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Raz Reid

Raz Reid
Full nameGrover Eugene Reid
Country (sports) United States
Born (1951-08-27) August 27, 1951 (age 73)
Greenville, South Carolina
Turned pro1972
Retired1977
CollegeUniversity of Miami
Singles
Career record44–84
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 71 (November 6, 1974)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open3R (1975)
French Open1R (1976)
Wimbledon2R (1975, 1976)
US Open3R (1974)
Doubles
Career record38–71
Career titles2
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (1975)
French Open2R (1976)
Wimbledon2R (1974)
US Open2R (1974, 1976)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
WimbledonQF (1977)
US Open2R (1973, 1974, 1977)

Grover Eugene "Raz" Reid (born August 27, 1951[1]) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. He was born Grover Reid Junior, but is known as Raz Reid, a nickname he has had since he was a young.[2]

Biography

Early years

Reid was a three-time South Carolina state high school champion, while at Greenville High School, in the city of his birth.[3] He went to the University of Miami and twice earned All-American selection while playing varsity tennis, in 1971 and 1972.[4]

Professional career

In 1972, his final year at Miami, he made he decision to delay his graduation and turned professional.[5]

Reid made the semifinals at the 1973 International Indoor Tennis Championships, a USLTA Indoor Circuit tournament in Jackson, Mississippi.[6] In the quarterfinals he defeated Clark Graebner.[7] He also competed on the World Championship Tennis circuit.[8] At a WCT tournament in Hempstead in 1974, Reid beat former French Open finalist Željko Franulović. He won two doubles titles in his career, both in the 1974 season, the first was a USLTA Indoor tournament in Jackson with Fred McNair and the second a Grand Prix event in Adelaide with Allan Stone.[9]

His best Grand Slam singles performances were third round appearances at the 1974 US Open and 1975 Australian Open. He was eliminated at the Australian Open by Jimmy Connors, but won a set and was the only player to do so until Connors was beaten in the final by John Newcombe.[10] He made the mixed doubles quarter-finals at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships with wife Kerry Reid and also finished runner-up in the All England Plate after a first-round elimination in the singles draw.[11]

Personal life

Reid married Australian tennis player and Boston Lobsters teammate Kerry Melville in Greenville on April 27, 1975.[2][12] He retired from professional tennis in 1977 to become Kerry's coach. After they both retired, Reid was the head tennis professional at Long Cove on Hilton Head Island for eight years. They have two daughters.[13]

A keen fisherman, Reid holds world records in fly rod fishing and now works in the industry.[14]

Grand Prix career finals

Doubles: 2 (2–0)

Result W-L Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Mar 1974 Jackson, United States Carpet United States Fred McNair South Africa Byron Bertram
United Kingdom John Feaver
3–6, 6–3, 6–3
Win 2–0 Oct 1974 Melbourne, Australia Grass Australia Allan Stone United States Mike Estep
Australia Paul Kronk
7–6, 6–4

References

  1. ^ "Grover Raz Reid | Bio | ATP Tour | Tennis". ATP Tour. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  2. ^ a b McGann, George (May 28, 1975). "For Evonne and Kerry a Couple of Love Matches". The Australian Women's Weekly. p. 2. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  3. ^ "All-American Monday - Grover "Raz" Reid". University of Miami Hurricanes Official Athletic Site. December 10, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  4. ^ "Miami Hurricanes History: All-Americans". University of Miami Hurricanes Official Athletic Site. March 2, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  5. ^ Cox, Bill (June 4, 1972). "Reid Interested In Experience As Pro - Not Money". Herald-Journal. p. C2. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  6. ^ "Tennis". The Free Lance-Star. March 24, 1973. p. 9. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  7. ^ Hembree, Mike (June 3, 1973). "After First Pro Year - Raz Reid Is Happy". Herald-Journal. p. B3. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  8. ^ Chick, Bob (February 8, 1974). "The Greening of Raz Reid". St. Petersburg Independent. pp. Section C. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  9. ^ "Reid, Stone Win Doubles". Herald-Journal. October 28, 1974. p. B3. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  10. ^ "Connors, Newcombe win". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. December 30, 1974. p. 12. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  11. ^ "Players Archive - Raz Reid". wimbledon.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  12. ^ "For Evonne and Kerry a couple of love matches". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 42, no. 52. Australia. May 28, 1975. pp. 2–3 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Kerry (Melville) Reid - Player Profiles". Tennis Australia. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  14. ^ "Raz Reid". Florida Keys Outfitters. Retrieved January 8, 2016.