Tobin, Brian

Brian Tobin
Born: December 05, 1930
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Citizenship: Australia
Inducted: 2003

Other
SPECIAL HONORS AND AWARDS:
Lifetime Honorary President, ITF     1999
Olympic Order     1999
International Tennis Hall of Fame Golden Achievement Award     1999
ITF Award, Services to the Game     1990
Member of Order of Australia (AM)     1986
Honorary Life Member, Tennis Australia     1989
WTA Tour, David Gray Special Services Award

1998

CAREER NOTES
International
Tennis Federation     President     1991 – 1999
Executive Vice President     1989 – 1991
Vice President     1979 – 1989
Committee of Management Member     1975 – 1991
Chairman of the Davis Cup & Olympic Committees     1986 – 1989

Men’s Professional Tennis Council     World Tournament Representative     1982 – 1987

ITF Representative         1988 – 1989

Women’s International Professional Tour     World Tournament Representative     1983 – 1985
ITF Representative     1986 – 1989

Fed Cup     Australian Team Captain and Manager     1964, 1967

Tennis Australia     President     1977 – 1989
Senior Vice President     1969 – 1976
Council Member     1965 – 1989
Men’s & Women’s Selection & Ranking Committee Chairman     1964 – 1977

Under the leadership of Brian Tobin, the new stadium for the Australian Open was built and opened in 1988. The Stadium features a retractable roof, thereby eliminating a total cancellation due to weather.

TENNIS RECORD
Australian Hard Court     Doubles Winner     1954

Victorian Hard Court     Singles Finalist     1954, 1956, 1958

Netherlands Championship     Doubles Winner     1964
Mixed Doubles Winner     1964

Swiss Championship     Mixed Doubles Winner     1964

US 35 and Over     Singles Winner     1967

US Clay Court Championship     Doubles Winner     1967

Australian Fed Cup     Team Captain     1964, 1967
Winning team     1964

Highest National Ranking

No. 8

1956 – 1962

Brian Tobin has devoted over forty-five years of his life to the game of tennis. He has been a member of Tennis Australia since 1964, serving as President from 1977 to 1989, overseeing the building and opening (1988) of the current stadium for the Australian Open. The stadium features a retractable roof, thereby eliminating match cancellations due to inclement weather.

Tobin was involved with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for over 20 years, serving as its President from 1991-1999. Upon his retirement in 1999 he was designated its Lifetime Honorary President. Under his leadership, the ITF and its principal activities, including the worldwide operation of the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and Olympic tennis, were greatly enhanced and developed. His business foresight and progressive thinking prepared the ITF to carry out its mission as a governing body, ensuring future growth of the organization.

Tobin was a member of the Men’s Professional Tennis Council from 1982-1989 and the Women’s International Professional Tour from 1983-1985, serving both as a world tournament representative and ITF representative.

Tobin also had success on the courts as well as off. Between 1956 and 1962, he achieved the rank of No. 8, his highest national ranking. He was a doubles winner in the 1954 Australian Hard Courts and a mixed doubles winner at both the Swiss Championships and the Netherlands Championships in 1964. At the Victorian Hard Court Championships, Tobin was a finalist three times (1954, ’56, ’58). He was the 1967 U.S. 35+ singles winner and the 1967 U.S. Clay Court doubles winner.

Tobin was the Captain of the 1964 and 1967 Australian Fed Cup Teams, winning in 1964.

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