The Open Era
United States · born Evanston, Illinois, 1956 · twice Wimbledon boys' champion · UCLA head coach since 1994
All playersBack to the rankings
2
Wimbledon boys' singles titles, 1973 and 1974
QF
Wimbledon men's singles, 1977
32
Career-high world singles ranking, 1975
694
UCLA head-coaching wins, a programme record
Born in Evanston, Illinois, on Christmas Day 1956, Martin grew up in the Chicago area and won US national boys' titles at 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s. After a move to Palos Verdes, California, he won the junior singles at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Orange Bowl in both 1973 and 1974. As a UCLA freshman in 1975 he won the NCAA singles title and helped the Bruins to a 19-0 season and the team title, then turned professional. He reached No. 32 in the world, won one singles and three doubles titles on tour, and took the 1980 French Open mixed doubles with Anne Smith. His playing career ended in 1982. After ten years as Glenn Bassett's assistant he became UCLA head coach in 1994 and won the NCAA team title in 2005.
| Major singles titles | 4: US (1973, 1974); Wimbledon (1973, 1974) |
|---|---|
| Wimbledon boys' finals | 1973: beat Colin Dowdeswell 6-2, 6-4. 1974: beat Ashok Amritraj 6-2, 6-1 |
| Wimbledon men's singles | Quarter-finalist 1977: beat the third seed Guillermo Vilas 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 and the 14th seed Mark Cox 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 0-6, 9-7; lost to Vitas Gerulaitis 6-2, 8-9, 6-2, 6-2 |
| Wimbledon doubles | Third round 1973, 1977 and 1981 |
| Other grass titles | Bristol doubles 1981 with Russell Simpson, beating John Austin and Johan Kriek 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 |
| Grass finals lost | Newport doubles 1981 with Kevin Curren, to Brad Drewett and Erik van Dillen 6-2, 6-4 |
| Bristol (West of England) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Men's doubles Bristol Open | with Russell Simpson |
Leading grass titles only: the grass majors, tour-level grass events since 1968 and the leading grass championships before 1968. †single source; ‡ sources disagree. Roll of champions
"I'm not a coat-and-tie guy, never have been."
The person behind the player.
Chicago 1971
Growing up in the Chicago area, Martin won the US national boys' championships at 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s, and the Illinois high school state singles title as a freshman in 1971. Inside Tennis magazine later ran an article naming him the Junior Player of the Century.
Source: Serve & Return ChicagoWimbledon 1977
Two years into his professional career, the unseeded Martin beat the third seed Guillermo Vilas 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. In the fourth round he lost the fourth set 6-0 to Mark Cox and still won the fifth 9-7. Vitas Gerulaitis ended the run in the quarter-finals, his best result at a major.
Source: WikipediaUCLA, Westwood
When his playing career ended at 26, his parents were adamant that he return to his studies. "I reenrolled here, much to my displeasure," he said. Glenn Bassett, his old UCLA coach, invited him to practice and asked whether he would help with the players. He agreed out of loyalty and stayed ten years as assistant before succeeding Bassett.
Source: Daily BruinCollege Station 2005
A year after losing the NCAA final 4-0 to Baylor, Martin's UCLA side met the top-seeded, unbeaten Bears again for the title and came from behind to win 4-3. The result ended Baylor's run of 57 straight wins and gave UCLA its first NCAA team title since 1984.
Source: UCLA AthleticsLos Angeles
During a tense tiebreak that would decide a match against USC, Patrick Zahraj looked round afterwards for his coach. "He was just in the tunnel apparently praying at the wall," Zahraj said. "If it gets too tight, it's tough to watch us."
Source: Daily BruinFree membership: player news, the grass court Atlas, the rankings and the grass season calendar.
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