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.
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Special thanks to the resources of SABR.org, Newspapers.com and OnThisDay.com for the information obtained.