July 4, 1907 – Across the pond at the Wimbledon Men’s Tennis tournament a milestone event occurred. Australian Norman Brookes became the first non-Englishman to win Wimbledon beating Arthur Gore in straight sets- 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Brookes was also the first left-handed player to win the annual event getting cheers from South-paws all over the globe. Brookes, who almost always had his signature driver’s cap on along with a button-down top, pressed trousers and spit-shined white shoes, was always a very dapper player.
This victory provided some solace for Brookes who lost the 1905 finale to one of the fraternity’s five-time champions, Laurie Doherty, 8-6, 6-2, 6-4. He is so highly regarded “Downunder” that the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup is presented each year to the winner of the Australian Open Men’s Championship.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
50 Years of ‘Coexistence’ Between the Islanders and Rangers
Sports rivalries have existed ever since organized sports began to be played. The numbers
My Top 15 NFL Quarterbacks of the 1970s
My top 15 quarterbacks of the 1970s are based partly on statistics and my
The Harlem Globetrotters Very First Game
Figuring out how the Harlem Globetrotters started is a complicated story because there are
December 18, 1947: Holidays Don’t Mean Us!
How does a team adequately prepare for an NFL title game? Even more, so,
December 14, 1947: No One Could Catch The Babe!
With all of the hype now delivered and the big day finally arriving, we’ll
The Inspiring Story of Tom “The Bomb” Dempsey
Former NFL kicker Tom Dempsey became a household name when he kicked a 63-yard
December 13, 1947: Get There Early!
With the NFL Western Division title on the line, both the Bears and the
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears Rivalry of the 1970s
Pro football’s longest-enduring rivalry naturally involves two of its oldest teams, the Green Bay