National Championships

1959 Men’s Nationals: Jim Gordon and Bill Cooper (champions) with Jim Carlisle and Dick Hebard (1959 finalists, but champions in 1955 and 1958). Also pictured are Walter Close, tournament chair from Fox Meadow Tennis Club, and umpire Jack Whitbeck. Close was APTA President at the time

This was the largest Nationals since its inception. Fifty-one teams played in the mixed doubles at the Wee Burn Club in Darien, Connecticut. Thirty-one teams fought it out in the national senior men’s doubles, and there were 43 teams in the women’s doubles, both held at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club of Scarsdale, New York. The men’s doubles draw, also at Fox Meadow, was the highlight, with 77 teams from 35 clubs from Massachusetts to Virginia entered. It was run by a committee under the able chairmanship of Walter H. Close, the APTA President. With the aid of four Manursing Island courts, 154 players were taken care of in two days. The Women’s event was won by the mother-daughter team of Madeline Beck and Susan Beck Wasch.

Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959

“In 1959, also, was played one of the best matches of men’s doubles ever seen in the finals of the national championships. William M. Cooper and James P. Gordon won from James M. Carlisle and Richard K. Hebard 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 5-7, 8-6, after being down 2-5 in the final set and having 4 match points against them. The last two sets, particularly, produced some of the most brilliant play on both sides that the game has ever seen. Hard hitting and changes of speed in the return of service, particularly by Jim Gordon, combined with good lobbing, were features of the match. I was sorry to see so many opportunities for winning a point missed by a failure to use a drop or stop volley, but then that is a failure characteristic of many good players. I have often felt that if some players would study and practice the technique in that respect of Fred Walker, Helen Barnes or Susan Beck, they, as well as the game, would benefit by the experience. Despite this one lack, few of us have ever seen a match in which such excellent play predominated.

I understand that the combined age of the winners was 32 years less than those of the runners-up, yet the teams battled on practically even terms. This is good evidence that even championship platform tennis is a game for all ages.”

Source: Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959

Women’s Nationals 1959: Barbara Koegel and Ruth Walker, Finalists. Louise Raymond – umpire. FMTC clubhouse in background