Derek Arthurs

Derek Arthurs
Full nameDerek John Michael Arthurs
Country (sports) Ireland
Born(1940-03-23)23 March 1940
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died7 June 2008(2008-06-07) (aged 68)
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Career record3–5 (Davis Cup)
Doubles
Career record1–5 (Davis Cup)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon2R (1964)

Derek John Michael Arthurs (23 March 1940 – 7 June 2008) was an Irish tennis player.

An Irish junior champion, Arthurs was active on the tennis tour during the 1960s. He combined his early career with engineering studies at Queens University in his native Belfast and represented Ireland at the 1961 Summer Universiade in Sofia.[1] In 1962, Arthurs debuted for Ireland in the Davis Cup, playing a tie against Austria.[2] His best performance came in the 1964 Davis Cup when he had a five set win over Switzerland's Dimitri Sturdza in a deciding fifth rubber. This set up a second round tie against Great Britain at Eastbourne which they lost heavily.[3][4]

Arthurs was also an Irish international representative in squash.[5]

Immigrating to Australia in 1966, Arthurs coached his adoptive country in badminton while based in Adelaide, before settling in Melbourne.[5] He was the father of Australian tennis player Wayne Arthurs.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Davis Cup tie and Hoad gave Derek life-long memories". The Canberra Times. 14 April 1990. p. 35 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Belfast Pair Picked For Singles". Evening Herald. 18 April 1963.
  3. ^ "Encouragement in the tennis world". Irish Independent. 2 January 1965.
  4. ^ "Irish Davis Cup Star May Join C. & N.W. Club". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 13 May 1964.
  5. ^ a b Castle, Robyn (13 June 2008). "Derek Arthurs tribute". www.tennisseniors.org.au.
  6. ^ "Tennis: Wayne a chip off the old block..." Belfast Telegraph. 11 September 1999.