Mike Belkin
Full name | Michael I. Belkin |
---|---|
Country (sports) | Canada |
Born | Montreal, Canada | 29 June 1945
Turned pro | 1969 (amateur tour from 1961) |
Retired | 1975 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Singles | |
Career record | 283-157 |
Career titles | 17 |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | QF (1968) |
French Open | 1R (1966, 1969) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1964) |
US Open | 2R (1964, 1969) |
Doubles | |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | 2R (1968) |
Michael I. Belkin (born June 29, 1945) is a former Canadian No. 1 tennis player.
Canada's top-ranked player five times between 1966 and 1972, Belkin had a career 17–12 Davis Cup record, including a 14–7 record in singles.
The right-handed Belkin attained a career-high singles ranking of no. 7 world amateur during the early 1960s. He joined the fledgling professional tour in the later half of his playing career, compiling a 36–36 career singles win–loss record. He reached the quarter-finals at the
Belkin won ILTF tournaments at the Western Championships at Indianapolis in 1967 and at the St. Petersburg Masters Invitational in 1968 and 1971. He won the Detroit Invitation in 1965 and 1967 and the Buffalo Indoor in 1973.
Belkin's other results included semi-finals appearances in 1969 at both the
Youth, junior, and college tennis
Belkin was one of Canada's early tennis phenoms, with his parents moving to
While still a student at
Belkin was a top-ranking collegiate player attending the University of Miami. He reached the finals of the 1965 NCAA individual championships where he lost to Arthur Ashe.[3]
Senior amateur tennis
1961
As a 16-year-old, Belkin lost to Briton Roger Taylor in straight sets in the opening round of the 1961 U.S. Championships. He again lost in the first round at the 1962 U.S. Championship, this time in five sets, to American James Farrin. And the year after, for a third consecutive time, Belkin lost in the first round of the same tournament, this time in straight sets to Norman Perry.
1962
At the
Belkin won the Blue and Gray Invitation in Montgomery, Alabama at the Montgomery Country Club in June 1962, defeating Norman Perry in a close final.[4]
In November 1962 Belkin, at age 17, won the Florida State Tennis Championship, defeating US No. 1 Frank Froehling in the semifinal and Gardnar Mulloy in the final. This would be his first tournament win against a strong field.
1964
In 1964, Belkin played at the Wimbledon Championship for the first time, and fared well given his lack of experience on grass. He defeated Claude de Gronckel in the first round, and Cliff Drysdale in the second, both in four sets, before falling to Bob Hewitt in the third, in straight sets. At the 1964 U.S. Championships later that summer, Belkin defeated Rodney Susman in the first round before falling to Cliff Richey in the second in five sets.
1965
In April 1965, Belkin defeated Richey on clay in the semifinal of the ILTF St. Petersburg Masters Invitational in three straight sets but lost the final to Ramanathan Krishnan in four sets.
Belkin won the Detroit Invitation, a strong field tournament, in early July 1965, defeating the USTA No. 3[5] Arthur Ashe in the quarterfinal, Dick Savitt in the semifinal, and the USTA No. 2 Chuck McKinley in the final.
1966
Having not competed in singles in any main draws of grand slam tournaments in 1965, Belkin played in two in 1966. At Roland Garros he lost in the first round, to Pancho Guzmán in four sets. At Wimbledon, Belkin reached the second round. He defeated Australian Jim Moore in straight sets before falling to that year's eventual champion, Manuel Santana.
In July 1966 Belkin won the Quebec Open, defeating seven-time winner of the event
1967
In early July 1967, Belkin won the Detroit Invitation tournament for the second time, defeating
Belkin won the ILTF Western Championships in Indianapolis on clay in July 1967, defeating twice-defending champion and USTA No. 3[5] Cliff Richey in the semifinal and Guzman in the final.
Belkin also defeated Richey in the quarterfinal of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Milwaukee, but lost to Marty Riessen in the semifinal.
1968
At the 1968 Australian Championships, in addition to reaching the quarterfinals in singles, a run which saw victories over M. Marchment, Max Pettman, and Allan Stone before his loss to the eventual champion Bill Bowrey, Belkin reached the second round in doubles, partnering Geoff Pollard.[7]
Belkin won the 1968 ILTF St. Petersburg Masters Invitational on clay in April, defeating Mike Sangster in the quarterfinal, Bowrey in the semifinal, and Jaime Fillol in the final.
Professional tour tennis
1969
Belkin played the 1969 French Open, but was forced to abandon his match against Georges Goven despite leading by two sets. He and partner Pancho Guzmán withdrew from their first round doubles match.
In the summer, Belkin played the
The following week Belkin played
Two weeks later, Belkin played the Canadian Open, reaching the semis in singles, where he lost a four-setter to the eventual champion Richey and the quarters in doubles, partnering compatriot Vic Rollins. Later in August, at the second ever U.S. Open, Belkin lost to Marty Riessen in the second round in singles, and the first round in doubles, partnering Frank Tutvin.
1970
Belkin only played the main draw of only four professional circuit events in 1970, Cincinnati, the U.S. Clay Court Championships, Canadian Open, and U.S. Open, playing doubles in only the latter two events.
At Cincinnati, Belkin was soundly beaten by
In Toronto, Belkin had a bye into the second round where he lost handily to Andrés Gimeno. At Forest Hills, he also lost his first match in straight sets, in the first round to Frenchman player Pierre Barthès. In doubles at both tournaments, Belkin and partner John Sharpe lost in the first round.
1971
More active on the tour in 1971, Belkin competed in main draws in a total of 11 events, all
The following week, Belkin played the Macon Outdoor and did even better. Having a first round bye, he beat Jan Kodeš before falling to Tom Gorman. In doubles, he and partner Nikola Špear won two matches to reach the quarter-finals, where they lost to Kodeš and Željko Franulović. The following week at the Hampton Grand Prix, Belkin lost in the first round in both singles and doubles, falling in singles to Ion Țiriac and in doubles partnering Edlefsen for a second time.
In April, Belkin won the ILTF St. Petersburg Masters Invitational on clay for a second time, defeating Harald Elschenbroich in the final.
Belkin reached the semi-finals of the Houston Outdoor, losing in five sets in that round to
One week later Belkin reached the third round of the
1972
Belkin played four American winter indoor events. In early February, he lost handily in singles in the first round in Omaha and Kansas City in consecutive weeks, both times to
Belkin saw his next main draw action in August. At the Tanglewood Grand Prix, he lost to Dick Stockton. The following week at the U.S. Clay Court Championships, on Belkin's strongest surface, clay, he beat Jun Kuki and Adriano Panatta before falling to Bob Hewitt in the round of 16. The following week in Montreal he lost however in the first round, to Onny Parun. In doubles he and partner Eddie Dibbs reached the quarter-finals, losing there to the famous doubles team of Hewitt and Frew McMillan. Two weeks later at the U.S. Open, Belkin was level with Cliff Drysdale in the first set 5 games when he retired from the match. Belkin was entered one more main draw, in mid-September, the Montreal WCT, but withdraw from his first round match in both singles and doubles (partnering compatriot Richard Legendre).
1973
Belkin opened 1973 playing four indoor events in the U.S., winning one of them. He lost in the first round to Herb Fitzgibbon in singles and in doubles partnering Nicholas Kalogeropoulos at the Baltimore Indoor in early January. Two weeks later at the Birmingham Indoor, Belkin reached the second round in singles, beating Szabolcs Baranyi before losing to Jürgen Fassbender. In doubles, he and partner Gavorielle Marcu lost in the first round. The following week, Belkin lost in the first round at the Omaha Indoor to Baranyi.
Belkin won the 1973 Buffalo Indoor Tennis Championships[8] in February, defeating Clark Graebner, a four-time champion at the event, in the semifinal and John Paish in the close final.
The final events Belkin played this year were ones held in Canada. In middle February, at the
Belkin entered the first computer rankings, on September 13 at No. 145. Two weeks later, with the next rankings released, he stood at No. 128, his career high. In the final rankings released for the year, on December 14, Belkin was No. 161.
1974, 1975
Belkin played one event in 1974, the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships, where he lost in the first round to Guillermo Vilas 2–6, 2–6. On December 12, his singles ranking stood at World No. 318.
In 1975, Belkin competed in two events, also only in singles, both in Florida, his home state. These would be his last tour events to appear in. In early February, he lost in the first round to Jeff Borowiak at the St. Petersburg WCT. Two weeks later at the Boca Raton Grand Prix he completed his touring career with his best result in years, reaching the quarter-finals. He defeated Rolf Thung and Jan Kodeš before losing to Jürgen Fassbender. This saw his next ranking on March 5 rise to World No. 208. His final ranking, released on December 15 saw him rated at No. 222.
Davis Cup
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (August 2011) |
Belkin first played
The following year Belkin defeated Mike Sangster in the opening rubber against Great Britain in Europe Group first round action, played in Bournemouth on clay. Britain won the next four rubbers however, including the doubles 12–10 in the fifth, with Roger Taylor and Bobby Wilson overcoming Belkin and Keith Carpenter. In the doubles match, Belkin and Carpenter won the first two sets and led 5–2 in the third set before missing a winning volley and giving the British team a chance to recover.
In 1968, Canada again fell at the first hurdle, losing the first round of North and Central America Semifinal action against Mexico. Played in Mexico City on clay, Mexico swept Canada 5–0. Belkin lost the second rubber to Joaquín Loyo-Mayo. He again partnered Carpenter in the doubles, a match lost in straight sets.
The following year Canada defeated
In 1970, Canada won two ties before succumbing to
In 1971, Canada lost its only tie of the year, 2–3 to Mexico in Mexico City. Belkin won the second rubber over Loyo-Mayo in four sets, to level the tie. He and Sharpe lost the doubles, however, in four sets, to give the Mexicans the lead. Belkin won the fourth rubber over
Belkin concluded his Davis Cup career retiring from rubber 1 against Iván Molina of Colombia, having lost the first set 7–9. Canada lost the North and Central America Group preliminary round tie 1–4. Belkin's career Davis Cup win-loss stands at 14 and 7 in singles and 3 and 5 in doubles, with all matches played outdoors on clay.
Honours
Belkin was inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994.[9]
Post-tour career
As of 2006, Belkin was tennis director at the Sonesta Beach Resort on Key Biscayne, Florida.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c d e Sports Illustrated. https://vault.si.com/vault/1963/03/18/a-big-word-for-a-small-boy
- ^ USTA. "Yearbook Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships". United States Tennis Association. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
- ^ 2004 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship Press Book. "NCAA Tennis Championship Summaries" (PDF). grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Blue and Grey Invitation 1962. https://www.tennisarchives.com/edition/?v=10906
- ^ a b USTA Top Ten. https://www.usta.com/en/home/about-usta/usta-history/national/mens-womens-year-end-top-10.html#tab=men's
- ^ The Montreal Star. 1 August 1966 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/741241446 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ ITF Men's Circuit. "1968 Australian Championships". Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ Buffalo Indoor. https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2023/02/20/the-buffalo-tennis-squash-club-tennis-professional/
- ^ "Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-02-12.