the final.[3][4] At the time, the South African, Italian and German Opens were rated the top three tournaments beneath the Grand Slams. As late as 1979 McMillan reached the quarter-finals of the Fischer Open in Vienna.

McMillan continued to play the tour for many years. In doubles, he played his last Wimbledon with Bob Hewitt in 1979 reaching the semi-finals. They made a last appearance together in the main draw at Flushing Meadows in 1980 reaching the quarter-finals with a nostalgic victory over fellow veteran Americans Clark Graebner and Charlie Pasarell. McMillan won his last tour title at the 1982 South African Open with Brian Gottfried.

McMillan played for many years on the seniors tours and was runner-up at the inaugural "Wimbledon over 35's" to John Newcombe in 1982 after good wins against Tony Roche, Mark Cox and Ismail El Shafei. In 1988 he and Hewitt, older by 20 years between them, beat the Gullikson twins Tim and Tom in the 35's doubles final at Wimbledon.

The most notable aspect of his game was that he had both a two-handed backhand and forehand, which increased his power while restricting his mobility. In the 1967 Wimbledon, he and Hewitt did not lose a set, and McMillan did not once lose a service game.

McMillan was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1992. He now works as a tennis commentator for Eurosport and on BBC Radio 5.

Grand Prix Championship Series singles finals

[edit]

Runner-up (1)

[edit]
Result Year Tournament Opponent Score
Loss 1970 Johannesburg Australia Rod Laver 6–4, 2–6, 1–6, 2–6

Career titles

[edit]

Singles (2 titles)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
1 1974 Munich WCT Carpet Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić 5–7, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–4)
2 1976 Nuremberg Carpet Brazil Thomaz Koch 2–6, 6–3, 6–4

Doubles (63 titles)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
1. 1970 Washington, D.C., US Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt Romania Ilie Năstase
Romania Ion Țiriac
7–5, 6–0
2. 1970 Hamburg, Germany Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt Netherlands Tom Okker
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić
6–3, 7–5, 6–2
3. 1972 Bournemouth, United Kingdom Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt Romania Ilie Năstase
Romania Ion Țiriac
7–5, 6–2
4. 1972 French Open, Paris Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt Chile Patricio Cornejo
Chile Jaime Fillol
6–3, 8–6, 3–6, 6–1
5. 1972 Bristol, United Kingdom Grass South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Clark Graebner
Australia Lew Hoad
6–3, 6–2
6. 1972 Wimbledon, London Grass South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Stan Smith
United States Erik van Dillen
6–2, 6–2, 9–7
7. 1972 Cincinnati, Ohio, US Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Paul Gerken
Venezuela Humphrey Hose
7–6, 6–4
8. 1972 Indianapolis, Indiana, US Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt Chile Patricio Cornejo
Chile Jaime Fillol
6–2, 6–3
9. 1972 Albany, New York, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Sweden Ove Nils Bengtson
Sweden Björn Borg
6–4, 6–2
10. 1973 Jackson, US Hard (i) United States Zan Guerry Chile Jaime Pinto-Bravo
Argentina Tito Vázquez
6–2, 6–4
11. 1973 Tanglewood, US Other Australia Bob Carmichael Egypt Ismail El Shafei
New Zealand Brian Fairlie
6–3, 6–4
12. 1973 Indianapolis, Indiana, US Clay Australia Bob Carmichael Spain Manuel Orantes
Romania Ion Țiriac
6–3, 6–4
13. 1973 Quebec City, Canada Other Australia Bob Carmichael United States Jimmy Connors
United States Marty Riessen
6–2, 7–6
14. 1974 Salisbury, Maryland, US Carpet United States Jimmy Connors South Africa Byron Bertram
Rhodesia Andrew Pattison
3–6, 6–2, 6–1
15. 1974 Washington WCT, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Netherlands Tom Okker
United States Marty Riessen
7–6, 6–3
16. 1974 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt France Pierre Barthès
Romania Ilie Năstase
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
17. 1974 Munich WCT, Germany Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt France Pierre Barthès
Romania Ilie Năstase
6–2, 7–6
18. 1974 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Jim McManus
Rhodesia Andrew Pattison
6–2, 6–4, 7–6
19. 1974 World Doubles WCT, Montreal Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Australia Owen Davidson
Australia John Newcombe
6–2, 6–7, 6–1, 6–2
20. 1974 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt Netherlands Tom Okker
United States Marty Riessen
7–6, 6–4, 6–3
21. 1975 Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Spain José Higueras
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
6–2, 6–2
22. 1975 Munich, Germany Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Italy Corrado Barazzutti
Italy Antonio Zugarelli
6–3, 6–4
23. 1975 Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Arthur Ashe
Netherlands Tom Okker
6–3, 6–2
24. 1975 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Charlie Pasarell
United States Roscoe Tanner
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
25. 1976 Columbus WCT, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Arthur Ashe
Netherlands Tom Okker
7–6, 6–4
26. 1976 Baltimore WCT, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Romania Ilie Năstase
United States Cliff Richey
3–6, 7–6, 6–4
27. 1976 Toronto Indoor WCT, Canada Carpet Chile Jaime Fillol Soviet Union Alex Metreveli
Romania Ilie Năstase
6–7, 6–2, 6–3
28. 1976 Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands Carpet Australia Rod Laver United States Arthur Ashe
Netherlands Tom Okker
6–1, 6–7, 7–6
29. 1976 Basel, Switzerland Carpet Netherlands Tom Okker Czechoslovakia Jiří Hřebec
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
6–4, 7–6, 6–4
30. 1976 Nuremberg, Germany Carpet West Germany Karl Meiler Rhodesia Colin Dowdeswell
Australia Paul Kronk
7–6, 6–4
31. 1976 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
6–4, 4–0 retired
32. 1976 Cologne, Germany Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Rhodesia Colin Dowdeswell
United States Mike Estep
6–1, 3–6, 7–6
33. 1976 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) South Africa Bob Hewitt Netherlands Tom Okker
United States Marty Riessen
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
34. 1977 Philadelphia WCT, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Poland Wojtek Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
6–1, 1–6, 6–3
35. 1977 Springfield, Massachusetts, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Romania Ion Țiriac
Argentina Guillermo Vilas
7–6, 6–2
36. 1977 San Jose, California, US Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Tom Gorman
Australia Geoff Masters
6–2, 6–3
37. 1977 Palm Springs, California, US Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Marty Riessen
United States Roscoe Tanner
7–6, 7–6
38. 1977 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Charlie Pasarell
United States Erik van Dillen
6–2, 6–0
39. 1977 La Costa, California, US Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt Australia Ray Ruffels
Australia Allan Stone
6–4, 6–2
40. 1977 Pacific Southwest Championships, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Robert Lutz
United States Stan Smith
6–3, 6–4
41. 1977 Jackson, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Australia Phil Dent
Australia Ken Rosewall
6–2, 7–6
42. 1977 US Open, New York City Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
6–4, 6–0
43. 1977 Los Angeles Hard United States Sandy Mayer United States Tom Leonard
United States Mike Machette
6–2, 6–3
44. 1977 Madrid, Spain Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt Spain Antonio Muñoz
Spain Manuel Orantes
6–7, 7–6, 6–3, 6–1
45. 1977 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) South Africa Bob Hewitt Poland Wojtek Fibak
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
6–4, 6–3
46. 1977 Cologne, Germany Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Fred McNair
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–3, 7–5
47. 1977 Wembley, United Kingdom Hard (i) United States Sandy Mayer United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
6–3, 7–6
48. 1978 Baltimore, Maryland, US Carpet United States Fred McNair United Kingdom Roger Taylor
Italy Antonio Zugarelli
6–3, 7–5
49. 1978 Philadelphia WCT, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Vitas Gerulaitis
United States Sandy Mayer
6–4, 6–4
50. 1978 Richmond WCT, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Vitas Gerulaitis
United States Sandy Mayer
6–3, 7–5
51. 1978 St. Louis WCT, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt Poland Wojtek Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
6–3, 6–2
52. 1978 Denver, Colorado, US Carpet South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Fred McNair
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–3, 6–2
53. 1978 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt Australia Colin Dibley
Australia Geoff Masters
7–5, 7–6
54. 1978 Queen's Club Championships, London Grass South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Fred McNair
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
6–2, 7–5
55. 1978 Wimbledon, London Grass South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Peter Fleming
United States John McEnroe
6–1, 6–4, 6–2
56. 1979 Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany Clay Switzerland Colin Dowdeswell Poland Wojtek Fibak
Czechoslovakia Pavel Složil
6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4
57. 1979 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
6–3, 6–4
58. 1979 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
6–4, 3–6, 6–1
59. 1979 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Mike Cahill
United Kingdom Buster Mottram
1–6, 6–1, 6–4
60. 1980 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt Switzerland Colin Dowdeswell
Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
6–4, 6–3
61. 1980 Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany Clay Switzerland Colin Dowdeswell New Zealand Chris Lewis
South Africa John Yuill
6–3, 6–4
62. 1981 Brussels, Belgium Carpet United States Sandy Mayer South Africa Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
4–6, 6–3, 6–3
63. 1982 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard United States Brian Gottfried Israel Shlomo Glickstein
Zimbabwe Andrew Pattison
6–2, 6–2

Grand Slam doubles finals

[edit]

Doubles (5 wins)

[edit]
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1967 Wimbledon Grass South Africa Bob Hewitt Australia Roy Emerson
Australia Ken Fletcher
6–2, 6–3, 6–4
Win 1972 French Open Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt Chile Patricio Cornejo
Chile Jaime Fillol
6–3, 8–6, 3–6, 6–1
Win 1972 Wimbledon (2) Grass South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Stan Smith
United States Erik van Dillen
6–2, 6–2, 9–7
Win 1977 US Open Hard South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
6–4, 6–0
Win 1978 Wimbledon (3) Grass South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Peter Fleming
United States John McEnroe
6–1, 6–4, 6–2

Mixed doubles (5 wins, 6 losses)

[edit]
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1966 French Championships Clay South Africa Annette Van Zyl United Kingdom Ann Haydon-Jones
United States Clark Graebner
1–6, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 1970 US Open Grass Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton Australia Margaret Court
United States Marty Riessen
4–6, 4–6
Loss 1976 US Open (2) Grass Netherlands Betty Stöve United States Billie Jean King
Australia Phil Dent
6–3, 2–6, 5–7
Loss 1977 Wimbledon Grass Netherlands Betty Stöve South Africa Greer Stevens
South Africa Bob Hewitt
6–3, 5–7, 4–6
Win 1977 US Open Grass Netherlands Betty Stöve United States Billie Jean King
United States Vitas Gerulaitis
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Win 1978 Wimbledon Grass Netherlands Betty Stöve United States Billie Jean King
Australia Ray Ruffels
6–2, 6–2
Win 1978 US Open (2) Hard Netherlands Betty Stöve United States Billie Jean King
Australia Ray Ruffels
6–3, 7–6
Loss 1979 Wimbledon (2) Grass Netherlands Betty Stöve South Africa Greer Stevens
South Africa Bob Hewitt
5–7, 6–7(7–9)
Loss 1979 US Open (3) Hard Netherlands Betty Stöve South Africa Greer Stevens
South Africa Bob Hewitt
3–6, 5–7
Loss 1980 US Open (4) Hard Netherlands Betty Stöve Australia Wendy Turnbull
United States Marty Riessen
5–7, 2–6
Win 1981 Wimbledon (2) Grass Netherlands Betty Stöve United States Tracy Austin
United States John Austin
4–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Players". ATP Tour.
  2. ^ Player profile: Frew McMillan. itftennis.com.[bare URL]
  3. ^ "Laver Routs Foe, Wins Tennis Title". The Morning Record. 4 April 1970.
  4. ^ "Laver Captures So. Africa Title". The New York Times. 4 April 1970.
[edit]