Who was the inspiration for the first-ever ATP logo in 1973?
The player’s identity is released in the newly-released posthumously released memoir of 1931 Wimbledon champion and Hall of Famer Sidney Wood called THE WIMBLEDON FINAL THAT NEVER WAS. The player was Wood’s U.S. Davis Cup teammate Lester Stoefen, who Wood writes had one of the best serves in the history of the game.
Writes Wood in the book, The cannonading “Stoef” had a classic service motion which became the posemodel for most tennis statuette prizes and promotional placards. His serve was so picture-perfect that his windup was used as the original Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) logo! The 6’5” Stoef hit a great first ball, but he was not always consistent.”
Stoefen won three major doubles titles, Wimbledon 1934 and the U.S. Championships in 1933 and 1934 – all with fellow American George Lott.
THE WIMBLEDON FINAL THAT NEVER WAS ($15.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com) details the life and times of Wood with a focus on one of the most unusual episodes ever in sport when he won the men’s singles title at Wimbledon by forfeit. Wood, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 97, tells the story of how he won the title over Frank Shields, his school buddy, doubles partner, roommate and Davis Cup teammate – and the grandfather of actress and model Brooke Shields – when Shields was ordered by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) to withdraw from the final to rest his injured knee in preparation for a U.S. Davis Cup match following Wimbledon. He then discusses his “private understanding playoff” that saw his match with Shields at the Queen’s Club tournament final in London three years later be played for the Wimbledon trophy.
Wood, who could be called the greatest story teller tennis ever had, also relates fascinating anecdotes and stories that involve such legendary Hollywood personalities as Grace Kelly, Errol Flynn, Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx, Gary Cooper among others. Wood also critiques all the best players and all best strokes for every top player through the years – from Bill Tilden and Rene Lacoste all the way to the modern era of the game.
