Alonso, Manuel

Manuel Alonso, Manuel Alonso de Areyzaga
Born: November 12, 1895
Died: October 11, 1984
Hometown: San Sebastian, Spain
Citizenship: Spain
Handed: Right
Inducted: 1977

Grand Slam Record
Wimbledon  All-comers finalist 1921

 French Semi-finalist 1921

Tournament Record
 Davis Cup Team Member 1921-22, 1924-25, 1931, 1936

Highest Ranking
 Highest Ranking  No. 2 U.S. ranking 1929

As the first Spanish male of international stature, Manolo Alonso de Areyzaga made his country’s best showing at Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships before Manolo Santana won them in 1966 and 1965, respectively. He beat Zenzo Shimidzu in a terrific battle, 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 8-6, to reach the Wimbledon all-comers final of 1921, where he lost to Babe Norton in another tense struggle, 5-7, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3. A U.S. resident for several years during the 1920s, he was a U.S. Championships quarterfinalist in 1922, 1923, 1925 and 1927 and was ranked in the U.S. Top Ten in 1925, 1926 and 1927, No. 2 in 1926. He was also in the World Top Ten three years, 1925, 1926 and 1927, No. 5 the last year.

A dark-haired 5-foot-9, 145-pound right-hander, he played Davis Cup for Spain. He was born November 12, 1895, in San Sebastian and died October 11, 1984, in Madrid. He entered the Hall of Fame in 1977.

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