Origins & Early Life

John Albert Kramer (August 1, 1921 – September 12, 2009) was an American tennis player of the 1940s and 1950s, and a pioneer promoter who helped drive the sport towards professionalism at the elite level. Kramer also ushered in the serve-and-volley era in tennis, a playing style with which he won three Grand Slam tournaments (the U.S. Championships in 1946 and 1947, Wimbledon in 1947). He also led the U.S.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Davis Cup tennis team to victory in the 1946 and 1947 Davis Cup finals. Kramer won the U.S. Pro Championship at Forest Hills in 1948 and the Wembley Pro Championships in 1949. He won world professional championship 2-man tours in 1948 (against Bobby Riggs), 1949/50 (against Pancho Gonzales), 1950/51 (against Pancho Segura), and 1953 (against Frank Sedgman). Kramer was ranked world no.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

1 amateur player for 1946 by Pierre Gillou, Harry Hopman and Ned Potter. He was ranked world no. 1 amateur player for 1947 by John Olliff, Pierre Gillou and Ned Potter. In 1948 he was ranked the U.S. no. 1 professional in the USPLTA contemporary rankings for U.S.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• ʻAbdu'l-Bahá — Contemporary (Died in 1921) (1921): Successor to Baháʼu'lláh and guiding light of the Baháʼí Faith.
• Akio Morita — Contemporary (Born in 1921) (1921): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Alex Haley — Contemporary (Born in 1921) (1921): Pioneering author of 'Roots,' who brought Black American genealogy to global prominence.
• Aage Bohr — Contemporary (Died in 2009) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Al Martino — Contemporary (Died in 2009) (2009): Iconic Italian-American crooner, celebrated for standards and his role in The Godfather.
• Ali Akbar Khan — Contemporary (Died in 2009) (2009): Master sarod virtuoso who popularized Hindustani classical music in the West.
• Al-Qushayri — Shared historical date (08-01 · Born) (986): Eminent Arab scholar, Sufi philosopher, and master of Islamic sciences.
• Alphonsus Liguori — Shared historical date (08-01 · Died) (1787): Italian bishop, theologian, and founder of the Redemptorists.
• Alexander Radishchev — Shared historical date (09-12 · Died) (1802): Pioneering Russian social critic whose work exposed the harsh realities of Tsarist Russia.
• Anne Bracegirdle — Shared historical date (09-12 · Died) (1748): Renowned English actress and soprano, celebrated for her vocal performances.
• 1921 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1921
• August 1 (08-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 1
• 2009 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2009
• September 12 (09-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 12