Henry Slocum

Henry Slocum was a tennis pro whose brilliance on the courts was matched with his brilliant leadership skills. He won three Grand Slam titles, and was a Grand Slam finalist four times: twice in the Singles category and another two times in the Doubles category. On top of this, he served as the USTA president from 1892 to 1893.

Born in May 28, 1862, Slocum hailed from Select and acquired his education from the prestigious Yale University. A well-rounded athlete, Slocum played football and tennis so well that he ended up playing both sport at the University. He partnered with Walter Camp to compete in the first 1883 Intercollegiate Championships. Graduating as a lawyer from Yale, Slocum later refrained from practicing law to focus on improving his prowess on the tennis court. This move, of course, bore the disapproval of his father. The career shift proved to be rewarding when he finally won the U.S. title in 1888 and in the succeeding year, 1889, after five attempts in winning the title. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound right-hander then teamed up with Singles nemesis Howard Taylor to win the 1889 Doubles title.

Slocum was also ranked high in the tennis rankings, being included in the Top Ten for five straight years. He was No. 1 in 1888 and in 1889. His 29-year U.S. career, from 1884 to 1913, boasts of a remarkable 26-14 singles record. He played his last game when he was 51, beating Larry Curtis, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 for the U.S. title; he eventually lost after facing a young opponent, 24-year-old Wallace Johnson.

He expired on January 22, 1949, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1955.