Former Australian doubles legend Owen Davidson – who in 1967 accomplished the combined doubles Grand Slam – has handed away, aged 79.

Beneath is a abstract of his profession courtesy of the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame, into which he was inducted in 2010. At full tribute will comply with later this weekend.

When Owen Davidson stepped onto a doubles courtroom, notably with Billie Jean King in combined, the message was abundantly clear: You’ll should play your greatest sport – after which some – to return away victorious.

A champion of 11 main combined doubles titles, eight with King, Davidson was solely the third participant in historical past to win a calendar yr Grand Slam in combined doubles. Total, Davidson gained 4 combined doubles majors at each Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships. His 4 Wimbledon triumphs are essentially the most combined doubles crowns on the All England Membership for a male participant.

After all of the basketball, it was so nice to go to with one in every of our dearest associates and my combined doubles companion, Owen Davidson.

Owen Davidson and I gained 8 Grand Slam Blended Doubles titles, 4 of them at Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#Wimbledon (1967, 1971, 1973, 1974). pic.twitter.com/eGOYROxYBf

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) April 5, 2023

In 1967, he dominated combined doubles, first teaming with Aussie Lesley Turner to win the Australian Championships after which collaborating with King to brush by the French, Wimbledon, and U.S. Championships. Of their 8 combined doubles championships from 1967 to 1974, the pair just about ran the desk, dropping solely the center set of the 1973 U.S. Championships last towards Margaret Courtroom and Marty Riessen. The pairing of Davidson and King produced flawless doubles and gained one French, 4 Wimbledon titles, and three U.S. titles. Davidson was the King of the Volley, and Billie Jean was a high 5 all-time feminine participant. The 6-foot-1 Davidson introduced an enormous impediment at web – his arm span and volleying acumen each delicate and forceful – and swift reflexes had been as polished as any participant in historical past. The duo left valuable little area uncovered and had been always on the assault. They had been methodical and business-like on courtroom and produced almost excellent tennis chemistry. They misplaced just one main last alternative, the 1968 French Championships to hometown favorites Françoise Dürr and Jean-Claude Barclay who ratcheted their sport a whole notch at Roland Garros, profitable 6-1, 6-4.

Earlier than Davidson teamed with King on the French in 1967, he had already gained three combined doubles crowns, sharing the Australian in 1965 along with his companion Robyn Ebbern and with Courtroom and John Newcombe in a last that wasn’t performed; the U.S. Championships in 1966 with Donna Floyd Fales over Carol Hanks Aucamp and Ed Rubinoff, 6-1, 6-3, and the 1967 Australian with Turner over fellow natives Judy Tegart Dalton and Tony Roche, 9-7, 6-4. Davidson and King’s three Grand Slam victories in 1967 had been essentially the most spectacular of a 7-year partnership. On the French, they defeated Ann Haydon Jones and Ion Ţiriac 6-3, 6-1; Wimbledon was a 7-5, 6-2 conquer Maria Bueno and Ken Fletcher 7-5, 6-2 and the U.S. Championships was a powerful 6-3, 6-2 conquer Rosie Casals and Stan Smith.

Referred to as “Davo,” Davidson was a males’s doubles champion twice. He partnered with Ken Rosewall to nab the 1972 Australian Open over compatriots Ross Case and Geoff Masters, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3. Davidson’s final two main finals had been on the 1972 and 1973 U.S. Championships the place the outcomes had been cut up. In 1972, he and Newcombe misplaced to Cliff Drysdale and Roger Taylor, 4-6, 6-7, 3-6. In 1973, he and Newcombe had a sensational victory over Rod Laver and Rosewall, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.

In singles play, Davidson superior to the Australian Championship quarterfinals 5 occasions (1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967), the Wimbledon semifinals in 1966, and the U.S. Championships quarterfinals twice (1966, 1967).

Davidson, who coached the British Davis Cup workforce from 1967 to 1970, was inducted into the Australian Tennis Corridor of Fame in 2011.