Introduction
Eric William Sturgess (10 May 1920 – 14 January 2004) was a South African male tennis player and winner of six Grand Slam doubles titles. He also reached the singles final of a Grand Slam tournament three times but never won. Sturgess was ranked World No. 6 by John Olliff of The Daily Telegraph in both 1948 and 1949.
Biography
Eric Sturgess was born in Johannesburg, where he attended Parktown Boys' High School. Sturgess joined the South African Air Force on the outbreak of World War II and became an instructor with No 4 Spitfire Squadron, SAAF. In October 1944 he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, captured on landing and sent to the air force officers' prison camp, Stalag Luft III, in eastern Germany. In January 1945 he was transported to Stalag IIIA at Luckenwalde which was liberated two months later by the advancing Russian forces.
He reached the singles final of the 1947 and 1951 French Championships but lost to Hungarian József Asbóth (6–8, 5–7, 4–6) and Jaroslav Drobný(6–3, 6–3, 6–3) respectively. In 1947 he won the doubles competition with countryman Eustace Fannin. In 1948 he reached the singles final at the U.S. National Championships but lost to American Pancho Gonzales.
In 1947 and 1948 he won the British Hard Court Championships played in Bournemouth. He won the first three Swedish Open tournaments (1948, 1949, 1950), played in Båstad. Sturgess won a record 11 singles titles at the South African Championships between 1939 and 1957.
By the end of his career Sturgess had reached fifteen Grand Slam finals (three in singles, six in doubles and six in mixed doubles). He won four titles (the 1947 French Championships doubles title, the 1949 French Championships mixed doubles title and the 1949 and 1950 Wimbledon mixed doubles title).
He represented South Africa in the Davis Cup competition in six ties, compiling a 13–5 record in singles and doubles.
Grand Slam finals
Singles (3 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1947 | French Championships | Clay | József Asbóth | 6–8, 5–7, 4–6 |
| Runner-up | 1948 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Pancho Gonzales | 2–6, 3–6, 12–14 |
| Runner-up | 1951 | French Championships | Clay | Jaroslav Drobný | 3–6, 3–6, 3–6 |
Doubles (1 title, 5 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1947 | French Championships | Clay | Eustace Fannin | Tom Brown Bill Sidwell |
6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 1949 | French Championships | Clay | Eustace Fannin | Pancho Gonzales Frank Parker |
3–6, 6–8, 7–5, 3–6 |
| Runner-up | 1950 | Australian Championships | Grass | Jaroslav Drobný | John Bromwich Adrian Quist |
3–6, 7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–8 |
| Runner-up | 1950 | French Championships | Clay | Jaroslav Drobný | Bill Talbert Tony Trabert |
2–6, 6–1, 8–10, 2–6 |
| Runner-up | 1951 | Wimbledon | Grass | Jaroslav Drobný | Ken McGregor Frank Sedgman |
6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Runner-up | 1952 | Wimbledon | Grass | Vic Seixas | Ken McGregor Frank Sedgman |
3–6, 5–7, 4–6 |
Mixed doubles (5 titles, 2 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1947 | French Championships | Clay | Sheila Piercey Summers | Jadwiga Jędrzejowska Christian Caralulis |
6–0, 6–0 |
| Winner | 1949 | French Championships | Clay | Sheila Piercey Summers | Jean Quertier Gerry Oakley |
6–1, 6–1 |
| Winner | 1949 | Wimbledon | Grass | Sheila Piercey Summers | Louise Brough John Bromwich |
9–7, 9–11, 7–5 |
| Winner | 1949 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Louise Brough | Margaret Osborne duPont Bill Talbert |
4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
| Runner-up | 1950 | Australian Championships | Grass | Joyce Fitch | Doris Hart Frank Sedgman |
6–8, 4–6 |
| Winner | 1950 | Wimbledon | Grass | Louise Brough | Pat Canning Todd Geoff Brown |
11–9, 1–6, 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 1952 | French Championships | Clay | Shirley Fry | Doris Hart Frank Sedgman |
8–6, 3–6, 3–6 |