James Willard
Australian tennis player

James Willard

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Australian tennis player
Gender:
Male
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Birth:
22 April 1893(Tambaroora, New South Wales, Australia)
Death:
10 June 1968
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Biography

Introduction

Arthur James Willard (22 April 1893 – 10 June 1968), also known as Anthony Willard or Jim Willard, was an Australian tennis player.

Tennis career

Willard won two mixed doubles titles alongside Daphne Akhurst at the Australasian Championships, the future Australian Open, in 1924 and 1925. Willard also finished singles runner-up to John Hawkes in 1926 and reached the semifinals in 1927 and 1930. He was the mixed doubles runner-up in Australia in 1926 and 1927, and doubles runner-up at the Australian Championships in 1928 and at the French Championships in 1930. He participated in the 1924 Wimbledon Championships, losing in the second round of the singles event. He returned at the 1930 Championships where he lost in the first round of the singles event, reached the quarterfinal of the doubles with Harry Hopman and made it to the third round of the mixed doubles partnering Lolette Payot.

Willard competed in the singles and doubles event at the 1924 Summer Olympics. In the singles he made it to the third round before being defeated by Sydney Jacob. In the doubles event he teamed up with James Bayley and reached the second round in which they lost to eventual Olympic champions Vincent Richards and Frank Hunter.

Willard won the Sydney metropolitan championships in October 1929 after a victory in the final against Jack Crawford.

He became a professional player in February 1933.

Grand Slam finals

Singles (1 runner-up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent in final Score in final
Runner-up 1926 Australasian Championships Grass Australia John Hawkes 6–1, 6–3, 6–1

Doubles (2 runners-up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents in final Score in final
Runner-up 1928 Australian Championships Grass Australia Edgar Moon France Jean Borotra
France Jacques Brugnon
2–6, 6–4, 4–6, 4–6
Runner-up 1930 French Championships Clay (Red) Australia Harry Hopman France Henri Cochet
France Jacques Brugnon
3–6, 7–9, 3–6

Mixed doubles (2 titles, 2 runners-up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents in final Score in final
Winner 1924 Australasian Championships Grass Australia Daphne Akhurst Australia Esna Boyd Robertson
Australia Edgar Hone
6–3, 6–4
Winner 1925 Australasian Championships Grass Australia Daphne Akhurst Australia Sylvia Lance Harper
Australia Robert Schlesinger
6–4, 6–4
Runner-up 1926 Australasian Championships Grass Australia Daphne Akhurst Australia Esna Boyd Robertson
Australia John Hawkes
2–6, 4–6
Runner-up 1927 Australian Championships Grass Australia Youtha Anthony Australia Esna Boyd Robertson
Australia John Hawkes
1–6, 3–6