Wood, Sidney

Sidney Burr Wood
Born: November 01, 1911
Hometown: Black Rock, Connecticut, United States
Citizenship: United States
Handed: Right
Inducted: 1964

Grand Slam Record
French     Mixed finalist     1932

Wimbledon     Singles     1931

U.S.     Singles finalist     1935
Doubles finalist     1942

Tournament Record
Davis Cup     Team Member     1931, 1934

Other
Developer of Supreme Court synthetic carpet

Playing in knickerbockers against the great Frenchman, René Lacoste, 15-year-old Sidney Burr Beardsley Wood was the youngest Wimbledon entrant ever in 1927. Four years later he became the second-youngest champion of Centre Court, and without stepping onto the hallowed sod. Frank Shields, with an injured ankle, withdrew, marking the only time Wimbledon has had a defaulted final.

Born November 1, 1911, in Black Rock, CT, Wood, a 5-foot-91/2 right-hander, never reached that 1931 eminence again, although he did get to play a major final, losing the U.S. to Wilmer Allison in 1935, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. A slim, nimble blond, he ranked in the U.S. Top Ten 10 times between 1930 and 1945, No. 2 in 1934, and was in the World Top Ten five times between 1931 and 1938, No. 5 in 1938, No. 6 in 1931.

He was a Davis Cupper in 1931 and 1934, and in the latter year was part of the most astounding U.S. comeback, from 0-2 against Australia in London. Having lost the first day to Viv McGrath, Wood was heartened by George Lott and Les Stoefen’s holding action doubles victory over Adrian Quist and Jack Crawford, and he knocked off Jack Crawford, 6-3, 9-7, 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, to open the third day and tie the score at 2-2. Then Shields beat McGrath, and the U.S. entered the finals, losing, 4-1, to Britain. There, on opening day, Wood battled the Cup-holder’s main man, Fred Perry, losing 6-1, 4-6, 5-7, 6-0, 6-3, and also lost to Bunny Austin on the third day. An inventive man, he was a developer of Supreme Court, the synthetic carpet on which most indoor events are played. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

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