Introduction
Adrian Karl Quist (23 January 1913 – 17 November 1991) was an Australian tennis player.
Biography
Adrian Quist was born in Medindie, South Australia. His father was Karl Quist, who had been a noted interstate cricketer, and owned a sporting goods store at the time of his son's birth. Quist grew up in Adelaide and once played Harry Hopman, but lost, having given Hopman a head start. He was a three-time Australian Championships men's singles champion but is primarily remembered today as a great doubles player. He won 10 consecutive Australian doubles titles between 1936 and 1950, the last eight together with John Bromwich and he was also one of the winners of a "Career Doubles Slam". Quist was ranked World No. 3 in singles in 1939 and World No. 4 in 1936.
In his 1979 autobiography tennis great Jack Kramer writes that in doubles "Quist played the backhand court. He had a dink backhand that was better for doubles than singles, and a classic forehand drive with a natural sink. He was also fine at the net, volley and forehand."
After retiring from playing the game, Quist became a journalist, best known for his articles in The Sydney Morning Herald.
Quist was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1984.
Adrian Quist also held the most Davis Cup victories by any Australian until Lleyton Hewitt surpassed that record on 18 September 2010 in Cairns.
He died in Sydney, New South Wales in 1991, aged 78.
Adrian Quist is the uncle of fashion designer Neville Quist, founding director of Saville Row.
Grand Slam finals
Singles (3 titles, 1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1936 | Australian Championships | Grass | Jack Crawford | 6–2, 6–3, 4–6, 3–6, 9–7 |
| Runner-up | 1939 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | 4–6, 1–6, 3–6 |
| Winner | 1940 | Australian Championships | Grass | Jack Crawford | 6–3, 6–1, 6–2 |
| Winner | 1948 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3 |
Doubles: (14 titles, 4 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1933 | French Championships | Clay | Vivian McGrath | Pat Hughes Fred Perry |
2–6, 4–6, 6–2, 5–7 |
| Runner-up | 1934 | Australian Championships | Grass | Don Turnbull | Pat Hughes Fred Perry |
8–6, 3–6, 4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Winner | 1935 | French Championships | Clay | Jack Crawford | Donald Turnbull Vivian McGrath |
6–1, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Winner | 1935 | Wimbledon Championships | Grass | Jack Crawford | Wilmer Allison John Van Ryn |
6–3, 5–7, 6–2, 5–7, 7–5 |
| Winner | 1936 | Australian Championships | Grass | Don Turnbull | Jack Crawford Vivian McGrath |
6–8, 6–2, 6–1, 3–6, 6–2 |
| Winner | 1937 | Australian Championships | Grass | Don Turnbull | John Bromwich Jack Harper |
6–2, 9–7, 1–6, 6–8, 6–4 |
| Winner | 1938 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Gottfried von Cramm Henner Henkel |
7–5, 6–4, 6–0 |
| Runner-up | 1938 | U.S. Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Don Budge Gene Mako |
3–6, 2–6, 1–6 |
| Winner | 1939 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Colin Long Don Turnbull |
6–4, 7–5, 6–2 |
| Winner | 1939 | U.S. Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Jack Crawford Harry Hopman |
8–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
| Winner | 1940 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Jack Crawford Vivian McGrath |
6–3, 7–5, 6–1 |
| Winner | 1946 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Max Newcombe Leonard Schwartz |
6–3, 6–1, 9–7 |
| Winner | 1947 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Frank Sedgman George Worthington |
6–1, 6–3, 6–1 |
| Winner | 1948 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Frank Sedgman Colin Long |
1–6, 6–8, 9–7, 6–3, 8–6 |
| Winner | 1949 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Geoffrey Brown Bill Sidwell |
1–6, 7–5, 6–2, 6–3 |
| Winner | 1950 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Jaroslav Drobný Eric Sturgess |
6–3, 5–7, 4–6, 6–3, 8–6 |
| Winner | 1950 | Wimbledon Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Geoff Brown Bill Sidwell |
7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 1951 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Bromwich | Frank Sedgman Ken McGregor |
9–11, 6–2, 3–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
Mixed Doubles: (1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1934 | French Championships | Clay | Elizabeth Ryan | Colette Rosambert Jean Borotra |
2–6, 4–6 |